How To Make the Most of Your Uni Break

Study, skill-up and stand-out

With exams coming up ahead, that also means the blissful freedom of uni holidays is around the corner. While we love (and support) your decision to relax, it’s also the perfect time to spice up your resume or portfolio. There are plenty ideas out there of how to make the most of your break and skill-up in a range of areas, so let’s get into them.

Learn something new.

A break from school or uni is the perfect time to complete a shorter program or course. There are heaps to choose from, in every niche or subject that you can think of. You can pick something relevant to you or to your aspiring career, or simply pick a subject you are interested in.

It’s worth checking if your university offers LinkedIn Learning, which offers many courses across business, tech and creative industries. Skill Finder is an online free course marketplace with over 3000 online courses provided by world leading tech companies such as Adobe, Amazon, Google and more.

Most of these courses give you a certificate upon completion that you can add to your LinkedIn profile, portfolio and resume.

In addition to this, many universities offer mini courses or units during semester breaks, which you can gain credit for. It’s a great way to fast-track your degree or meet like-minded individuals who you can network with. To find out if your university offers these, visit their website and look for study options or the FAQ sections. You can also put in an inquiry if you aren’t sure what is possible for you.

Do a personal project.

If you’ve ever had an idea for a personal project, but haven’t had the time during your studies, then the semester break is the perfect time. Personal projects can provide hands-on learning experience that school sometimes doesn’t provide, offering invaluable opportunities for skill development and growth (and helping you stand out in the job market).

A personal (or passion) project can be entrepreneurial, creative or related to a topic you’re passionate about.

Personal projects that relate to your future career are even better, for example, developing an app if you are a computer science student, or creating digital art if you are an arts student. The creative freedom might open an area you want to specialize in when you get back to school.

We recommend having a finished LinkedIn profile or personal website to display/write about the project once finished.

Build real world experience.

The time during semester break is ideal for pursuing any type of real-world experience. You can seek hands-on roles such as internships, volunteer positions, freelance gigs or campus jobs, where you can develop experience.

There are a range of resources online to help you find internships, such as Prosple.

Another method is to build a relationship with school alumni, join school organizations and clubs, or attend career fairs and industry events. This can also open doors for potential job opportunities upon graduation. A lot of clubs organize challenges where teams solve a real-world problem. If you are unable to find a role, you can research case-studies related to your aspiring career which you can do yourself! This shows determination and self-discipline.

Clarify your career goals.

The time between semesters is a great opportunity to reflect on the past semester and identify what you enjoyed learning about. Use this time to do more research into these areas, into the connecting industries and potential pathways you can take to get where you want to go.

Like above, research clubs, organizations and events related to the industry. These can give great networking opportunities. Sometimes jobs aren’t publicly advertised, with some experts estimating 50-80% of available positions are filled in this hidden market. This makes networking connections vital to finding work in your aspiring field that you would otherwise not be aware of.

A final word.

While we recommend all these ideas, it is important to take a break as well. Recharge your battery first and then delve into the many ways you can develop your skillset before the next semester begins. Good luck!