Written By Wil Lewis
There is nothing more fulfilling than getting to the end of your year at university and having that huge sigh of relief knowing that you get the whole of summer to relax and forget about the world for a while. It’s the best feeling and a well-deserved one at that! But what if this wasn’t the case? What if there was a way for you to strategically plan you summer so you can make the most of having a break AND being able to get the most of your next year at university?
Well, there is! There is two weeks of Get Ahead left for you to enjoy, with a whole host of activities to get stuck into. Of course, there will be those that are tailored to your school, however there is also the option to attend other programs and activities that are more focused at other schools too! With Q&A sessions to talk about LinkedIn and how to make the most of your summer as well as other fun sessions. These are all able to be found on the university webpage.
Why not make these weeks even more productive and add a bit of extra learning! Through LinkedIn learning, there is a wide range of certificates that you can get. With 25 new courses every week, why not push yourself or even learn a new skill that may benefit you in the future. This doesn’t just have to be something you do in Get Ahead week either! You can plan out your summer to incorporate learning something new and get ahead of your peers.
But what if you choose not to attend Get Ahead? All the skills from LinkedIn learning are still accessible, so are the Microsoft and Adobe certificates on university website. Options for you to maximise your summer potential are still high! Whether you’re going into your final year before graduation or are planning on taking that placement year after second year is done, there has never been a better time to start (or polish) your CV. Obviously, you aren’t in this alone. There is a wealth of help out there, whether it be your parents to help with the layout or the careers studio to help you perfect a template of your CV, you aren’t in it alone. Summer is the perfect time to really dig into the task and perfect it and trust me, you will really benefit from getting at this task early.
Naturally, your CV is a very important document. It gives you the gateway to the potential to score an interview and hopefully land that job you’ve always wanted. So why push it aside to the last minute? Give it some love! 
Here at the career’s studio, we are more than willing to lend that extra helping hand to ensure you are showing you skills and abilities in the best light as possible. From CV’s and cover letter writing to interview practice, we are here every step of the way to make your life easier.
Summer may be a fun, chilled time to relax and celebrate another year of university done. But why not use some of it to get ahead of your peers and really make yourself stand out!
To speak to one of our Career Coaches get in touch:
Email: careers@staffs.ac.uk
Twitter: @CareersAtStaffs
Instagram: @CareersAtStaffs
Facebook: Staffordshire University Career & Personal Development
Career Chat: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/students/careers/careers-studio/chat-to-our-careers-coaches