Summer is fast approaching – for many of us it’s only a few exams away! – and many of us are looking to polish up those resumes. Whether for a part-time job or for university, here’s a comprehensive list of ideas you could take on this summer and the skills they show.
1. Volunteer
Always a lot of fun, volunteering is a classic resume builder that helps you contribute to the community while also learning interpersonal skills. So long as you choose a cause you’re passionate about, volunteering during the summer is incredibly rewarding.
Skills:
- Leadership
- Interpersonal communication
- Customer Service (this is a big one!)
- Peer Support
- Community awareness
- Advocacy
2. Passion Project
Such a broad idea, yet that’s what makes it so worthwhile. You can tailor a passion project for any person – pick a topic, research, conduct experiments – because it’s completely up to you. That having been said, you’ll need some discipline to stick to your own schedule, because it’s also very easy to give up on passion projects.
Skills:
- Passion – especially if your project has to do with the job/position you’re applying to!
- Discipline
- Time management
- Organization
- Self-drive
- Eagerness to initiate and take action
3. Intern/Work
This one is if you already have a position (unfortunately it’s too late to apply for most summer positions now). Take on those extra hours, make a bit of extra cash, and show your employers how valuable you are as an employee. You never know when you might need that reference!
Skills
- Dedication
- Discipline
- Willingness to initiate
- Time management
- Ambition
- Interpersonal communication
4. Pick Up (Or Continue) a Hobby
This one often surprises a lot of my peers, but a lot of employers and universities have seen the generic extracurriculars and want to see an activity that showcases who you really are as a person. Enter contests. Compete with other people who have the same niche hobby. Show who you are through your actions. Does this sound like a college brochure? Yes. But it really is true though (otherwise why would the admissions team put “be yourself” in every single brochure?), so you could take the summer to dive deeper into a hobby you already love!
Skills:
- Excellence in [hobby] area
- Passionate
- Hardworking
- Unique personality skills associated with your hobby (i.e. creative if you’re into pottery, logical and critical thinking if you’re into code or robotics, etc.)
5. Study
Every single top student I know does this at least a few weeks before school starts. Will you recall all the material during the school year? Probably not. But pre-studying material will give you a rough idea of what is hardest (i.e. which days you should not take bathroom breaks during class) and what is easiest (i.e. days it might be okay to doze off a little or pull an all-nighter before).
Skills:
- initiative
- subject and academic excellence
- discipline
- organization
- time management
- planning for long-term contingencies