How to Have a Proactive (and Fun) Summer Break

How to Have a Proactive (and Fun) Summer Break How to Have a Proactive (and Fun) Summer Break By Emily Valentine Rejoice, the long-awaited summer break is just around the corner. But, while it might be tempting to spend your days watching Netflix and eating your body weight in ice cream, why not make this summer a productive one? Grab yourself an internship via GIPHY These days work experience usually extends further than making the tea and opening the post. Whether you want to work a week or two somewhere, or commit your whole summer break to being an intern, there's likely to be a role for you out there.   The best companies pay interns, some very generously.  Others, however, might just cover your expenses. Pay aside though, being an intern comes with a whole range of benefits.   Completing an internship shows you have initiative, are adaptable and will equip you with some key skills that will look great on your CV.   Aim high and try and bag yourself a role in a company that you’d love to work for in the future. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and make some key contacts. Who knows, if you impress your employer there could be a shiny new job awaiting you at the end of your degree. Grab your passport and travel via GIPHY Travelling is a fun and productive way to fill your summer with new experiences. Not only that but jetting off to new pastures could also teach you a whole range of new skills without you even realising.   If you don’t have a huge range of work experience, you’ll need to draw on life experiences in interviews instead, to illustrate how you’d be a great fit for the job. Travelling shows that you’ve notched up experience of fending for yourself, problem solving and experiencing life outside of your own culture.   Working holidays are another option for those who have itchy feet over the summer. Companies such as Workaway  can match you with hosts abroad who offer food and lodging in exchange for your skills.   There are opportunities in every continent and hosts looking for help with a huge range of projects, so there’ll definitely be an opportunity out there that will suit your skills and interests.   Stay ahead of the game via GIPHY If you’d rather keep your feet on home soil during your summer break, stay ahead of the game and start doing some reading and research. If you don’t have deadlines looming and you’re feeling more relaxed, chances are you’re more likely to be able to absorb information. If you’re going into your final year of university then this is a prime time to start thinking about your final major projects or dissertation and doing a bit of prep. Spend a small amount of time on this each week and you’ll be surprised at how organised and prepared you feel when you start back after summer! Or...mix it up and do a bit of everything via GIPHY Variety is the spice of life so they say, so if you really want to get the best of all worlds during summer, then you could try a bit of everything.   Mixing a bit of work with a healthy dose of pleasure will not only be great for your health and wellbeing, but could also see you nabbing your dream job when you graduate.   You can thank us later. Emily Valentine writes for Inspiring Interns, a  graduate recruitment  agency  which specializes in sourcing candidates for  internships  and graduate jobs. Check out their website for both London listings and graduate jobs in Manchester.