Winter break is a special time for university students. Not just because of visiting family and friends, but because of the sheer amount of unstructured free time we get. While it’s tempting to just relax, I’ve decided to be proactive. Here are some things I plan on doing to further my professional life:
Signing Up For Internships
Internships are an opportunity to network and gain practical experience. With so many options out there, it can be daunting to find the right fit. That’s why the extra time during winter break is perfect for looking at internships. I plan on using Handshake to find various positions, and I’ll create a spreadsheet to organize them. I will also talk with my peers in Scripps PRSSA about their experiences to gain more insight and find potential places to intern.
Using LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an important tool in any professional’s arsenal, regardless of their experience level. I plan on using it for researching companies that I’m interested in. By searching for a desired location on LinkedIn, I can see several companies based in that area. It even tells me how many Ohio alumni work at each one! From there, I can make connections with people and foster new relationships.
Reading Books About PR & Advertising
Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of light reading? Especially when it provides useful information that could help me out someday. One of the books I’m excited to read is “Contagious: Why Things Catch On” by Jonah Berger. It’s about why certain content goes viral and was recommended by a speaker we had at one of our meetings. Another book on my agenda is “The PR Masterclass” by Alex Singleton. I’m excited to read this book because of the author’s background as a journalist and PR consultant. The back of the book says “It will ensure you develop and pitch newsworthy material that outdoes most of what is put out by the PR industry.” While that could be a stretch, I’m still excited to read it.
Winter break isn’t just a time to relax, but a valuable opportunity for students to invest in themselves. Anyone can do the things I plan on doing, and will hopefully find they benefit from them. Instead of treating break as a dull, transitional period, frame it as something transformative.
Henry Gorsuch is a Journalism Strategic Communications major with a minor in Marketing and can be found on LinkedIn @Henry-Gorsuch