6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer Vacation

1. Work a Part-Time or Full-Time Job: 
This is the most obvious way to spend your time in the summer but its also beneficial for more reasons than getting you out of the house. Starting to build up your financial savings is a really important part of working as a student. It will also help ease the stress of rent payments and textbook purchases in the fall. And of course making some extra cash can always go towards something special for yourself - like a trip! Check out Career Zone for the latest job postings for Brock students!

2. Volunteer:
Volunteer work will spice up your resume and allow you to get some experience that might not be accessible as a part-time job. Volunteering can occur both locally and abroad, so don't feel like you need to stick around in St. Catharines to get some volunteer experience.You can track your volunteer hours to put towards your Volunteer Plus certificate!

3. Work on your Portfolio
You know all of those papers you have been hoarding in your desk for the past few years? Why not organize them into something useful! Career Services can get you started on developing your own Career Portfolio this summer. This is a great way to physically document your academic, volunteer, work, and extra-curricular activities that you have completed during you time at Brock. After you have created your Career Portfolio, consider bringing it to your next job interview!

4. Update your Resume
Take advantage of having no (or less) courses than normal and spend some time going through your old resume and make a brand spankin' new one! If you need some help getting started, stop by Career Services and we will be more than happy to give you some templates to work with. You can also bring in a printed copy of your resume for us to review. If you would like to start working on your resume at home then visit the resume development section of our website.

5. Take some Spring/Summer Courses
Enrolling in a few summer courses will alleviate some of the stress you will have during the following school year since you might be able to take less classes (double check this with your academic adviser!). You could also take a course in the summer that caters to an interest of yours that you couldn't normally pursue during the school year. To see the current spring/summer course listing check out the newly posted list here! 

6. Go Somewhere You Have Never Been Before 

This could be a new country or that new restaurant down the street that you've been meaning to try but never had time to. New experiences keep boredom at bay and allow you to develop new interests as well as likes and dislikes. They also make you a more interesting person to talk to! Allow time in the summer for personal growth and exploration!
 
We are still open during the exam period and would be more than happy to help you make the most out of your summer! Stop by Career Services if you have any questions or would like us to review your resume/cover letter/CVs! Best of luck on the rest of your exams/assignments! We're almost done!

Ashley Paolozzi, Lead Career Assistant
4th Year History of Art (Honours)