Published: July 22, 2019
An extremely long (and needed) summer holiday is finally here after a year full of essays and exams. If you’re wondering what to do over the summer, this blog will hopefully provide you with some ideas.
Internships, work experience and volunteering
Whilst they look great on your CV and show your commitment towards a career in the media, they also give you the opportunity to learn more about a specific job role and network with those who work in the field. By participating in work experience, internships and/or volunteering, you’ll develop a greater understanding of the reality of the job, meaning you can form a better judgement of what you would like to do in the near future after you graduate university.
You can use the Sunderland Futures website, send emails to the companies you’re interested in, or have a quick search online to see if anywhere is accepting work experience or internship applications.
Apply for a summer job
Getting a part-time job over the summer enables you to earn money and develop a wide range of transferable skills such as communication and problem solving.
Go on holiday/travel
This may require you to save up prior, but there’s plenty of places out there for you to explore. Whether it’s in the UK, Europe or further afield, summer is a great time to get out there as the weather is much better (most of the time!).
Relax
You can now watch every episode of a television show in one go without the thought of university work in the back of your mind. You now have plenty time to read more books, take up a new hobby, go to a festival or simply sit in the garden (during the brief moments of sunshine) on your phone scrolling through social media.
Meet up with friends
Organise to meet up with your friends, especially those who go to a university in a different city. It’s often difficult to get everyone together at the same time, so try and make the most of the summer months before they head back in September.
Keep up to date with the news
Remember to keep up to date with current affairs over the summer, particularly if you’re interested in journalism. It’s always good to know what’s going on out there in the wider world.
Practice makes perfect
Wherever your weaknesses lie, try and improve on them over the summer. For example, if you think that your video editing skills need a little improvement, spend some time on video editing software so that you can get used to the different tools and editing techniques. You could also create your own blog and write content to both improve your writing skills and develop a unique writing style.
If you’re in second or third year, why not research a range of careers to explore the requirements for specific jobs to ensure you’re prepared? For example, journalism roles may ask for examples of your published work or information on any relevant work experience you’ve participated in during your time at university. Summer is a great time to build up a portfolio of work and gain some work experience.
Topic: Course