It is quite frustrating as a senior when your last summer before graduating you don't have a summer internship. There a mix of emotions: disappointment, despair, and a lot of stress. That is why when Career Coach & past professor of mine, Janessa Hageman introduced the Summer Career Accelerator Program while discussing a vital plan on how to spend my summer, it brought a lot of happiness to my ears.
But Cindy, what is the Summer Career Accelerator Program? Well, it's main focus is to provide hands-on experience and build both professional and personal skills for students who didn't have a summer internship. It is relatively new, but let me tell you it has been a great way to focus on my weaknesses and convert those to strengths.
The program consist of three categories: Explore, Gain Experience & Promote your brand. Each option includes various sub-categories or accomplishment you can focus on. The best part? You can mix these three categories.
Here are the accomplishment I focused this summer:
Accomplishments
Networking Action Plan: brainstorm who is part of my network.
Informational Interviews: My favorite. Have virtual coffee meetings with professionals in the same or similar career path you want to follow.
Online Course & Certificate: Financial Modelling with The Marquee Group.
Reading: Beginners guide to the Stock Market & Work your money, not your life.
Devise a content plan for LinkedIn