1.    Take a summer course

If you consider education a significant investment for your future carrier, than one of the best ways to spend your summer break is to take academic course at another college or university. Do you know that you are able to complete a four year degree in three years? Many students take summer courses and save on their expenses.  But if you are going to work this summer, a better alternative might be to take an online course. You can find plenty of free, online courses on a number of topics and balance your work and education during the summer break. Moreover, there are a lot of various summer sports camps for those who want to develop their athletic skills and have fun.

2.    Run your own business

Why don’t you become an entrepreneur this summer? You already have useful connections from your college or university. It’s time to channel all your energy and ideas in the right direction. You can start a small business, such as selling homemade soft drinks or cutting grass. It doesn’t really matter if it succeeds or fails. You are able to develop a sense of competence and collect real-world experience, which you will never have gotten seating in the classroom.  There is no doubt that most employers will appreciate that you had ambitions to run your own business in college.

3.    Apply for an internship

Another beneficial way to spend the summer break is to get a professional internship. A lot of companies don’t hire students without wide experience, but they provide amazing internship programs for them. You will be able to gain unmatched work experience, hone your professional skills, beef up your resume and get references from top managers of your company. It will also help to get your foot in the door after you finish the university. Some students can’t decide in which field they would like to develop and work in the future, so an internship program is the best way to check it before diving into the job market. Furthermore, there are a lot of international internships for students who would like to explore new countries, cultures and to get professional experience abroad.

4.    Volunteer

Volunteer work provides a great experience for college and university students and can be very useful for those who are looking to boost their resumes with new leadership skills. There are volunteer programs available in every industry. It’s possible to become a volunteer in any field you are interested in. You can represent a marketing department working in the charity sector or you can take part in an organization that holds mock trial workshops in a real courtroom. Be creative and you will find the best volunteer project for yourself. By the way, there are a lot of volunteer programs that can invite you around the world. Don’t miss this chance!

5.    Build your portfolio

Designers and artists usually use portfolios with samples of their work to show potential employers their skills and experience. Why can’t you adapt this idea for yourself? Be smart and create your own portfolio relating to your future selected path. You might not be asked to show it during an interview, which is why it will be all the more impressive when you show you’ve taken the initiative to provide it. It will also demonstrate you as a professional and will showcase that you are able to do the technical and qualitative job. Spend time to build your portfolio this summer and you will definitely be selected from other candidates in the future.

6.    Nurture a hobby

Summer break is the best period to develop something that you’ve become interested in, but couldn’t find time for it between exams and assignments. Perhaps you want to know how to play the guitar, learn a new language, join a book club or go hiking and camping. It’s time to make a dream comes true. Give yourself a goal to meet and get really good at your new hobby before you return back to your college or university. It will boost your self-confidence and will motivate you to use it for other activities. You can also conduct experiments and blog about them and your progress. Your friends and people who have the same hobby will be glad to comment, discuss and share their experiences with you.