As students look forward to the holiday breaks to decompress and enjoy their free time, parents, family, and friends may be wondering and asking about their summer plans. It is common for college students to be asked “What are you going to do this summer?” or “What are you going to do with that major?” or “Have you thought about a summer internship?” While well-intended, questions like this may feel unsettling or stressful to students, especially if they do not yet have an answer.
Instead of putting students on the spot, there are ways that you can help your student use the holiday break to prepare for summer. Below are a few tips for parents:
1. Ask open-ended questions.
Holiday breaks present an opportunity for students to reflect on their past semester and think about what they learned, what matters to them, and how it may apply in the future. Asking questions provides them with a much-needed opportunity to reflect. For example, you could ask “What was a highlight of this past semester?” In conversation, you can also highlight something that you have noticed is important to your student, asking questions such as “I noticed that ________ is really important to you. What do you like about it?” or “Have you considered how your interests and skills align with potential careers?”
2. Listen with an open mind.
College is a time of significant exploration and growth. Asking some of these questions provides students with an opportunity to think about themselves and their role in a broader context. As they share more, encourage them to explore possibilities. Here’s a few examples:
- “In what area do you want to make a difference?”
- “Who/what do you care about impacting?”
- “Do you know anyone who has found success in a field that you are interested in?”
- “Are there experiences you have had that have led you to pursue courses or co-curricular opportunities?”
- “How do you want to contribute to the world?”
3. Encourage information interviews.
As students explore their options, encourage them to have conversations with professionals in their fields of interest to help clarify short term and long term goals. The prospect of building a network can be intimidating. There are a number of resources for students to make connections with alumni and professionals through the Career Center and Alumni & Parent Relations. If you know of someone in a similar field, open up your network and make an introduction for your student!
4. Encourage your student to engage in experiential learning opportunities.
In addition to internships, there are many opportunities for students to apply what they are learning in the classroom, including undergraduate research, study abroad, community engagement, leadership roles on and off campus, summer jobs, on-campus employment, and more. Students interested in gaining experience through internships can utilize Handshake, UP’s online job portal, and attend Career Center programs and events.
5. Recommend developing an action plan with a timeline.
While it may feel like your student’s internship or job search is on your “to-do” list, it’s important to give ownership to your student as they form an action plan with a timeline. Learning to independently search for an internship or job is an important skill that students will use throughout their life.
6. Remember that the Career Center is here to help!
No matter what phase students are at in their journey, they can schedule individual appointments to discuss a variety of these topics with the Career Center staff. Staff can help students with identifying skills, interests, and values, telling their story through resumes, cover letters, and interviews, exploring career options, or making connections with alumni and professionals. Many students think they “should” have the answers before they schedule an appointment, but that’s not the case. As we tell all students, “We are here to help!”
Amy Cavanaugh serves as the Director of the UP Career Center. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from St. Mary’s College and master’s degrees in both Organizational Communication and Business Administration. During her own college years, Amy completed a variety of experiential learning opportunities including study abroad, community engagement, research, and internships. Her first destination was participating in post-graduate service through Holy Cross Associates where she was introduced to careers in education. Amy leads the Career Center team in integrating career education and readiness into the student experience, collaborates with colleagues to guide students to develop as a whole person, and partners with alumni and professionals to make connections that lead to meaningful opportunities for students.