Build your employability over the holidays

University holidays are a great way to mentally freshen up after a long year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t further your career prospects while you’re out of the classroom. There are plenty of extracurricular activities available over the break that will bolster any graduate’s CV, some of which can be very rewarding.

Whether you’re learning, teaching, practicing or lending a hand, there is plenty to keep you busy over the summer break.

Volunteer

There is no shortage of ventures looking for volunteers. Soup kitchens, meals on wheels, sporting clubs and many charities are constantly on the hunt for people to help in different capacities, and contributing your time free-of-charge is something looked favourably upon by prospective employers.

Tutor

Many primary and high school students require tutoring in an assortment of different subjects, and this can be a great avenue to share your expertise, develop your people skills and make some money. If you’re a journalism major, teaching essay writing for VCE English could be your go, while design students could assist high schoolers with their media and visual communication studies.

Freelance

Using your skills to develop a portfolio is an excellent strategy for boosting employability. Whether it’s writing blogs, creating videos or designing websites, these projects can be referenced further down the track and demonstrate initiative and a willingness to work. Plus, there’s a chance you could be paid!

Online courses

Are you interested in refining your knowledge of a particular subject? Perhaps you’re a marketing student who wants to learn basic coding to complement your marketing skillset? Whatever your preference, there are various short courses available online, many of which are free.

Chasing some more advice? We’ve got tips on how to approach voluntourism, apply at an Australian university and how to avoid exploitation in the workplace.