By Alissa Lopez
Make the most out of your winter break and spend your time building your credentials!
•Create and maintain your own blog: If you're passionate about something, whether it's industry relevant like healthcare PR or if you're just a passionate foodie, consider creating a blog where you can share your thoughts and insights about a topic. Effective blogging can establish your blog as an expert resource and can be used for professional writing samples.
•Get published: If you're not interested in a particular subject, getting published in the school newspaper or local publications is a great way to gather clips for your portfolio. Both school and local publications are always looking for eager writers to contribute op-eds and other works. Gather some writing samples and start contacting!
•Engage: Follow relevant blogs, news sites, corporate sites, Twitter feeds and Linked-In groups to learn more about the industry you want to be part of. Various trades and firms are always posting updates about industry trends for your benefit. Do you already have a dream job? Follow that company on social media and start to engage with them! You never know who'll notice your digital presence and start to engage back.
•Volunteer: There are so many different volunteer opportunities that you can be part of. Whether its volunteering for a personal interest like the Special Olympics or a professional interest like working events for a local non-profit, volunteering can be so fulfilling and is really a great way to network with various people and professionals. You never know where a connection can lead!
•Professional portfolio: All of these tips and other extracurriculars can build your professional portfolio. And once you've built credentials, consider creating a hard copy and soft copy portfolio to showcase your works and accomplishments to potential employers. When making a hard copy portfolio, be sure to feature your best work in an organized manner and make it presentable. Use a nice binder and put your work into clear sleeves to prevent damage. Also, be sure that nothing has to be take out of those sleeves to be read. For soft copy portfolios, there are various websites that can be used for specific industries. For example, Contently can be used to organize a jorunalist's clips while sites like CarbonMade and Ellevest can be used for general portfolios.
Start building your credentials today!
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