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New College Grads: Build a Professionally Productive Summer

Congratulations, 2018 graduate with a full-time job already lined up! You’re lucky to transition directly to a steady salary and benefits; you won’t join the half of your peers who will be unemployed or underemployed in jobs that don’t require a college degree. But your good fortune doesn’t mean you should put off nurturing your career until your first day of work. You can use this summer to make yourself a more desirable employee come autumn—you can bet your unemployed and underemployed peers are!

How to polish your professionalism this summer:

Professionalize your social media profiles.You’re leaving your crazy college days behind! So carefully review your Facebook, Instagram, and other social media profiles for photos that don’t say “I’m a respectable professional.” (Delete suspect photos or set them to “private,” and don’t friend your boss!) After cleaning up your existing profiles, set up profiles on professional networks like LinkedIn, BranchOut, or Meetup, and begin building that critical online network (see below).
Network, network, network!Whether in Greek organizations, campus clubs, or interactions with professors or peers, you probably networked in college. This is a great start to a future of…lots more networking! Use the summer to touch base with your existing network—college professors, past employers, coworkers, and friends—and give them an update on what city and company you’re heading for. Reach out to potential new connections that interest you.
Research your industry’s trends.You can catch up on trends from your professional network—and do seek out contacts and mentors who can help with that—but you can also research trends online. Track industry-related articles through Inoreader or Feedly; just select relevant websites and follow the RSS feeds all in one place.
Start your new routine now.When you report to work at 8 a.m. sharp, you won’t be able to party until morning or sleep until noon. Use the summer to transition to the sleep, nutrition, and exercise habits you want to carry into your career. Don’t expect your body to fall in line on your first workday! Settling into your new routine early will mean one less thing to worry about when you hit the ground running.

This summer can pass you by before you know it! By planning ahead to make your summer professionally productive, you’ll bring your A-game to work this fall. Good luck, graduates!

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