Mind the Gap
Lazy summer and those in-between spaces and gaps hold meaning, and it’s easy to get swept away in the idle pace of the season. Yet summertime can also hold productive opportunities with just a little bit of focused effort.
There’s no doubt, the summer vacation mindset is hard to shake. If you are working full time, in summer school, engaged in an internship, on the job search hunt, or wherever summer finds you — summertime will always feel like childhood, and warranted permission for a respite, an extra day of PTO, or an unscheduled beach day to just exhale.
And yet, summertime can also be that perfect opportunity to zero in on any of the smaller gaps you might be facing or anticipating. Think of taking a bite size piece out of something productive that will move you forward toward your academic or career goals.
Begin by creating a quick backward map (“Start with end in mind” kind of map). See yourself already achieving the step or action you want to fulfill, and then work backwards from there.
A map can set you on a week-by-week mini course to help you create structure around the actions you want to take to narrow the gaps.
Here are a few suggestions:
Enroll in an online class, or go-at-your-own pace certificate program (Check out eCornell’s online offerings). Consider universally applicable courses such as: marketing or Excel certificate classes, programming or data analysis classes, even conflict resolution or mindfulness training.
Establish or boost your LinkedIn profile and presence – Start to follow some professional groups that resonate with your interests and career aspirations
Pursue a wellness challenge or goal that’s been tapping you on the shoulder – a fitness challenge, clean eating, a tech or social media diet, investing in quality relationships are just a few examples. When we feel good, we DO good.
Calendar a few casual informational interviews – a quick 30 minute coffee or a zoom meeting with people whose career paths intrigue you
Research and put into practice a personal financial budget
Make some tweaks to your resume – make sure it mirrors current trends including embedded data and numbers to substantiate your experiences
Break your resume into a CV (Curriculum Vitae) to ready yourself for a more specialized job offer or application
Read (or listen) to a solid professional book - A few favorites of mine include:
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
Small Acts of Leadership by Shawn Hunter
Atomic Habits by James Clear
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
Why not take summer to not just “mind the gap,” but work toward closing a few gaps too! Just a few small bite-sized pieces.