What have you learnt this summer University of Manchester Careers Blog

What have you learnt this summer It’s the middle of summer â€" your last day  at university, school or college feels like a long time ago and yet youve still got a month to go. Not bad, eh? We know that you’ll be busy over the summer, whether you’re doing some voluntary work, working a temporary job to get some cash in your pocket or even spending some time  travelling and experiencing new cultures. But how many of you have stopped to think about what youre actually gaining from your summer experiences? Sabrina Tan: Project Support Intern at the University enjoys a team outing at Chester Zoo. Come September, there will be so much going on that you might start to forget some of the valuable things you learnt over the summer. So why not take a minute to reflect on what youve done so far, and what you want to achieve with the rest of your time away from university? You’ll thank yourself for it when it comes to applying for jobs, internships or placements. When considering  your achievements, it’s useful to ask yourself a few questions and note down the answers. We asked our current batch of students taking part in a Summer Experience Internship (SEI) a few questions to help them reflect on their experience. You can use these questions to put your own experiences into words, too. What is the biggest achievement of your summer work so far? Madeleine: Being able to talk on the spot, talking in front of people, and using my design skills (which I dont get to use  in my social sciences degree) have all been achievements. Lucy: So far I would say being able to produce and conduct a full research process. This has given me confidence before going in to my final year and completing my dissertation. Harry: My biggest achievement is learning the editing software needed to create promotional videos from scratch and managing to complete some videos in the eight weeks given. Victoria: I was in charge of a departments social media pages. Seeing the number of page likes going up on a daily basis and seeing people comment that they like my blog were big achievements.  What is the strangest thing youve done, or what has surprised you the most? Lucy: Having full control of a project and total responsibility was a surprise (but a nice one). Madeleine: Getting used to the 9-5 routine was probably the most difficult thing it makes you realise how luxurious student life really is! Anthea: Its surprising how much the work you do contributes to the work of the whole team. Youre not left to make tea all the time or to do odd jobs but given meaningful tasks that make your work seem worthwhile. Anna: I did a presentation to the whole team and really enjoyed it. I was quite nervous, so I was surprised that it went so well!  What have you learnt so far this summer? This could be new or improved skills, greater confidence, or just learning what you enjoy doing most. Adele: Im learning so much  about the voluntary sector. Its been really interesting to learn more about the behind the scenes parts of charities, including how to use the organisations database, which is incredibly useful. This list is definitely limited I know that Ive still got a lot more to learn in my role! Catherine: Ive learnt how to network, how to be assertive in managerial roles, and how to engage effectively with people from all walks of life. Madeleine: My internship is helping me figure out what I want to do when I graduate. Im gaining more skills, and figuring out whats important to me. Anthea: Ive learnt how to organise time better and prioritise different tasks as well as becoming more independent in completing objectives. Ive also become more confident in my own abilities. Annie: My internship gives me a chance to be creative again, which has boosted my confidence about my creative skills in general (its easy to forget about that kind of thing when you do a science degree). I feel more confident in my presentation skills which Im really happy about as this is a skill Im definitely going to need in my career. Harry: My communication skills have improved (ie emailing loads of different people, understanding  how to have a professional phone call, taking part in  meetings). Ive also learnt how to be adaptable and change my style for each video I made for a variety of services. Anna: I have learnt how to network when contacting external companies, how to manage my time efficiently and prioritise tasks, and developed resilience when I have had knock backs. Other skills that our SEIs say that they have developed  are presentation skills, independence, and communication and analytical skills. So I’d encourage you to take 15 minutes out of  your busy summer schedule and ask yourself similar questions about your summer, no matter what youve been doing! When it comes to putting this experience down in words on your CV, it will be incredibly useful to remember exactly what skills you developed. If the answers our SEIs gave don’t inspire you, read up on employability skills and see if any apply to you. And don’t forget â€" even if your summer experience doesnt feel particularly relevant to  your future plans, you ARE gaining transferable skills. All Make The Most of Manchester Student blogs Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted careers Internships summer work experience