Professional Skill Development Opportunities Over Winter Break

There are many opportunities for University of Maine System students to get career-related work experience during break between semesters this winter. Looking for ideas and resources? You have come to the right place!

Get started:

Are you feeling stuck while trying to come up with ideas for what to do with your long winter break this year? Start with a brainstorm to figure out the best use of your time.

Opportunities include:

  • Conduct informational interviews to learn about career opportunities
  • Explore virtual statewide opportunities
  • Get experience through a micro-internship
  • Learn tips and tricks at virtual career services and career centers events
  • Obtain a cost-free professional micro-credential
  • Revise your your resume
  • Start thinking about graduate school
  • Take on freelance work

 

Learn about all of these opportunities and more below.

Make the most of your winter break:

An informational interview is an informal conversation you can have with someone working in an area of interest or profession of interest to you. Informational interviews are effective research tools and best done after initial research has been done about the profession of interest. Informational interviews are not job interviews, and the objective is not to find job openings, rather to learn about a specific job within a field.

It may feel strange or awkward to reach out to people who you do not know. Many people enjoy taking a few minutes out of their day to reflect on their professional life and appreciate the opportunity to give advice to someone interested in joining their field.

Learn more about how to conduct informational interviews:

The University of Maine System has partnerships with many organizations throughout the state and region to help students and alumni find jobs, internships and other opportunities.

Find statewide opportunities throughout Maine:

Micro-internships are short-term, paid, professional experiences that are similar to those given to entry level hires or interns. These internships are often highly-specific, project-based positions with fixed fees and vary between one week and one month to complete.

Learn about internships and micro-internships:

Graduate education and professional certification can provide specialized training that can lead to improved earning potential and increases your career advancement prospects. You can also grow and enhance your network of contacts through graduate school peers and professors and work with leading faculty researchers and creative achievers when you start a graduate program through the University of Maine System.

Learn more about graduate degree programs and professional certifications at the University of Maine System:

A “micro-credential” showcases your competency in skills needed in today’s workforce. A verified credential is earned when learners are able to demonstrate what they know—and what they are able to do—related to a specific area of study. They showcase your understanding of a specific topic through evidence and application. And, the micro-credentials are made up of stacked digital badges along a pathway that highlight the skills needed to be successful. 

Micro-credentials are available cost-free to all students enrolled in a University of Maine System program. They are also available as professional development opportunities for individuals already in the workforce. 

Micro-credentials earned through the University of Maine System are:

Validated

Evidence-Based

Sharable

Portable

Stackable

Earn micro-credentials through the University of Maine System

Winter break is a great time to update your resume, portfolio or CV with recent professional and academic experience.

Freelance work is particular type of work that is done for different organizations, rather than work that is done full time for a single organization. Freelance workers are not employees of organizations, and organizations that freelance workers work with are considered their clients.

If you have a specific skill, freelancing may be a great option to increase your skills and earn an income. Freelancing skills can be varied and different, but may include design and arts, technical writing, sales, marketing, video editing, translation and social media consultants.

Learn about freelance opportunities:

Did you know that the University of Maine System Career Services teams and Career Centers are open and providing virtual events over winter break?

Below is a calendar featuring professional development events, click on dates featuring events to be taken to more information on Google Calendar:

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Get Help:

Contact the Career Center at your university to schedule an appointment to discuss these and additional professional skill development opportunities over winter break: