Summer is a time when most students work to put money in their pockets, but it can also be a time to prepare for upcoming scholarships and jobs.

So in between the daily shifts, the nightly bonfires and the weekend festivals, here are some things students can do to boost their resumes this summer in preparation for next year.

GET A JOB AND KEEP IT

The best job to get over the summer, said career counselor Carol Gorman, is one that is related to a student’s area of study.

“It’s going to be extremely beneficial,” Gorman said.

Even if an engineering major is only able to get a summer job at McDonald’s, however, Gorman advised students not to worry.

“If you are in a position that is not career-related, there’s still extreme value in that position,” Gorman said, adding that skills such as leadership, communication and teamwork are transferable and apply to every job.

Gorman also said having any job will increase a student’s networking potential, which could play a huge role in job-hunting.

RESEARCH AND PRIORITIZE

Summer is also an opportunity for students to research their options. Gorman said students should look into not only the company, but what responsibilities and benefits they would have there as well.

Summer research can also help students get scholarships, scholarship coordinator Dana Gautcher said.

“Our deadlines don’t change much,” Gautcher said. “Summer is a good time to plan out what you are looking for.”

One way for students to keep track of scholarships is to keep a binder with the applications and their due dates in it and have it be organized by month. That way, Gautcher said, students would be able to prioritize easily on what scholarship is due when.

KEEP SEARCHING AND WELL-ROUND YOURSELF

Even though school will end soon, students should always keep hunting for future opportunities during the summer. Both Gorman and Gautcher encouraged students to keep looking.

“There might still be opportunities,” Gorman said, adding that students can get internships for the fall or spring semester.

Gautcher said while the general deadline for NIU scholarships is Feb. 1, private organizations and companies have scholarship deadlines scattered throughout the year.

Overall, Gorman and Gautcher said the summer is an opportune time for students to round out their skills and resumes.

“All the things they are trying to build up in the job search, their experience with it will help them in a scholarship search,” Gautcher said.