Maximize Your Winter Break With Forté

If you are reading this, you are either at the finish line and have successfully completed the Fall semester, or you are inching closer to finishing final exams! Way to go – Give yourself a pat on the back for all of your hard work. The winter break is a time to get rest and prioritize your mental health. I encourage you to take time during the break to do things you enjoy; things that give you a boost of energy, make you smile, and bring sunshine into your life! Whether it’s reading a book, binge-watching a new show, or spending time with family and friends, you have earned the right to have some fun. 

For many, the winter break is also an opportunity to prepare for the spring semester. Balance is KEY! So, how do you actually put this into practice? Well, there are many ways you can use the time you have during the break to be productive! Here are a few ideas to get started:

1. Revisit your goals. Remember those goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year but have not had a chance to check off your list? Go back and take a look at those goals. Goals never expire. Consider what things got in the way and how you can overcome those hurdles in the new year. Also, think about turning your goals into SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Ask yourself the following: 
   1. Specific- Who, what, when, where, and why? 
   2. Measurable- How will I measure whether or not I have successfully met this goal?
   3. Achievable- Is this goal feasible and realistic? Do I have the skills/resources needed to accomplish this? If not, can I gain the skills/find the resources? 
   4. Relevant- Why is this goal pertinent to the bigger picture? 
   5. Time-Bound- What deadline am I giving myself to complete this task? Is it feasible? 
2. Participate in professional development opportunities and search/apply for summer internships. We tend to have some downtime during the holidays, so why not spend some of it enhancing our knowledge? Whether through school, your job, or Forté, you can learn new skills and add some spark to your resume.
   1. Check out your career center and see if there are any exciting things you can participate in over the break.
   2.  Join our career ready certificate program and show employers you are ready to embark on a meaningful career. 
   3. Browse the Forte Job Center and check out opportunities from our corporate partners. Use the Internship Search Guide to help guide you when searching for internships.
   4. Get insight from our Business Women of Tomorrow! 
   5. If you’d like to introduce Forté to your classmates, consider applying to be a Forté Ambassador.
3. Revamp your resume and LinkedIn. Our resumes are like plants – they always need tending to. Keep your resume alive and thriving by giving it time and attention.
   1.  Add new positions, experiences, and accomplishments
   2.  Check out our blog- Resume Insights from a Recruiter, Resume Guide for tips, and then upload your resume to our Job Center.
   3. Update your LinkedIn profile – add a new picture, create a new bio, add new accomplishments, and more. Review our LinkedIn Guide for more insight!
4. Practice your interview skills. Interviews for internships/jobs may be in your near future. Why not get the whole family involved while you’re at home? Practice your answers to some typical business interview questions and perfect your responses by going through them with loved ones. Write down what worked and what didn’t. If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and TRY AGAIN! Check out our Interviewing Guide and Interview Blog for tips!
5. Perfect your elevator pitch. Imagine you are on an elevator at one of our conferences with a representative from your dream company. Now think about what you might say. Struggling to find the words? Well, this could be a good time to make sure you have the perfect pitch to leave a lasting impression. An elevator pitch is a great way to introduce yourself in a minute or less. Check out our Elevator Pitch Guide for more information on crafting the perfect elevator pitch. 

We wish you a safe winter break and hope to see you at one of our upcoming conferences:

Undergraduate Virtual Women’s Conference and Expo (Virtual)

Friday, January 19, 2024 | Registration is now open!

Ready to become virtually unstoppable? Join us online for Forté’s new Undergraduate Virtual Women’s Conference and Expo. This virtual event will be filled with workshops designed to help you find your voice, build your confidence, and make meaningful connections with recruiters from top companies and MBA schools. We know you have what it takes to be a next-generation leader, and we’re here to help you get there. School partners: Interested in observing the virtual conference? We are happy to have you join! 

College Fast Track to Finance Conference

Friday, February 16, 2024 | In-Person, New York, NY | Deutsche Bank

Undergraduate students from all academic disciplines are invited to explore the many professional opportunities in finance with a focus on Investment Banking, Investment Management, and Corporate Finance. Event attendees will learn from impressive women business leaders, expand their professional networks, and connect with recruiters from top financial services firms and organizations. Full details can be found here. School partners: Interested in observing the College Fast Track to Finance Conference? We are happy to have you join!