Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the semester, and while many of you are now working through final exams, papers and projects, the end is in sight.

We wish you the best of luck as you wrap things up here on campus and hope that you will have a chance to rest and relax wherever you are spending your break.

We would be remiss, however, if we didn’t encourage you to spend at least a little bit of time over the coming weeks spending some time thinking about and preparing for next summer or, if you’re a senior, your post-SLU future.

It’s amazing what your SLU login credentials will get you! Here are just a few resources you have access to – 100 percent free – that will help you get ahead of the pack when it comes to planning for what’s next.

Work on your resume: As a St. Lawrence student, you have FREE access to VMock, an AI platform that will give you instant feedback so you can convey just what an awesome intern or employee you will be. Visit www.vmock.com/stlawu and use your SLU login credentials!

Explore your options: Not sure what career path you want to pursue? Or are you having second thoughts about what you’ve always assumed your career path should be? Instead of asking, “What do you want to do?” SparkPath asks you to think about what challenges you’d like to solve. Taking this approach can lead you down paths you might never have considered! Check out app.mysparkpath.com to create an account and use the code “slucareers” to sign up!

If you’d like to do more in-depth research about career fields, visit Vault.com to access the Vault Guides. Use your SLU login credentials to gain free access!

Do some interview prep: It’s never a bad time to get some public speaking experience. Now, St. Lawrence students have access to a cutting-edge platform that offers training classes and will provide you with detailed feedback on interview questions. You can even learn how to negotiate your salary. Check out TalkMeUp.com, click on the “login” button, and scroll down to “log in with your org,” type in stlawu.edu in the domain name, and log in using your SLU credentials!

Search for jobs/internships: Visit stlawu. joinhandshake.com or download the Handshake app on your phone to gain access to more than 25,000 job and internship postings! Use the filters to narrow down your search results and find positions in the industries and geographic regions that best suit you. And here’s a tip — make sure you click on “All Filters,” scroll down to the bottom of the screen, and type in “slu connected opportunity” in the “Labeled by your school” field. You’ll find jobs and internship opportunities that have been provided to our employer engagement team by Laurentians who are interested in hiring St. Lawrence students! These positions aren’t guaranteed to go to St. Lawrence students, but we know that the hiring managers for these positions are going to give applications from St. Lawrence students a close look!

Build your network: While it’s true that St. Lawrence’s alumni network is ranked fourth nationally, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the strength of that network without being proactive and reaching out to Laurentians on your own.

Find St. Lawrence alumni on LinkedIn or Laurentian Connection (www.connect.stlawu.edu) and reach out to have a career conversation! Learn how alumni started their careers, and discover what they are working in their industry.

The career coaches at the Center for Career Excellence will be available for appointments (remote or in-person) through Dec. 22, and we will be available for appointments again starting on Jan. 2.

Make the most of your downtime over break and tackle a few of the tasks listed above. You’ll be glad you did!