Your job over break:
■ Start early. Set up interviews before you come home for the holidays.
■ Register at Internhub.com. Upload your resume, look through job postings, and check out online tools such as career navigator and internship predictor.
■ Write a standard cover letter. Then tailor it to different employers.
■ Seek out professional mentors in your field of interest.
■ Set up “informational interviews.” These are less formal and more relaxed — and often yield valuable advice, jobs offers, or referrals to job openings.
■ Have at least two letters of recommendation from professors or past employers.
■ Follow up with thank-you notes and progress reports to helpful contacts.
■ Be persistent. Many employers aren’t ready to commit over the holidays. Stay in touch.
SOURCE: JOB COUNSELORS AND STUDENT MENTORS