Despite the fact that everyone has been busy with interviews and looking for jobs, a portion of the class has not yet received a job offer. From what I’ve heard from classmates, I think that most of them spend the next few weeks kicking their job search into high gear. I definitely will be doing the same!

We’ve been at Fuqua since August, and it has been fast-paced from the beginning. But before the next semester starts in January, we’re getting a break – finally! Granted, we had fall break and a few other days off, but this is essentially the half-way mark for our degree. That’s really impressive when you think about it; we are halfway there!

Traveling & Family

Because we have several weeks off, it seems like most people are heading home for the holidays. There are a lot of international students taking flights back to India, China, Turkey, and even Africa. It’s always nice to reunite with family at this time of year, and for international students, this is one of the only times that they’ll have this opportunity. I wish our international students happy and safe journeys, and we can’t wait to see you back at Fuqua after the New Year.

Job Searching & Reading

I on the other hand, will use a large chunk of my vacation to look for a job and perhaps build my resume a bit more. I’m also hoping to read more about some business concepts that we covered in classes this past semester. I know this seems nerdy, but it’s actually a really good idea to learn as much external knowledge as possible about whatever it is that you are interested in, as the information could come up in an interview or with a recruiter. Or, surprisingly enough, the knowledge itself could be its own reward! A friend and teammate of mine recently recommended a book called Blue Ocean Strategy, which highlights the strategies of businesses moving into new markets. Seems like an interesting read, so I’m going to check that out. Also, Freakonomics has been on my list for a while.

As an MMS student, you have to take advantage of every opportunity possible to capture what you need for a job or for self development, and winter break is a good time for this. It’s also a good time to relax and have some eggnog (or whatever)! Wherever you are, be safe and enjoy your holiday!