Every activity you participate in can be an opportunity to build or master skills.  Take a few minutes to evaluate how you are learning new skills and/or perfecting existing ones over the summer months:

• Volunteering – think about the activities you do when you give your time to volunteer organizations - maybe you share your analytical, creative, technological, or leadership skills.

• Family time – we sometimes forget that some of the most important skills we use in our jobs are mastered at home - communication, organization, time management, and problem-solving skills could all fall into this category.

• Professional organizations – when you interact with peers in your industry or others, are you sharing your expertise?  Have you gained skills from these people that will translate into your work experiences?

Heading on a summer vacation and still want to feel productive?  This is a great time to take a few minutes to create a ‘to do' list for your career.  Not only are you more relaxed on vacation, but you're probably able to take time to be reflective.  Here are some ideas to stimulate your thoughts...

• What administrative tasks do you need to do (i.e., update your resume)?
• When did you last update your online profiles? If it's been more than 6 months, it's time...
• Are there new network contacts that you need to connect with online?
• Do you have new responsibilities at work that you need to start documenting in preparation for your next professional development discussion with management?
• Are there skills you want to learn (i.e., language, technology)?
• Who do you need to write a thank you email to (personally and professionally)?