Summer is a prime time to work as an intern. Internships help you gain industry experience and spice up your resume. And summer internships typically are not completed alongside other courses or extra-curricular commitments that arise at other points of the year. Competition for summer internships can be fierce, and most organizations are often looking for rising juniors, seniors, or even college graduates.
Fear not though, underclassmen. Even if you have not secured an internship this summer or find that you are not eligible for one, there are efforts you can make to fill any potential gaps in your resume. 1) Work Part Time Part-time positions will help you develop transferable skills and experience ranging from customer service to adaptability and everything in between. Opportunities as a retail sales associate, camp counselor, server, and lots of other areas exist. During previous summers I worked as a hostess and learned how to juggle a bit of everything under pressure. The skills I acquired through this part-time work experience helped me stay afloat at my internships and through all of my co-curricular activities on campus. 2) Shadow Someone in Your Desired Industry Reach out to anyone in your network working in the field you want to enter. Ask if you can shadow them or simply schedule a time to meet for coffee for an informational interview. Shadowing can help you understand the ins and outs of a workplace while building your network and professional relationships to return to later on. And hey, who knows? A shadow experience may lead to an internship in the future. 3) Volunteer When you give back to your community, you give back to yourself as well. You become a better person, help society at large, and develop skills that are invaluable to your professional and personal growth. On campus I was involved with Food Recovery Network, while over the summers in high school I volunteered at my community’s soup kitchen. So, give back---on a local level, or wherever you want. Make an impact by helping others in an area of their life this summer. 4) Build a Portfolio Create a stellar website, blog or any other form of electronic portfolio that showcases your best work. In my major, communications, for example, students in all classes have websites to show off their creative work. That way, when they apply for jobs and internships down the line, they can send employers a link to the work samples they are most proud of. An organized portfolio will make you stand out as a job applicant. It’s OK to not have an internship this summer. Don’t beat yourself up over it. You have much to accomplish in these next few months. You got this!
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