{"id":625,"date":"2026-06-18T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=625"},"modified":"2026-06-18T17:01:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:01:22","slug":"get-work-experience-without-internship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/basics\/get-work-experience-without-internship","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Work Experience This Summer Without an Internship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Getting work experience when you\u2019ve never worked before can feel like a paradox. You need job skills<\/a> to get hired, but you often need experience to build those skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many students turn to internships<\/a> for their first professional experience, they can be highly competitive. The good news? There are plenty of other ways to gain experience, build skills, expand your network, and strengthen your resume this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Get a Summer Job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many local businesses hire seasonal workers, making summer jobs a great way to gain experience, even if the role isn’t directly related to your career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI encourage my students to \u2018think outside the box\u2019 in their part-time job,\u201d Kirk Hazlett, Adjunct Professor of Communication at the University of Tampa, says. \u201cAsk [your] supervisor for additional, perhaps more challenging, assignments. Volunteer to help co-workers with tasks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to highlight the skills you develop on your resume<\/a>. For example, customer service roles can help you build customer service, problem-solving<\/a>, and project management<\/a> skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Freelance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Freelancing is a great way to gain experience, build skills, and earn money while working on short-term projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith freelancing, you can bring in actual money that some internships don\u2019t even offer and effectively broaden your skill set to bolster your resume,\u201d Steven McConnell, career expert and director of sales and marketing at Arielle Executive, says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re just getting started, look for opportunities on sites like Fiverr<\/a> or Upwork<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlso check out the Gigs section of Craigslist,\u201d Amanda Brandon, resume coach at ProPolish Resume and Career Services, says. \u201cYou can find some great opportunities there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Complete a Job Simulation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wondering how to get work experience from the comfort of your own home? A virtual job simulation<\/a> is an online course that simulates the tasks you would perform if you worked in a particular role at a specific company. Forage, for instance, offers a free program that allows you to experience sales at Red Bull<\/a>. (Check out our complete course catalog<\/a> to find a free job simulation in the industries you\u2019re most interested in exploring.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These programs have many benefits. You can build new skills and showcase your completion certificate on your LinkedIn profile<\/a> and resume. Many companies add amenable participants to their talent pool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Commercial\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

M&A<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A risk-free way to experience work on the job with us at Morrison Foerster. Practice your skills with example tasks and build your confidence to ace your applications.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t30-40 minutes\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRisk Identification, Risk Prioritization, Analytical Thinking, Written Communication, Attention to Detail, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Prioritization, Ownership Mindset, Organizational Skills ,Strategic Thinking\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Work on Your Certifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Career-specific certifications can set applicants apart in the job market. For instance, prospective project managers<\/a> might want to get a Scrum Master certification, while computer programmers can benefit from becoming certified in specific programming languages<\/a>, like C and C++.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuite often, certifications require a practical demonstration of the skills, like a project, a white paper, a use-case analysis,\u201d Brandon says. \u201cThis is considered real-world experience. Draw on your instructor\u2019s feedback and share that on your resume.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Volunteer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Volunteering can help you build experience, develop new skills, and expand your network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt will signal to employers and recruiters that you are determined and actively in pursuit of self-enrichment,\u201d McConnell says. \u201cThese organizations will also put you under mentors who will help guide you to developing key career skills you can include in your resume.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also take part in projects like hackathons, innovation challenges, or open-source work, then showcase that experience in an online portfolio<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Build Your Brand and Personal Profile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A strong online presence can help you stand out from other candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWork on your LinkedIn profile<\/a>, establish a personal website, start your own blog, or initiate a social impact project,\u201d McConnell suggests. \u201cThese channels will demonstrate how well you apply what you know and ultimately lead you to the right employer who will value what you can bring to the table and help you achieve even more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Building Your Personal Brand<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A risk-free way to build career skills with Ashurst. Complete example tasks and build your confidence to ace your applications.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAvg. Time:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t2-3 hours\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPersonal Branding, Image Processing, Reputation Management, Self-Reflection, Digital Presence, Self-Assessment, Brand Management, Professional Networking, Professional Profile\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnroll Now\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Do an Externship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An externship<\/a> gives you the chance to shadow a professional and learn what a role is really like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> Externship vs. Internship: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake some time to follow a professional person around for a day or two to get an idea of how they work and if this career is something you feel is worth pursuing,\u201d suggests Kathy Bennett, CEO and Founder of Bennett Packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find opportunities through your career center or by reaching out to family, friends, and local businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake time to get out in your community and network<\/a> with other companies and professionals to build connections and collide with potential opportunities,\u201d Bennett says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a company won’t let you job shadow<\/a>, they may agree to an informational interview<\/a>. You can also attend meetings of professional organizations related to your field of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor my students, it\u2019s the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, or, perhaps, the American Marketing Association,\u201d Hazlett says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Keep Up the Search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leveraging these and other connections could help you get work experience, but it can also secure that elusive summer internship<\/a> or, perhaps, the coming fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE: <\/strong>How to Apply For an Internship<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI also make sure that [my students] maintain constant communication with their school\u2019s career service office and\/or internship coordinator,\u201d Hazlett says. \u201cOccasionally, an internship will pop up that had not previously been advertised.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to begin your job search? Check out the 85 best job search sites and apps<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: Brooke Cagle on Unsplash<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Getting work experience when you\u2019ve never worked before can feel like a paradox. You need job skills to get hired, but you often need experience to build those skills. While many students turn to internships for their first professional experience, they can be highly competitive. The good news? There are plenty of other ways to …<\/p>\n

How to Get Work Experience This Summer Without an Internship<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"forage_sticky_bar_enabled":true,"forage_sticky_bar_content":"Top companies are hiring!","forage_sticky_bar_button_text":"Get seen","forage_sticky_bar_button_url":"https:\/\/www.theforage.com\/simulations?utm_source_platform=forage&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=blog-post-12&utm_content=sims-catalog","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"forage_editor_id":16,"forage_reviewer_id":27,"forage_authors":[],"veps":[4057,4015],"forage_sidebar":0,"forage_related_disabled":false,"forage_toc_enabled":true,"forage_toc_level":0,"modified":"2024-06-13T11:00:00","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Get Work Experience This Summer Without an Internship - Forage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unsure how to get work experience without an internship? 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