Didn’t Land An Internship This Summer? 5 Ways You Can Still Be Productive By The Time You're Back In The Dorms

By Uloop Guest Writer on June 24, 2014

By: Cassandra Paré, Uloop Guest Writer

Photo via Istock

School’s out for summer. You’ve packed away your textbooks, gotten cozy in your old bedroom, and if you’re like one of the millions of college students in the U.S., you’ll also be heading to an internship.

That’s because summer is no longer just about beach days and barbecues; for most college students today, it’s now also about getting ahead. But what about those students who didn’t get the internship they wanted? How can you still get ahead without that coveted fancy desk job?

Here are 5 great ideas if you didn’t land an internship.

1.) Volunteer In Your Community. Volunteering is not only a great thing to do for your community, it can also look great on your resume. Consider your interests and see if you can land an internship around them. For instance, if you’re a nursing major see if you can find a volunteer opportunity in a nursing home. Like Art History? See if there are any volunteer positions at the local museum.

What’s more, every time you volunteer you’re also meeting like-minded people, which is of course great networking. A quick Google search for volunteering opportunities in your community should yield results. If you live in New York for instance, NY Cares is a great resource.

2.) Travel. Traveling is a great way to educate yourself about different cultures and communities and can teach you much more than any desk job ever could. Future employers love to see candidates that are worldly and cultured so you can definitely include it on your resume too.

What’s more, it’s also a great opportunity to work on a foreign language (double resume booster!) and to meet new people who just may be able to open up new opportunities for you in the future. STA Travel has some great ideas and deals on trips for those looking to go the back-packer route.

3.) Go Online. Find out about online contests and/or challenges with resume boosting potential. For instance, lots of companies or brands are looking to collaborate with their customers to help build solutions and cool products for you and as a result they are posting contests and challenges online.

We loved this contest from Haier, which asks for your best sketch of a small-space product (read: perfect for any engineer or business student trying to get ahead!). You get the opportunity to collaborate with their marketing team and engineers to build a fantasy product.  How cool would “I built my own flying mini fridge this summer” look on your resume?

4.) Build Your Own Business.  Couldn’t find a company to work for? Make your own. This doesn’t have to be as ambitious as it sounds. For instance, if you’re a great swimmer and your parents have a pool, what about swimming lessons? Are you a great baker? See if you can sell your cupcakes to some of the local bakeries and shops. The possibilities are endless and you’ll also be able to tell your future employers that you were once a CEO.

5.) Take A Class At The Local College. One great way to get ahead is to take a class in something that you’re interested in. It may not sound as glamorous as some of the others but it’s a great way to prove to future employers that you’re driven. It’s also a great opportunity to see if there is something outside your major that you really love. Check out your local community colleges or places such as General Assembly that have classes in courses you might not find at your full time university.

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