Published on May 10, 2023

Even if you don’t have a summer job or internship, there are plenty of ways that your summer can give you new experiences for your resume and expose you to career paths you may never have considered before. Check out some of the free resources that can make your summer the resume-builder you’d hoped for. 

Volunteer projects

With so many worthy causes out there that could use your efforts and attention. Why not volunteer to help out with a project that you’re passionate about? It could mean marketing majors polishing your graphic design skills by creating art for demonstrations or rallies, or computer science majors helping refine the website for a local nonprofit that does good work in the community. You’ll not only be lending your time, skills, and focus to something good, but it’s also a great way to showcase tangible projects—and your values—in your portfolio and resume. 

VolunteerMatch is a great place to look for opportunities. You can also get in touch with a local nonprofit directly and ask about opportunities to help.

Online learning sites

Depending on your professional goals, you might want to polish up your marketing skills, learn to code, or gain knowledge about financial markets. Online learning platforms like Coursera, General Assembly, and Udemy all offer free online courses for whichever skills you’re motivated to learn!

‘Micro-internships’ with Forage

Forage partners with employers to create short (5-6 hour) ‘Virtual Experience Programs’ for college students. The programs are meant to show you what it’s like to do the work of a current employee. It’s a risk-free way to explore different career paths. It’s also a way to get an “in” with the employers you’re interested in. The programs are free, open-access and self-paced. You can check out the programs and sign up here.

Learn a language

Fluency in multiple languages is a huge asset not only in the workforce, but in daily life. The ability to communicate is extremely valuable in any field and profession, so why not spend your summer learning a new language? With apps like Duolingo, Memrise, and Mondly to help build confidence in a range of languages, you’ve got plenty of options—all it takes is a bit of commitment. 

Reposted with permission from Handshake student blog.