Getting Experience When You Don’t Have Any

Your degree is only one line on your resume – how do you fill the rest of the page?
Photo: Dennis Wise

It can feel hard – even impossible – to get experience when you don’t have any. You may know that connecting your education to the larger world is important – you learn more, you contribute something, and you make new connections. But how do you make it happen?

Gaining skills employers seek

Any experience outside the classroom can be a learning experience, but the following experiences are designed to help you gain skills that employers seek:

  • Internships – Internships combine working with learning and can be a great way to explore different career paths. The Career & Internship Center has resources to help students at each stage of the process – from finding and applying for internships, to making sense of the experience once it’s over.
  • Academic research – Undergraduates can work with faculty and graduate students on research projects, applying classroom knowledge and methods to real-world questions. Attending the Undergraduate Research Symposium in May is a great way to get a sense of the breadth of opportunities.
  • Community-based work, classes, or volunteering – Work with community partners and develop a first-hand understanding of local challenges and opportunities by signing up for a course with community-engaged learning , volunteering with community based organizations, tutoring in schools, or working on college access.

Take a risk, explore something new, revel in the learning.

About the Husky Experience Toolkit

The Husky Experience Toolkit is designed to help you make the most of your time at UW, wherever you are in your university career. The articles address four interconnected dimensions of the Husky Experience: Know Yourself, Know the World, Make Your Way, and Weave it Together.