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.