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What would be the best way to gain experience for my future career?

It’s almost summer time and I want to have a summer job to get the feel of working and take that with me on my journey to employment

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Thank you comment icon Hi- It is great you are thinking about this early on. I would say the best way to gain experience is through internships and testing out different jobs to see what you really enjoy and what gets you excited. There are so many opportunities out there, and it can be overwhelming, but I encourage you to start with one, see what you think, and go from there. This will allow you to get closer to finding what truly makes you excited! Tatum Shore
Thank you comment icon Best ways to gain experience (even if you're unsure about your career): Try different activities – Join clubs, take diverse electives, and volunteer. Get hands-on – Look for internships, summer programs, or job shadowing. Build useful skills – Focus on communication, leadership, and teamwork. Reflect as you go – Keep track of what you enjoy and what you're good at. Exploring now helps you discover what you might want to do later! Lisa Sandford
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Karolina’s Answer

Hello Riley,
I admire that you're thinking about how to use your free time to gain experience. Having this mindset early on will absolutely help you grow in your career. A great place to start is by finding a summer job that helps you build transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and time management. These are valuable in every profession, and not everyone takes the time to develop them early.

Next, explore careers you’re interested in or subjects you’re curious about. Entry-level positions related to those interests can help you figure out what you enjoy and where you might thrive. Even if it’s not your dream job, it can still teach you a lot about the work environment and your own strengths.

You can also gain meaningful insight by shadowing professionals or volunteering in unpaid roles. These experiences offer a close-up look at different career paths and help build both confidence and clarity. Most importantly, stay open-minded and don’t let any setbacks discourage you. Every small step you take helps build your character, skillset, and path toward something greater.

Wishing you the best,
Karolina
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. Below are my suggestions :
1. Some corporates may look for summer in schools. You can keep an eye on the career office of your school.
2. Keep an eye on the career website of large corporate. They may post summer interns vacancies from time to time.
3. If there is any corporate you would like to work for, send them an email with you cv to their HR department to explore any opportunities
4. Leverage your family and friends network to find any intern opportunities.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
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Helen’s Answer

Find any internship you can and start networking with any professionals as possible
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Elizabeth’s Answer

Consider an internship in your chosen career field. If that is not available - other employment opportunities can provide experience that can be relevant from a leadership and responsibility perspective.
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Alexander’s Answer

Hey Riley,

I think one of the best ways to gain experience is to pursue an internship! If you have the chance to do so, I would recommend that you attend one to be able to talk to other professionals who may know of opportunities for you to gain experience!

Having a good idea of what you want to do will definitely help with this but just taking up anything will be useful as it will teach you what you don't like and what you like to do!

Best of luck :)
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Christopher’s Answer

Hi Riley,
That’s a great question—and it’s awesome that you’re already thinking about how to build experience for your future career!
The most valuable thing I did was step outside my comfort zone. I started by sending cold emails to professionals in fields I was curious about, attending school recruiting events, and actively making new connections. Even though I didn’t know I’d end up in consulting, those experiences helped me discover what I liked (and didn’t like), and ultimately led me here after about 300 applications and 10 interviews!
A few tips as you look for a summer job:

1. Be open-minded: Don’t limit yourself to just one type of job or industry. Every experience teaches you something valuable.
2. Network: Reach out to people, even if you don’t know them well. Most professionals are happy to share advice or point you in the right direction.
3. Embrace rejection: Not every opportunity will work out, and that’s okay. Each “no” gets you closer to a “yes.”
4/ Reflect: After each experience, think about what you enjoyed and what you didn’t. This will help guide your future choices.

Most importantly, keep learning and stay curious. You never know where your journey might take you. Good luck!
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Bhavyasri’s Answer

Kickstarting your future career is all about discovering what you love and what you're great at. Try out different activities, chat with people in jobs that catch your interest, and seek opportunities to gain experience, whether through volunteering or a part-time job. Keep learning new skills, and don't hesitate to ask for advice or change your path as you learn more about yourself and the job market. The key is to stay curious and keep exploring.
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VK’s Answer

Hi Riley, that’s a great mindset to have going into the summer. Without knowing which career it is that you're interested in, here are a few general ideas to get some meaningful experience:
• Look for a part-time job, even if it’s not in your dream field—just being in a work environment teaches a lot.
• Volunteer somewhere you care about. It’s a great way to build people skills and show initiative.
• Try starting a small project or side hustle, maybe something creative like making videos or designs.
• Take a free online course in something that interests you—there are tons out there and they look great on a resume.
• If possible, see if you can shadow someone in a job you find interesting—it can give you insight you won’t get anywhere else.

Maybe go talk to a local store (if applicable) and see if they need any help if they happen to be in the field you're looking to build your career, volunteering again would be a fantastic way to gain experience so all depends on your interests. Maybe even use ChatGPT to get some more ideas to help you narrow it down. Anything that helps you build confidence, responsibility, or new skills is a great move. Keep going—you’re already ahead by asking this question! :) Good luck!
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Ericka’s Answer

Hi Riley!
I’m glad to see your motivation to make the most of your time while earning your degree! I recommend applying for internship opportunities in fields that match your interests. It’s a good idea to plan ahead, think about which companies you’d like to gain experience with. You might start with smaller or local companies, and then aim for larger or non-local organizations during future breaks. This approach will help you gain a variety of experiences and expand your network.
Internships can also open doors for future job opportunities, as many companies extend full-time offers to interns after graduation. So, start visualizing where you’d like to work full-time and look for internships that align with those goals. Planning ahead now can really pay off in the long run.
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Savyata’s Answer

Hello Riley! To gain meaningful experience for your future career through a summer job, here are some detailed steps:

Identify Your Career Interests: Reflect on the field or role you want to pursue. This focus will help you target relevant opportunities.

Seek Internships or Entry-Level Roles: Look for internships, apprenticeships, or summer jobs in companies or sectors aligned with your career goals. These positions often provide structured learning and mentorship.

Volunteer or Project Work: If paid roles are limited, consider volunteering or contributing to projects that develop skills pertinent to your career path.

Leverage Networking: Connect with professionals in your desired field through LinkedIn, career fairs, or internal networks. They can offer guidance or refer you to opportunities.

Develop Soft Skills: Use the summer job to enhance communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, which are valuable in any career.

Reflect and Document: Keep track of your experiences, achievements, and lessons learned to showcase in future job applications.
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Sriram’s Answer

It truly depends on what you are passionate about and what would help you to accomplish and be successful in accomplishing that goal. For example, if you are planning to be lawyer you try to find some opportunities with layer or a law firm. Similarly if you want to be a doctor it would be great you volunteer in hospital department or work with doctor in a private practice. You should make full use of summer time to shape your own future.
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Chris’s Answer

Hey Riley!

You're already taking great steps by being proactive, and that's awesome!

Try to focus on opportunities that match your interests, whether directly or indirectly. Connect with people in those fields. By showing interest, you'll learn what skills and qualifications are needed and discover areas to improve. Networking can be a bit scary, but it boosts your confidence and builds your soft skills. Going after what excites you is always a smart move. You've got this!
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Rudy’s Answer

1) Talking to your high school or college career counselor about the areas you're interested in will allow them to suggest some opportunities or areas they've seen students will similar interest find luck in.
2) Reach out to local businesses in your area and share how you can support their growth and would like to build some practical experience. You can get some good quality unpaid work even if it's not a formal job.
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Alexa’s Answer

Hi Riley! It's great that you're thinking about this. I really recommend looking for internships in career fields you think may interest you. I did a few internships throughout college (paid and unpaid) that really helped me determine what I am interested in doing in the future. Good luck!
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Quin’s Answer

Hi There! A lot of times in interviews, companies like to ask how your passion aligns to the job you are interviewing for. In addition to considering a summer job, you could also consider picking up a new hobby or passion project that is also related to what you want to do long term! For example, if you want to work in computer science, try coding a new tool that helps you make your best summer playlist. Or if you want to be a chef, start a supper club with your friends. This give you fun points to bring up and support your mission statement in interviews, while also making you a more interesting person!

Of course this all depends on where you are in the big picture - if you are in college I'd recommend doing this in addition to looking for an internship (which there has already been great advice given to you on this thread).
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Vartika’s Answer

1) Start by identifying the areas or jobs you feel passionate about. Think about what you would love to do, even without getting paid. What excites you enough to make you jump out of bed every morning? Explore different internships to discover this passion.

2) Use social media to your benefit. Share your interests and goals with your network so they can help you find opportunities.

3) Apply for jobs or internships that help you gain skills for your bigger goals. Remember, every experience is valuable, no matter how big or small, because it's all about what you learn from it.
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Lucas’s Answer

Best way to gain experience is through an internship. Not only do you gain valuable experience to put on your resume, but also it gives you a better idea as to what your interests are.

Also, another thing I did in high school was I job shadowed a lawyer to see what that was like. Not only did I get to see what a day as a lawyer looked like , but I built a valuable connection. In today' world, connections are everything. I'm sure that someone you know somewhere would love to tell you what they do/offer an opportunity.
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Lakshmi’s Answer

Hi Riley -

Best way to gain experience is through a practical experience like Internships or Part-Time Jobs, even if entry-level. You could offer your skills to nonprofits or community organizations or can take up some personal projects.
Another interesting way is to attend industry events, join professional groups, connect on LinkedIn. Learn new skills and earn credentials relevant to your career goals. You could also look for role models in the career of your choice, observe them or talk to them about their work to gain insights.

I hope this helps!

Thanks.
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Stacy’s Answer

Hi Riley!

Congratulations on making the step to thinking about getting the job you want :). This journey is evolving so remind yourself that you CAN change your mind throughout this process.

That being said, to think about what you would like to do in the future start thinking about what really brings you joy? For example, I really truly enjoy organizing and bringing people together. Write them down on a sheet of paper (as many as you can!!) and then... start talking to people about their jobs around you/look on linkedin for job postings and see if these jobs would apply to any of those things that bring you joy on the sheet of paper. Once determined what future jobs you could look like, keep looking at those linkedin postings and see what skills / credentials they are looking for. From there you can look at some jobs that could be a good match for your first one.
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Mark’s Answer

Hi Riley,
Networking is really important, and expanding your connections can open up many opportunities. You can do this by seeking internships, whether local or remote. Check out local meetup groups or LinkedIn groups and actively participate in discussions. Attend events in person, ask questions, and connect with people on LinkedIn. Offering to help for free can also be a great way to start. Remember, the toughest step is often just getting started and gaining that first bit of experience. You can do it!
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Jennifer’s Answer

Hi Riley! It is great that you are thinking of how you can spend your summer to advance your future career! Some of the best ways to gain experience is to actively seek out practical, hands-on opportunities that align with your goals. Here are some different ways you can do that:

Internships and part-time jobs to build real-world skills.
Volunteering or freelance work to expand your portfolio.
Networking and finding mentors to learn from experienced professionals.
Participating in academic projects, competitions, or certifications to develop expertise.
Taking on personal projects to demonstrate initiative and passion.

Combining these approaches will help you build relevant skills, expand your professional network, and stand out to future employers. Hope this helps!
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Melat’s Answer

I encourage you to identify your area of interest and start looking for jobs and internships in that field. Take advantage of your school's career services, and seek out mentors or coaches who can help you build your resume and prepare for interviews. There are also online assistants and freelancers who offer support to students like you in your job search. Building your LinkedIn network as well - that should be your best friend.
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Jasmina’s Answer

Hi,

I think you've already took the first step which is knowing that you would like to start building your experience for future employment. From my personal experience I had worked started working in retail in college built up my resume by joining student government and doing extra ciricular activities. Aside from that I would also apply to internships. Some internships might be dated for a year or two in advance but it is definitely a great opportunity to start applying to those now. That internship can turn into a full time job and might be the career you'd like to pursue.

Key is to stay committed and try new things. Explore your options through various internships and programs
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Lucia’s Answer

Love that you’re already thinking ahead about gaining experience—honestly, the best advice is: just start. Don’t overthink finding the “perfect” summer job. Any experience you get early on can teach you a lot if you go into it with the right mindset. Think of it like testing a hypothesis—take a guess at what you might enjoy or be good at, then try something out and see how it feels.

As you go through the job, pay attention to what parts you enjoy, what feels natural to you, where you shine, and also what areas feel challenging or not quite your thing. That information is what's important. It’ll help guide you to your next opportunity and shape how you tell your story professionally later on.
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Emily’s Answer

Hi Riley - great question and proactive thinking! Many have already mentioned these, but I would highlight internships/co-ops and networking the most. See each summer or break period as a chapter in your journey and ultimately think about how each of these chapters will get you to the career (and as others have noted, this might change along the way!). Whether you're using the summer to network with individuals across different organizations within the same industry, or cross industries, use tools like LinkedIn to learn about what opportunities are out there and what interests you most. Then use these connections and knowledge to seek internships/externships/co-ops to evaluate if the opportunity is a good fit for your career goals. Keep an open mind - sometimes the best opportunities are those which you would have never expected. Good luck!
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Owen’s Answer

The best way to get ready for a future career is to ask questions and start meeting people early on. It might feel scary to think about the future, and rejection can be tough, but employers like it when you show interest and passion. Don't be afraid to take that first step. Tools like Indeed and LinkedIn can help guide you toward what you want to do in life.
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Patti’s Answer

Hi Riley!
Along with the other great advice, I would also recommend looking for a local business owner or professional to be a mentor. The business owner could give you insight into entrepreneurship and you can learn much of business culture and soft skills in different industries. There is so much to be learned with real life examples that go along with formal education. As a hiring manager, the knowledge gained from experience, paid or unpaid, is worth so much more than the name of an institution on a piece of paper.

Learning is a continuous journey throughout one's career. Mentorships are valuable and the knowledge that can be garnered through these relationships can bolster collaboration and create greater opportunities in the future.

Offering to work alongside a professional, even for free, has the potential to be paid back in something much more valuable than money.
Good luck!
Patti
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Lynn’s Answer

The 'best' way is subjective. Internships are important - they offer direct industry exposure, networking, and skill application. Don't limit yourself to paid roles; consider volunteer work or side projects aligned with your interests to build a portfolio.
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Lynn’s Answer

What is 'best' can be subjective. Internship is important. It provides you direct industry exposure, networking, and skill application. Don't limit yourself to paid roles; consider volunteer work or side projects aligned with your interests to build a portfolio.
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Keerat’s Answer

I would recommend applying to internships in areas you feel gravitated towards. That way you can have a trial run for a few months and get an idea of what the day-to-day involves.
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Emily’s Answer

Hi Riley - great question and proactive thinking! Many have already mentioned these, but I would highlight internships/co-ops and networking the most. See each summer or break period as a chapter in your journey and ultimately think about how each of these chapters will get you to the career (and as others have noted, this might change along the way!). Whether you're using the summer to network with individuals across different organizations within the same industry, or cross industries, use tools like LinkedIn to learn about what opportunities are out there and what interests you most. Then use these connections and knowledge to seek internships/externships/co-ops to evaluate if the opportunity is a good fit for your career goals. Keep and open mind - sometimes the best opportunities are those which you would have never expected. Good luck!
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Angelique’s Answer

Get involved in an internship or volunteer work in a field you love. Visit your school career center for help with your resume and interview skills. Find a mentor in your area of interest who can help you discover the best career path.

Angelique recommends the following next steps:

Do an internship or volunteer work in an area of interest.
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Jeffrey’s Answer

Find something tangential to what you might be interested in pursuing as a profession and then try to get an internship or summer employment. Even if you are not doing the actual work - but your experience gives you insight into the daily lives of individuals who are in the profession that you might be interested in doing. That way, you can see what the day-to-day activities / lifestyle are for professionals in the profession.
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Rhys’s Answer

Best thing you can do for yourself is to get ANY job. Right now, the thing you need to get is basic work experience. In high school I was a cook at a local restaurant and waited tables. I use a lot of those skills I learned at those jobs in my current job now. Once you just start working you'll surprise yourself at what other opportunities will come along and what skills you'll happen to build.
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Sumitha’s Answer

Hi Riley,
The best way to gain experience for your future career is to actively seek out opportunities where you can learn and apply new skills, regardless of your chosen field. This might include internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, or participating in extracurricular activities and clubs. Even if these roles aren’t directly related to your ultimate career goal, they can help you develop valuable skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership. You can also work on personal projects, take on responsibilities in community organizations, or shadow professionals to get a sense of what different careers are like. Networking and seeking mentorship from people in your areas of interest can provide insights and open doors to new experiences. The key is to stay open-minded, proactive, and willing to learn from every opportunity, as all experience contributes to your personal and professional growth.

Good Luck!
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Jason’s Answer

Hi Riley! It's great that you're trying to get a jumpstart on this. I really recommend looking for internships in career fields you have interest in. I did a few internships throughout college and that really helped me determine what I wanted to do in the future. I did accounting/finance internships, while working a cashier and banking job which eventually led to me getting my degree in Accounting and my Master's in Finance. Good luck!
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Raja’s Answer

I am glad that you are already looking for options to shine in your future career. The best way is to look for opportunities based on your interests and passions. There a full time and part time jobs available in the market. Plan for qualifying course, certifications which can help to get good employers.
Good luck for your future endeavors.
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Shruti’s Answer

Hi! This is really great you are already thinking about this so early! I would recommend checking with a school career counselor as well as Linkedin for any jobs that match what your interests are. Even if it's a fun summertime job you can gain skills that will help you in the future so explore anything!
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Stephenie’s Answer

To get ready for your career, try to gain a range of experiences. This can include internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, or other activities. The more skills you learn and the more places you work, the better you'll understand what you like and what you're good at. Talk to people with different career paths to gain insights.
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Catherine’s Answer

The best way is to get an internship or volunteering position so you can learn through the job also you can talk to the people who have experience in that field to find out what are the daily activities for that specific job. You can connect with people on LinkedIn and ask them questions.
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