On the hunt for some invaluable professional experience to boost your CV, but not keen on working for free? We've got some options you can do instead of an internship!
Internships can be pretty crucial in ensuring you bag the job of your dreams. For many students, it can be almost impossible to get off to a good start on their pah without solid work experience.
However, months of hard work and no guarantee of a job offer at the end is pretty demotivating and many companies are still getting away with offering internships that are completely unpaid.
And what happens if you decide it's not the right path for you after all that hard work? If you’re not keen on a summer internship, but don't fancy playing FIFA until a great opportunity drops from the sky, consider one of the following alternatives.
What to do instead of an internship
Here are your options if you didn't get an internship over the summer or after university:
Volunteer for a charity or organisation
Ok, so if you want to avoid an unpaid internship because you need some money, volunteering may not be the one for you. But if you can afford to go without a salary even for a little while, this could work out a lot better than an internship.
That's because, while volunteering doesn't do wonders for your bank balance, it goes some way to making up for that in the benefits it can have for your CV.
Volunteering not only suggests that you're a compassionate, selfless person, but it also shows that you've got a good work ethic – after all, you've chosen to spend your time doing something productive and meaningful, despite there being no financial gain for you.
What's more, depending on what you end up doing, volunteering could even teach you a lot more than an internship. If you're given the responsibility of leading a team or organising an event, you'll almost certainly have gained more from volunteering than you would have from interning!
To get more of a flavour of what to expect from it all, check out our
Learn new skills or do an online course
There are so many ways you can make the best use of your free time by learning new skills. The world of online learning has grown massively over the last few years, and now there are so many free online courses that you can use to improve cv , and better prepare yourself for the working world.
For example, understanding basic HTML and CSS is a great asset for many positions, including everything from software development, UX (that's user experience), design and even writing content for the web – in fact, basic HTML knowledge was even needed to write this article!
If you can’t write code, the best way to learn is online (obviously!) through free websites like
Want to get into investments? Learn everything you can about the stock market, start trading some shares and blog about your experience as a young investor, just like did.
Doing something like this will not only make you stand out from the job-seeking crowd, but it'll also teach you the skills you need first-hand.
Start a business
Ever had a great idea that’s slipped through your fingers because you haven’t had the time or resources to get it going?
Well, now that you have some spare time on your hands and haven't entered the big bad job market yet, this could be the perfect opportunity to start a company.
Use all that free time and energy and put it to good use! Need some inspiration? Check out these ideas to find the money you need to start your business.
Starting your own project will be great experience, as well as being . Then again, if all goes well with the business, you may not even need to use that CV after all!
Go travelling
Struggling to apply for internships because you're unsure of what sort of career you’re interested in? ttraveling can be a great way to give you some time to think about which direction you'd like your career to move in, and it , too.
Work, family and other commitments could get in the way of you being able to travel later in life, so if you have the 'travel bug' and are unsure about your career path, use your chance to fulfil this dream now!
If you choose wisely it doesn't have to cost you a fortune. There are plenty of opportunities to earn a bit of cash while you travel. Try looking into carving your own path in something you enjoy.
Get a part-time or summer job
We know – jobss isn't as simple as it sounds. But if an internship isn't for you, and there are some jobs going in your area, this could work out as an even better option.
A summer job (especially while you're a student) is a great way to show employers that you're not one for just doing the bare minimum. It'd be easy to spend your summer chilling out, maxing and relaxing, but taking a summer job when you could be lazing around proves that you've got the right attitude.
Obviously, a job in a field that you're interested in would be ideal, but in the absence of that, pretty much any job that you can put cvwill do wonders for an employer's perception of your work ethic.
Just start applying well in advance so that all the best jobs (and even the worst) aren't taken by the time you're home!
Go freelance
We're not gonna lie, freelancing is hard work – being your own boss requires a ton of self-discipline and organisation. Make sure you're set up with web and mediato boost your chances of attracting prospective clients!
But, it can get you paid work and is a great way of making contacts. If you do a good job (and the company likes you), they might decide to offer you a full-time position.
Not all industries lend themselves to this kind of work, but if you're in one that does (media students, we're looking at you!), it's definitely worth a shot. And we've got a complete to get you up and running!
Check out enternships
Ok, so strictly speaking this is still a type of internship. However, enternships are different from regular gigs with large corporate companies, where your most strenuous task will be remembering how many sugars your boss takes in their coffee.
Enternships are perfect options for those graduates who have an entrepreneurial spirit (hence, enternship – get it?) and are looking for a more 'hands-on' experience in the workplace.
Instead of working on spreadsheets for two months as another cog in the corporate wheel, you’ll be working as part of a smaller team for a yong. This means that not only will your tasks be more interesting, but you'll have the chance to take on more responsibility and may be able to make a real difference to the company you’re working for!
This is especially recommended if you’re interested in entrepreneurship, venture capital or technology, as a wealth of relevant skills and experience can be learned in the right startup.
all in oneee
