10 Best Ways to Gain Work Experience Before Finishing College

A young woman sits at a laptop in a bright cafe, building work experience before college graduation

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If youโ€™re still in college, youโ€™ve likely heard that employers want โ€œexperienceโ€ even for entry-level roles. Itโ€™s a frustrating paradox: how do you get experience without a job, and how do you get a job without experience?

Hereโ€™s the concrete answer: You can and should gain work experience before you graduate.

Students who have relevant work experience before finishing college are more likely to secure a full-time job within six months of graduation and command starting salaries that are 15-20% higher on average than their peers without experience, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Beyond higher pay, getting work experience while still in school helps you:

  • Build a professional network before graduation.
  • Clarify what you want to do after college.
  • Develop practical, marketable skills.
  • Create your resume with relevant sections that catch employersโ€™ eyes.

1. Paid Internships


Internships are the clearest, most direct way to gain experience aligned with your major while earning income. They expose you to workplace expectations, technical skills, and industry workflows before graduation.

What to focus on:

  • Seek internships directly tied to your desired post-graduation role. If you are a finance major, a corporate banking internship will carry more weight than unrelated summer jobs.
  • Many large companies hire interns into full-time roles after graduation, reducing the need for prolonged job searches.

Key numbers:

  • According to NACE, 56% of paid interns receive job offers from their employers post-graduation.
  • Paid interns average $19โ€“$25 per hour, depending on the industry and location.
Execution: Start looking at least 6-8 months ahead on platforms like Handshake, your college career site, and LinkedIn. Prioritize roles offering structured learning, exposure to team-based projects, and feedback opportunities.

2. Part-Time Jobs Related to Your Major

Working part-time in your field while studying demonstrates your commitment and ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical work.

Examples:

  • A marketing student is managing a small businessโ€™s social media accounts.
  • An education major working as a teaching assistant.
  • A data science student analyzing sales data for a local startup.

Key numbers:

  • Students working in-field part-time earn 15-20% higher salaries post-graduation (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce).
Execution: Use your collegeโ€™s job board, departmental emails, and LinkedIn to find part-time opportunities that match your major. Emphasize your coursework and relevant projects in your applications to demonstrate readiness.

3. Freelance Projects and Gig Work

A student works on freelance projects at a laptop to gain work experience
Freelancers often earn $15โ€“$50 per hour based on skills and focus

Freelancing lets you build a work history on your schedule while applying your skills in real-world contexts.

Examples:

  • Writing blog posts or managing newsletters for small businesses, if you are in communications.
  • Designing logos or brand assets, if you are in graphic design.
  • Developing websites or scripts if you are in computer science.

Key numbers:

  • Freelancers can earn $15โ€“$50 per hour, depending on skill level and specialization.
Execution: Set up profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, or specialized platforms like Dribbble or GitHub for showcasing your work. Track client feedback and completed projects, which can be added to a Create Your Resume section under โ€œProfessional Experience.โ€

4. Campus Leadership Roles

Leadership in student organizations helps develop project management, budgeting, and team leadership skills.

Examples:

  • Serving as treasurer requires managing club budgets.
  • Leading event planning for a cultural society demands coordinating logistics and marketing.
  • Being an editor for a student publication involves managing content pipelines and team deadlines.
Execution: Seek leadership roles in clubs aligned with your interests or major. Use these roles to practice communication, conflict resolution, and deadline management, all of which are valued by employers.

5. Research Assistant Positions

@zoelo.hy Replying to @pheebs! drink every time i say โ€˜PhDโ€™ lol #researchassistant #dayinthelifestem #womeninstem #lifeinyour20s #inmy20s #20somethings #careerjourney #paytransparency โ™ฌ original sound – Zoe Lo ๐Ÿ’


Becoming a research assistant builds technical and analytical skills while giving you experience in report writing and data interpretation.

Examples:

  • Assisting a professor in psychology with behavioral data coding.
  • Collecting lab samples for a biology project.
  • Analyzing datasets for economics or sociology studies.

Key numbers:

  • Many positions offer pay rates of $12โ€“$20 per hour, depending on the department and funding.
  • Research experience increases graduate school acceptance rates for relevant fields.
Execution: Identify professors whose research aligns with your interests. Prepare a clear email describing your interest and your related coursework, offering to help with data collection, literature reviews, or analysis tasks.

6. Volunteer and Community Service

Volunteering provides exposure to organizational workflows, teamwork, and community engagement, especially valuable for those targeting public service, healthcare, or nonprofit sectors.

Examples:

  • Assisting in administrative tasks at a local clinic for healthcare exposure.
  • Helping a nonprofit with event planning or social media outreach.
  • Tutoring local high school students if pursuing education.

Key numbers:

  • 41% of employers consider volunteer experience as valuable as paid work (LinkedIn Survey).
Execution: Look for volunteering opportunities that align with your professional goals, allowing you to build contacts and gain structured, relevant experiences.

7. Co-Op Programs

Co-ops allow you to gain full-time, paid experience while maintaining academic progress, typically lasting 3-12 months.

Examples:

  • Engineering co-ops where students contribute to design or testing projects.
  • Business co-ops where you assist in market analysis and reporting.

Key numbers:

  • Co-op students often graduate with 6-18 months of work experience.
  • Co-ops pay similar to entry-level roles, helping reduce student debt.
Execution: Consult your department and career services office to explore co-op programs that align with your field, and prepare to adjust your academic schedule accordingly.

8. Personal Projects and Portfolios

Building personal projects demonstrates initiative and the ability to manage complete workflows from ideation to execution.

Examples:

  • Coding a mobile app that solves a real-world problem if you are in software engineering.
  • Running a blog on topics related to your field, if you are in journalism.
  • Designing a brand package for a fictional company, if you are in graphic design.
Execution: Document your projects clearly, including your objectives, processes, outcomes, and technical tools used. This builds a portfolio that employers can evaluate directly when reviewing your applications.

9. Job Shadowing

A student sits across from a professional during a job shadowing session to learn about work experience
Make a list of questions to learn more during shadowing

Job shadowing offers first-hand insights into your chosen profession and industry expectations without the commitment of a formal job.

Examples:

  • Spending a week with a financial analyst to observe their workflow.
  • Shadowing a lab technician to understand day-to-day lab operations.
Execution: Reach out to alumni, family friends, or your professors for introductions to professionals open to hosting students. Prepare a list of questions to maximize learning during your shadowing period.

10. Industry Certifications

Certifications build credibility, demonstrating your commitment to learning skills employers value.

Examples:

  • Earning a Google Analytics certification for marketing students.
  • Completing AWS Cloud Practitioner certification for IT and data students.
  • Obtaining CPR and First Aid certification for healthcare students.

Key numbers:

  • Certified candidates can earn 5-20% more in starting salaries (CompTIA).
Execution: Choose certifications recognized in your field and complete them during school to enhance your resume and make yourself a competitive candidate post-graduation.

Final Note

A young professional smiles at her laptop while gaining work experience before graduation
Work experience before graduation is not optional if you want a smoother transition into your career

Using these 10 strategiesโ€”internships, part-time jobs, freelancing, leadership, research, volunteering, co-ops, personal projects, job shadowing, and certificationsโ€”will prepare you practically, build your professional network, and clarify your career goals.

Picture of Catherine Lefevre

Catherine Lefevre

Hello, Iโ€™m Catherine Lefevre, an experienced educator with a Master's degree in Education from the University of New Orleans and over 25 years in the education field. After retiring from active teaching, I decided to share my extensive knowledge through writing, focusing on key educational trends, school improvement strategies, and student success stories. As an author at Springfield Renaissance School, my mission is to support educators and parents with practical insights and trustworthy advice.

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