No Internship? No Problem!
By Amanda Chen
So you didn’t land that prestigious summer internship where you’d be alphabetizing spreadsheets in a cubicle for free coffee and “experience.” Cool. Because guess what? There are plenty of other ways to level up professionally and have a life this summer.
Whether you’re chasing cash, confidence, or career cred, these side-hustles give you all three—with way more personality and way less boredom. Bonus: most of them can be started this week.
Let’s begin:
1. Camp Counselor
Make friendship bracelets, shout cheers, and lead water balloon battles? Yes, please. You’ll walk away with top-tier people skills, conflict resolution practice, and the ability to lead a crowd of chaotic 8-year-olds like a pro—great prep for literally any job involving humans.
2. Social Media Assistant
If you know the difference between “trending” and “trying too hard,” you’re already qualified. By utilizing those polished doom scrolling skills, you can manage Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest for a small biz or local influencer. You’ll build real skills in branding, content strategy, and analytics while having way more fun than a marketing intern stuck editing newsletters.
3. Campus Ambassador
Get paid to hype up your college to prospective students and their nervous parents. Perfect for building confidence, public speaking skills, and your LinkedIn network (because the admissions team will endorse you).
4. Tutor
Got a subject you secretly crushed last semester? Now’s your time to monetize it. Whether you’re tutoring local high schoolers or doing Zoom sessions with other students, this job shows off mastery, patience, and the ability to explain hard things clearly—super hireable.
5. Depop/Etsy Seller
Turn old clothes, handmade jewelry, or custom stickers into cold, hard Venmo. You’ll learn product photography, pricing strategy, customer service, and packaging aesthetic—all while building a side brand that’s so you!
6. Language Tutor or Conversation Partner
If you speak another language, this is your moment. Language tutoring builds communication skills, cultural awareness, and teaching experience—and it pays well. Bonus: you meet cool people from all over the world.
7. Dog Walker/Pet Sitter
Need a serotonin boost and some spending money? Easy. This gig is all about reliability, responsibility, and having the best “client” stories ever. Great for early risers and animal lovers alike.
8. Freelance Writer or Editor
Write blogs, proofread college essays, or ghostwrite bios. You’ll practice clear communication, creative expression, and deadline management—aka résumé candy for future content creators, marketers, or journalists.
9. Streamer: Build a Brand While Gaming (or Doing Anything, Honestly)
You don’t need 1M followers to make it worthwhile. If you’re consistent, charismatic, and a little tech-savvy, streaming can sharpen your speaking skills, media editing chops, and personal branding. You’re not “just gaming”—you’re building a business.
10. Museum Docent
Passionate about art, fossils, or obscure history facts? Lead tours or assist with exhibits. You’ll develop public speaking skills, audience engagement tactics, and cultural literacy—all while getting front-row access to cool stuff.
Final Thought:
No internship? That doesn’t mean you’re falling behind.
What matters is how you use your summer—whether you’re leveling up your people skills at camp or building a micro-empire on Depop. These gigs aren’t just jobs; they’re launchpads.
So get creative. Get paid. And build that résumé your future self will thank you for.