During the spring of my first year in journalism school, I watched my friends land amazing summer internships.
New Facebook announcements popped up each day: One was going to work at the New York Times.
Another would intern at Real Simple.
And then there was me, hearing crickets in my inbox.
I didnt land an internship that summer, and, at first, I was crushed.
Instead, take a class.
If you find yourself without an internship, know youre not the only one.
Also, dont worry too much.
Sure, internships are important and can teach you a lot but so can other experiences.
Cant Get an Internship?
7 Ways to Make Money if You Hate People
Do you avoid people too?
Enough small talk.Here are some waysto earn extra cash, without all of the social stuff.
For ideas on what to do, I chatted with Kim Vogel, The Penny Hoarders talent acquisition manager.
She oversees our hiring process from interns to senior analysts.
I opted to take the magazine staff class.
By enrolling in the class, I became a department editor for the local magazine.
Did you know?
I gained great connections, too.
You could also consider pairing up with your favorite professor and shaping your own class in an independent study.
Plus, I saved money by living at home.
They might not give you college credits, but they can equip you with important skills.
She gained super valuable experience in the yearsshe worked as a barista.
Try one of the tons of flexible side hustles out there from driving for Uber tocrafting for Etsytowalking dogs.
Is there something you know you gotta do to help you eventually snag a great job?
Ask if you could treat them to coffee or even shadow them on the job for a few hours.
When you meet up, ask questions, and seek advice.
And, yes, this kind of networking can be intimidating.
I recently met up with a fellow Missouri alum, and it felt like a blind date.
Plus, you get to help others along the way.
Not Getting an Internship isnt the End of the World
Take a deep breath.
Youre going to be fine.
I turned out OK after not getting an internship that summer.
From there, I landed this job as a junior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
Internships are wonderful, and you should be open-minded and apply to as many as you might.
But if it doesnt work out, you have plenty of other options.
Your Turn: Whats your best advice for students who dont get an internship?
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Looking back, she knows everything in her young career has happened for a reason.
She also realizes how cliche that sounds, but she doesnt care.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
