--- title: "Creating Your Own Summer Success | Metaintro" canonical: "https://www.metaintro.com/blog/dodging-internship-ghosts" language: "en" author: "henryrussel" published: "2025-06-12T11:30:00.000Z" modified: "2025-06-12T13:39:11.516Z" --- [Back to Blog](/blog) [Career](/blog/tag/career) # Creating Your Own Summer Success: A Guide to Experiential Learning A witty guide to creating your own experiential learning project when internships are elusive. [![Henry Russell](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:40:40/q:72/plain/images/f5e58760-861d-453c-8acc-e70ec1958bd8_1766029465093.png)Henry Russell @henryrussell](/blog/author/henryrussel) [June 12, 2025](/blog/archive/2025/06)3 min read ![Creating Your Own Summer Success: A Guide to Experiential Learning](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:1200:675/q:78/plain/images/collegegirl.png) [https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts)[http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts)[https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts&title=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts&title=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning)[mailto:?subject=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts](mailto:?subject=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts) Just when you thought college wouldn't get more stressful, here comes the internship hunt—akin to a never-ending game of hide-and-seek. With more companies turning to artificial intelligence and trimming their workforce, the internship landscape has become a barren desert for those trying to break into their chosen industries. According to [Fast Company](https://www.fastcompany.com/91341363/why-summer-internships-were-so-hard-to-find-this-year), the quest for a full-time, paid internship is not the only ticket to gainful employment. The [National Association of Colleges and Employers](https://www.naceweb.org/) suggests that engaging in "experiential learning" provides graduates with not only more job options but also juicier starting salaries. With experiential learning encompassing internships, externships, research projects, practicums, and micro-internships—it’s essentially a DIY experience with tangible career benefits. ## Self-Made Success Tired of being ghosted by internship hiring managers? It's time to whip up your own career-building experience. Cindy Meis from the [Tippie School of Business](https://tippie.uiowa.edu/) advises students to formalize almost any experience for skill-building. Numbers matter, so think in terms of quantifying the skills you craft. Here's the approach: Build a framework for this self-directed summer, where you can still develop meaningful experiences without the towering neon sign of a conventional internship. Consider connecting with industry professionals, volunteering for organizations remotely, or even launching a mini-research project—because why let Google have all the fun? --- Ad## ✉️ A Note from Metaintro 👇 🧵 Organizing your job hunt? Metaintro Threads help you track conversations and progress easily. [Start job search thread here.](https://www.metaintro.com/thread) --- ## Network, Network, Network! Who needs a formal job to network? Use this summer to amp up your [LinkedIn](https://about.linkedin.com/) prowess by setting targets for networking. Aim for weekly coffee chats or monthly networking events, and don't forget the power of your school's alumni network. Ask strategic questions in your professional connections: What is this industry like? What's the secret behind their career journey? Oh, and maybe request résumé feedback or job shadow for a sneak peek into the role you're eyeing. ## Optimize and Upskill Your summer gig can be more than just a pay-per-hour gig. Camp counselors, baristas, and retail workers—unite! List all those jobs that might label you a mere "jobber" and rebrand them with transferrable skills. Think about hands-on experiences that align with industry demands. Customer service gives a great boost to communication skills. Devising strategies for camp activities? That's project management in disguise. Meis encourages you to explore LinkedIn Learning—where with a premium membership (don't worry, there’s a 30-day free trial), you can tackle courses like Grammar Foundations or Javascript: Classes. Fun times, right? When it comes to changing paths or needing advice to sketch out your DIY experience, seek out your college's career advisor. They’re like a GPS for your professional journey—ready to recalibrate you towards a dynamic plan. Go ahead, take the summer by the horns and transform it into an enlightening escapade. The traditional internship path might have detoured, but you’re well-equipped to blaze your own trail. Just remember, onward and upward! For more insights, be sure to subscribe to Metaintro [here](https://met.sh/pA7oV). ### Share this article [https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts)[http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts)[https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts&title=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts&title=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning)[mailto:?subject=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts](mailto:?subject=Creating%20Your%20Own%20Summer%20Success%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Experiential%20Learning&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fdodging-internship-ghosts) ![](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:1200:800/q:30/plain/images/bridges/bridge-expand.1df895c6bd76d96f.png) For job seekers ## Ready to find a role that actually fits? Upload your résumé, start a Job Search Thread, and let Metaintro rank real openings against your experience — then guide you from search to offer. [Get Started Free](/signup)[Search matching jobs](/jobs/search) Match Compare live roles against your current evidence. Position Turn proof projects into role-specific applications. Improve Use market feedback to keep the skill plan current. [Return to navigation](#main-navigation)