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One of the best ways to prepare for an internship is to enhance your skill alignment through experiential learning. Experiential learning allows you to try out a career field and develop relevant skills that align with job duties. This could be a volunteer opportunity, part time job, professional association��or study abroad experience. The graphic below illustrates common experiential learning pathways for ��ƷSM����ӰƬ students��and organizes these opportunities based on developmental level.

Steps of experiential learning

The��ladder graphic illustrates common steps in experiential learning. The first step is “Exploration;”��these opportunities include job simulations, job shadowing, mentorship��and online skill-building courses. Exploration experiences give the participant a foundational knowledge of the career field and relevant skillsets.

The second step is “Introductory;”��these are professional projects, industry competitions, hackathons��and part-time jobs. Introductory experiential learning is a great way to see if a career path is for you before committing an extended period of your time.

The third step is “Career-Focused” experiences, such as micro or unpaid internships, professional volunteerism��and capstone courses. This step is great to complete prior to applying for a competitive internship program.

The fourth step is “Advanced” experiences, including paid internships, research, freelance work, professional jobs��and entrepreneurship competitions. The final step is “Career-Starters,”��which usually comes after you graduate from ��ƷSM����ӰƬ and entails entry-level jobs as well as starting your own company.

To identify the best place for you to start, consider taking inventory of the skills you have already developed. Utilize the Skills for Success Skill Gap Analysis to understand the scope of your current skillset, as well as identify ways to enhance that skill through experiential learning.

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Skills for Success Skill Gap Analysis

1. Take inventory of your foundational skills—follow the instructions on page 9 to rank each skill from basic to expert level.
2. Identify which foundational skill you want to work on improving first. Read through the sample behaviors and start identifying opportunities on campus that would allow you to try out that skill.
3. If your skill level is basic, review the “exploration” and “introductory” steps on the ladder above and consider exploring the listed experiential learning opportunities. If your skill level is intermediate, review the “career-focused” and “advanced” steps on the ladder.

Need help identifying what experiential learning opportunities and skills align best with your desired career path? Get started with career services by meeting with a career advisor or visiting our website!