Landing an internship has become increasingly difficult as businesses streamline their programs to reduce costs and prioritize areas that have the greatest need for future hires. In fact, internships in the technology sector have become the most competitive in 2025, with 273 applications per posting, up from 161 per posting last year, according to data from Handshake.
Although working as an intern is a well-established way to gain practical experience, develop new skills, and make valuable contacts, there are many alternative ways to achieve similar or even better results. If you’re a recent or soon-to-be grad, here are some options for creating a self-directed internship that may actually work out better than a traditional one.
Self-Directed Learning
AI has eliminated positions for interns and junior-level engineers, making it essential to bridge knowledge and experience gaps on your own, explained Fadi Boulos, founder of Supportful. One report found that 35 percent of jobs labeled "entry-level" now require at least three years of experience. To win, you need to close your skills gap.
Building strong foundational skills in programming, AI with Python, cloud and AWS, security, algorithms, or systems and networks through free online courses can help you prepare for jobs where the standard of performance or expectation has been raised. To mimic a more traditional internship, connect theoretical knowledge to real-world situations by selecting platforms or courses that offer certificates and hands-on labs.
He also suggests enrolling in free boot camps or using ChatGPT or Claude as a thinking partner to help you learn how to fix bugs, perform complex tasks, and so forth. The great thing about self-directed learning is that you can set your own goals, as opposed to an internship where the skills you learn are determined by the company.
Open-Source Projects
Many people think that open-source projects are only for experienced software engineers, but they actually provide a safe space to experiment, make mistakes, and work beyond basic tasks. Contributing to open-source projects labeled “easy,” “good first issue,” or “beginner” is a great way to work on real projects and start building contacts in the tech community. Once you prove yourself, people will automatically assign you harder tasks. Because there are so many to choose from, you can also target projects that align with your specific learning needs or specialty and work at your own pace.
As you build confidence, look for projects that offer a collaborative environment. This way, you can enhance your problem-solving skills, interact with more experienced developers, and even find potential mentors and job referrals. Other options that combine collaboration with open-source projects include Outreachy, which provides remote internship projects to people who are underrepresented in the tech industry, and Google Summer of Code, where contributors work on open-source programming projects under the guidance of mentors.
Competitions
Competitions or mini hackathons offer a platform to showcase your current skills, learn new ones, and potentially win awards or funding. They also provide opportunities to network with industry experts and gain recognition in niche areas from coding and development to robotics, cyber security, and data science. If you really want to boost your visibility and skills, gather some friends and tackle a Web Dev Challenge on CodeTV.
Side Hustles
Working as a part-time human assistant to a busy developer could free up their time to work on more strategic tasks while giving you the opportunity to write code, debug, test, review, and even write documentation, while earning some extra cash. Other options include website testing, ethical hacking (bug bounty programs), or providing remote or in-person technical support.
Volunteer Projects
Volunteering to build apps, websites, or software for charities or partnering with entrepreneurial-minded business majors to build products can help you hone your skills in product/UX design and engineering while demonstrating teamwork and the ability to make a real impact. This type of collaboration can also help you develop business acumen such as knowledge of market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscapes. Engaging in volunteer activities can help you cultivate both technical and soft skills that employers value, such as communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem-solving, all while building your confidence.
Interview Mastery and Personal Branding
If you haven’t been successful in interviews, create your own internship with the goal of improving your ability to ace technical questions and enhance your brand and online presence. In fact, interview mastery and personal branding are intertwined particularly in today's job market. To improve your technical interviewing and problem-solving skills and code quality, practice on LeetCode or HackerRank. Earning badges or certificates for solving problems can be a worthwhile way to enhance your brand and resume.
At the same time, dedicate time to building a website, adding projects to LinkedIn and GitHub, and using the power of social media to capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. Designing and executing a self-directed internship where you take the lead in identifying and meeting your learning goals can be valuable for promoting your personal brand and establishing yourself as the driver of your career path.
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