6 Things You Can Do This Summer to Land a Job or Internship Next Year

If you’re hoping to land a great internship or full-time job next year, your summer is one of the best times to start preparing—whether you’re interning, working a part-time job, or taking summer classes. What many students don’t realize is that tons of companies begin hiring for the following summer as early as August or September. That means the effort you put in now can make a big difference in your success this fall.

Here’s how to set yourself up for success before application season begins:

1. Keep Track of What You’re Doing This Summer

If you’re currently in an internship, start a running doc where you record:

• Projects you’re working on

• Tools or skills you’re using

• Results or metrics you contributed to

• Any positive feedback you’ve received

If you’re working a part-time job, volunteering, or pursuing a personal project, you should still do this! Skills like customer service, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving are all valuable—especially if you can speak to specific challenges or accomplishments. These experiences often demonstrate more about your work ethic than a title alone.

2. Reflect on What You Like (and Don’t Like)

Use your summer experience—whatever it is—to figure out what types of work you enjoy. Ask yourself:

• What parts of the day go by quickly because I’m enjoying what I’m doing?

• What tasks do I feel confident or excited about?

• Would I want to do more of this in the future?

Being intentional about what you enjoy helps you target roles that truly fit your interests and strengths.

3. Strengthen Relationships With Mentors and Teammates

If you’re interning or working with a team, this is a great time to build your network. Take the initiative to connect with coworkers, ask for feedback, and learn about their career paths. Before your experience ends, send LinkedIn connection requests with a quick thank-you note. Those relationships could lead to future opportunities, mentorship, or referrals. If you’re not in a formal role, consider reaching out to professionals in your field of interest for virtual coffee chats—most people are open to a quick conversation if you’re respectful of their time.

4. Update Your Resume While It’s Fresh

Don’t wait until fall to remember everything you did over the summer. Add your experience to your resume now while the details are still clear. Focus on your accomplishments, use action verbs, and include results when possible (e.g., “Improved customer checkout process, reducing wait time by 25%”).

5. Research Companies and When They Hire

Many top companies begin recruiting early—sometimes even a year in advance. That includes internships for summer 2025 and full-time jobs for graduating seniors. Spend some time looking into industries or companies you’re curious about and bookmark their careers pages. By identifying their hiring timelines now, you’ll avoid missing deadlines and feel more prepared when roles go live.

6. Sign Up for RippleMatch and Build a Strong Profile

RippleMatch is a free platform built to help college students discover jobs and internships they're a great fit for—without endless scrolling. Once you create a profile and fill in your experiences, skills, and what you’re looking for (including campus clubs, part-time jobs, or niche interests), our matching technology does the work to connect you with real, open opportunities. Most students who are matched through RippleMatch have a 52% interview rate, and many discover roles they wouldn’t have found on their own. Filling out your profile now ensures you’re ready to be matched the moment fall recruiting begins. Make a free profile today and start getting connected to world-class employers.

Whether you’re interning, working a job, or just trying to get ahead—there’s a lot you can do this summer to set yourself up for success. Fall recruiting season moves fast, and taking small steps now will help you feel more confident and ready when the time comes to apply.