The Finding Meaningful Experience community provides you with guidance and resources for finding internships and other experiences that align with your career goals. These experiences help you develop useful skills and build professional connections. This community will support you in identifying opportunities, assessing their relevance, and determining what best fits your current stage of your career journey.
To explore ALL the ways you can gain experience, visit the Gain Experience section of the Career Hub.
Things to Consider
Experience Type: Determine whether you’re seeking an internship, part-time job, volunteer role, research opportunity, or another experience.
Skill Development: Identify the skills you want to gain or strengthen through this experience.
Career Alignment: Consider how this experience connects to your long-term career aspirations.
Eligibility & Requirements: Check if you meet the qualifications and expectations for the opportunity.
Organizational Alignment: Research the mission, values, and culture to ensure alignment with your goals.
Time Commitment: Assess how much time you can realistically dedicate to the experience.
Growth & Reflection: Choose experiences that challenge you, broaden your perspective, and help you articulate your learning.
Questions to Get You Started
What have you done so far inside and outside the classroom to gain experience?
What skill do you want to gain?
Where have you been searching for opportunities?
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Who are your professional connections, and how can they help you find opportunities?
What obstacles do you face in gaining experience?
Resources to Explore Experiences
Explore a range of resources designed to help you discover and secure valuable opportunities, gain hands-on experience, and build connections that support your career journey.
Find internship, part-time, and full-time jobs on this exclusive job board for UF students.
Connect with UF alumni and professionals to explore career opportunities.
Try free, real-world job simulations from top companies that you can talk about on your resume, LinkedIn, or an interview.
Get industry insights such as top companies hiring for careers you’re interested in and other data to make informed career decisions.
Explore and earn credentials with courses aligned to your career interest.
International job search resources.
Complete short-term, professional project-based experience.
Explore unique experiences, volunteer opportunities and communities for social change near you
Explore research opportunities for undergraduate students at UF.
Discover student employment opportunities, including Federal Work Study positions and OPS.
Federal Work Study (FWS): A need-based financial aid program that provides part-time jobs for eligible students to earn money for educational expenses. It’s a great way to gain work experience while balancing your studies.
OPS, or “Other Personnel Services”: employment comprises the University of Florida’s at-will, temporary jobs.
Next Steps
- Explore the Gain Experience tab on Career Hub.
- Identify 2-4 experiences that align with your goals.
- Develop application materials tailored to each opportunity.
- Set up informational interviews with professionals in your field to learn more about experiences.
- Continue exploring resources and checking for new opportunities.
If you need additional support, career coaches are available to provide personalized guidance, or visit the Gain Experience communities!
