Guydeguyde blog
How to Land an Internship with No Experience
January 24, 2026 • 7 min read
The classic entry-level paradox: "Need experience to get a job, need a job to get experience."
As a community college student at SMC, you often feel at a disadvantage compared to USC students who have a "Trojan Network" handing them opportunities. But you have assets they don't: hustle, lower expected salary (often free or minimum wage is acceptable for a first gig), and specific career education courses that let you build a portfolio for credit.
Here is how to build a resume from scratch that eventually lands you at Google or Goldman Sachs, starting right here in Santa Monica.
đź“Ś SMC Career Resources
- HireSMC (Handshake)
The official job board. Local employers post here specifically looking for SMC students. - SMC Internship Program (Counseling 90 series)
How to get academic credit for your internship (CPT/OPT often requires this). - The Forage (Virtual Work Experience)
Free, virtual job simulations from companies like JPMorgan and EA.
1. Weaponize Your Coursework
If you have zero job experience, your "Experience" section is your class projects.
Did you take Bus 1 (Introduction to Business)? Did you write a marketing plan? That isn't homework; that is "Market Research & Strategy Consulting."
Did you take CS 50 (C Programming)? That final project isn't a test; it's a "C-based Software Implementation."
Resume Example:
Marketing Strategy Consultant (Academic Project)
Santa Monica College | Fall 2024
- Conducted SWOT analysis for a hypothetical tech startup targeting Gen Z.
- Designed a go-to-market strategy projecting 20% YoY growth.
- Presented findings to a panel of peers and faculty.
Why this works: It fills the white space on your resume with relevant keywords ("SWOT Analysis," "Go-to-market"). ATS scanners love this.
2. Campus Jobs: The Low Hanging Fruit
The easiest "real" job to get is on campus. The competition is lower (only students), and bosses understand when you have finals.
Look for jobs in:
- The Library: Customer service skills.
- The Bookstore: Retail and inventory management.
- IT Help Desk: Technical support and troubleshooting (Great for CS majors).
- Outreach Office: Public speaking and event coordination.
Even working as a "Student Ambassador" proves you can show up on time, communicate professionally, and handle responsibility.
3. The "Free Work" Pitch (Cold Outreach)
This is for the brave. Santa Monica is full of small businesses—coffee shops, boutiques, non-profits—that are terrible at digital marketing/operations.
The Strategy:
Find a local business with a bad Instagram or a broken website. Walk in (or email).
The Pitch
"Hi, I'm a student at SMC studying Graphic Design (Design 21). I love your coffee shop, but I noticed your Instagram hasn't been updated in 3 months. I'm building my portfolio and would love to run your social media for 1 month for free. I'll post 3 times a week and engage with comments. If you like my work after a month, you can hire me or write me a letter of recommendation."
Most will say no. One will say yes. After one month, you officially have "Social Media Manager" on your resume with a portfolio of real data ("Increased engagement by 200%").
4. "Counseling 12" and "Counseling 90"
If you are lost, take a class.
- Counseling 12 (Career Planning): This class literally forces you to take personality tests (Myers-Briggs, Strong Interest Inventory) and researching careers. It is an "easy A" class that gives you clarity.
- Counseling 90 (General Internship): If you find an unpaid internship, enrolling in this class allows you to get college units for it. This is often legally required for for-profit companies to hire unpaid interns.
Summary
Transferring isn't just about grades. It's about showing that you are ready for the professional world.
A student who has a 3.7 GPA but worked part-time as a shift supervisor at Starbucks is often more impressive to admissions committees than a student with a 4.0 who never left their bedroom. It shows grit.
Back to Student Guides.