Internships That Fit Your Life: Why a Gig Might Be Right for You

You’ve probably heard internships are one of the best ways to launch your career. That’s true! 

You have also  wondered how to fit one into an already packed schedule.

Maybe you work 20 hours a week. Maybe you’re taking a full course load. Maybe you’re involved on campus, conducting research or helping care for your family.

At Charlotte, you don’t have to choose between gaining experience and managing your life.

In 2024, the Career Center launched the first Gig Internship Program of its kind in the nation. The program provides paid, short-term, project-based internships that give more students the opportunity to build their résumé, grow professionally and explore career paths while balancing everything else that comes with college.

“When UNC Charlotte says it’s committed to providing an internship to every student who wants one, we mean it,” said Syd Gallup, the assistant director of the Career Center who oversees the program. “That means knowing your students and what they need. With a gig internship, students can prepare for their futures without pressing pause on their present responsibilities.”

Here’s how you know a gig internship might be right for you. 

You need experience, but not another 40-hour commitment.

Not every internship requires you to work full time for an entire semester or summer.

Gig internships are intentionally designed to be flexible, allowing you to complete meaningful, résumé-building projects over a shorter period of time while continuing to manage classes, work and everything else on your calendar. Most projects average around five hours per week, and can be remote, hybrid or in-person. 

You want experience that means something.

Gig internships connect you with real projects that solve real problems for campus departments, nonprofit organizations and community partners.

Whether you’re building websites, analyzing data, creating scientific illustrations, mapping landslides, designing marketing materials or developing AI solutions, your work has purpose. 

You want to get paid while building your résumé.

Experience is important, and so is paying your rent.

Gig internships are paid, making it possible to gain professional experience without sacrificing financial stability.

You’re still figuring out what you want to do.

Maybe you’ve already found your dream career. Maybe you’re deciding between three different majors. Maybe you have two passions that don’t seem to belong together.

That’s what college is for! 

Gig internships let you explore, experiment and discover what kind of work excites you before.

Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never knew to look for.

Every student’s journey is different. Your internship should be, too.

Whether you’re looking for a gig or another way to gain hands-on experience, the Charlotte Career Center can help you find the opportunity that’s right for you.

Meet with a career coach, explore internship opportunities and discover where your path can take you.

Story by: Christy Jackson
Video by: Whitney Wilson