Getting into the tech industry can be challenging, especially for non-traditional students who lack work experience. Unlike college students who often have access to internships, non-traditional students face difficulties in obtaining relevant experience. However, there are various ways to gain valuable experience in the tech field.
In addition to working on personal projects or starting a software business, internships, apprenticeships, and joining established organizations offer structured approaches to gaining experience. It’s important to note that there are diverse paths available, catering to the specific needs and preferences of individuals.
If you’re interested in a more structured approach, we’ve compiled a list of opportunities that provide valuable experience, regardless of whether or not you have a college degree. This list will be regularly updated throughout the year, so be sure to bookmark or join our newsletter to stay informed about new opportunities.
By exploring these options, you can overcome the challenge of limited work experience and pave your way into the tech industry. Remember, rejection is a normal part of the process, and each experience serves as a valuable learning opportunity. Keep pushing forward!
Apprenti
Apprenti creates alternative pathways to access diverse tech talent. They provide training and on the job experience with their hiring partners.
Tips for success: Apprenti Applicant Video Guide
Archive
A Complete Circularity platform for brands. Archive partners with brands to launch innovative and profitable resale businesses.
- Backend Engineer, Remote, $146,000 – $253,000 a year
- Data Analyst, Remote, $110,000 – $190,000 a year
- Frontend Engineer, Remote, $146,000 – $253,000 a year
Coding it Forward
The Coding it Forward Fellowship empowers early-career technologists to innovate in local, state, and federal government offices across the United States. Fellows tackle high-impact work in one of five areas of practice: cybersecurity, data, design, product, or software engineering.
- Stipend – $20/hour for undergraduate and bootcamp Fellows ; $25/hour for graduate students
- Location: Remote – US
- Length: 10 weeks
- Applications will open on October 15th
Fetch
Fetch, America’s Rewards App, empowers consumers to Live Rewarded and helps brands create lifelong customers through the power of Fetch Points.
- Android Engineer Apprentice, United States (Remote)
- Backend Engineer, Apprenticeship, Chicago, Madison, $50 per hour
- Frontend Engineering Apprentice, Chicago, Madison, $50 per hour
- iOS Engineer, Apprenticeship, United States (Remote), $50 per hour
- Machine Learning Engineer, Apprentice, Chicago, Madison, $50 per hour
Files.com
At Files.com, they build technology so businesses can manage file transfer and security at scale. They are private equity backed, profitable, and lead our industry in terms of revenue per employee. This means that each and every team member is able to have a high degree of direct responsibility and impact.
Gopuff
Made for Magic. From alcohol, to food, drinks & other everyday essentials, Gopuff has every situation covered.
- IT Operations Analyst I, Concord, CA, $50,000 – $75,000
Granite Telecommunications
Innovative Communications Solutions. Your networking needs.
- Software Engineering Intern, Quincy, MA
Outreachy
Outreachy provides internships in open source. We provide internships to people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation in the technical industry where they are living.
- June 2025 internships
- Stipend: $7,000 USD
- Location: Remote
- Length: 3 months
- December 2025 internships
- Stipend: $7,000 USD
- Location: Remote
- Length: 3 months
- Intern applications are accepted from early August to mid August
Tips for success:
- Outreachy’s Applicant Guide
- All You Need To Know About Outreachy Internship Application by Outreachy
- My Outreachy Application Journey: Explained by Anisha Singh
REACH (new)
REACH is a technical apprenticeship program at LinkedIn that bridges the opportunity gap for individuals with non-traditional backgrounds.
- Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning Apprentice Engineer
- Backend Apprentice Engineer
- Application starts June 18, 2025
- Application closes June 22, 2025 at 11:59PM PT
Tips for success:
Sandhills Global
Sandhills Global is an information processing company that connects brands to buyers and sellers in different industries
- Software Developer – Websites, Lincoln, NE
- Software Developer – International Websites, Lincoln, NE
Talent for Good
Talent for Good (TFG) is Cloud for Good’s paid apprenticeship program. The program provides full-time employment for career-starters and career-changers looking to build a Salesforce career and includes relevant training and certification preparation, on-the-job experience with clients, and on-going mentorship.
- Stipend: $50,000 salary during the initial training phase. $60,000 upon successful completion of training
- Location: Remote
- Length: 3 months
UX Woman (new)
Every year, they sponsor 2 UX apprentices to join us for 7 months, either in the fall or spring seasons. UX apprentices work through the end-to-end UX design and UX research process for a startup idea of their choice that will help them attract hiring managers in that topic space or industry.
- UX Woman Entry-Level UX Design & UX Research Apprenticeship Program
- Length: 7 months
When considering these opportunities, keep in mind that they often receive a large number of applications. It’s important not to be discouraged by rejections, as they are a normal part of the process and can provide valuable learning experiences.
Before you go, remember that we regularly share similar opportunities in our newsletter every Sunday. If you want to stay updated on the latest opportunities, don’t forget to subscribe here. Best of luck with your job search!