4 Ways to Level Up This Summer, Even Without an Internship

Written by Lucille Tasker, VP of Data & Technology at Rewriting the Code
Updated May 2026

Whether or not you landed an internship this summer, the weeks before fall recruiting opens are one of the highest-leverage windows you have. The internship climate is competitive, and you aren’t alone if you didn’t land a role or even lost one. We asked 3,400 members about last year’s recruiting cycle. Below are RTC’s top recommendations for making your summer count, plus tips on how to highlight what you build on your resume.

If you’re not sure where to start, begin with your coding interview prep. It has the longest ramp-up time and the hardest deadline. Everything else can build around it.

Your Fall Recruiting Timeline: Most large tech companies open full-time and new-grad applications in August and September, with first-round interviews starting as early as late September. That means the window before applications open is shorter than it feels, regardless of when you’re reading this. Use it.

How to Prepare for Coding Interviews This Summer

Summer coding interview prep is the highest-priority item on this list. Fall recruiting moves fast, and interview skills take the most time to build. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our top resources here. 

Curious how other RTC members are prepping? Here’s what they told us.

A focused approach matters more than a marathon one. Aim to work through a consistent set of problems each week, and prioritize the topics that come up most in early-round interviews: arrays, strings, hash maps, and trees cover the majority of what you’ll see. One dedicated session per day puts you in a meaningfully stronger position by the time applications open.

If you’re an international student in the US, strong coding interview performance is especially important for competing for stateside roles. The personal project section below will also provide concrete talking points for interviews and resume lines that help you stand out in the review process.

Work on a Personal Project

Once you have a coding prep routine in place, a personal project is your next priority. Projects build technical and non-technical skills, demonstrate what you’re passionate about in tech, and give you easy conversation starters during interviews,  including if you’re an international student looking for ways to differentiate yourself beyond your coursework. Not sure what actually counts or how to write it up? This will help.

If you’re an RTC member looking to collaborate, use the #projects channel in the RTC Slack Workspace to find teammates. Beyond developers, consider looping in people interested in Project Management and Product roles. It makes the project stronger and gives them something to build toward, too. If you don’t have an idea yet, post in the channel and ask to join someone else’s team. If you have an idea and need teammates, share a brief project description, the skill sets you’re looking for, and your timeline. 

List your project on your resume. For tips on how to do that well, start with How to Write a Tech Resume, and this video with Mayuko covers resume projects around the 9-minute mark.

Dive Deep Into New Skills

RTC has interest groups to help you explore new technical areas. Join #interests-cybersecurity or #interests-data in Slack to connect with members building their skill sets alongside you.

Not sure what to learn? Let your project drive it. If your project needs a backend, learn that. If it needs data work, start there. Skill-building hits differently when it’s attached to something you’re actually shipping.

Build Your Portfolio and Prep Your Resume

For a guided approach to portfolio readiness and interview prep in one place, start with this free GitHub Career Readiness Pack. It’s a strong, structured starting point.

For coding interview prep resources specifically, Educative is our top recommendation, particularly their Algorithms for Coding Interviews course, which is available free to students. Their project-based activities are also worth exploring if you’re still looking for a personal project idea, with options ranging from building an e-commerce store in Rust to creating an AI chatbot.

Not landing a summer internship doesn’t mean missing out. With the right focus, you can use this time to build real skills, strengthen your portfolio, and walk into fall recruiting ready. The window is shorter than it looks, but it’s more than enough if you use it well.

Join our community of 45,000+ women in tech!

FAQ

When does fall recruiting start for tech roles?

Most large tech companies open new grad and full-time applications in August and September, with first-round interviews beginning as early as late September. If you’re targeting those roles, the prep window is shorter than it feels. Start with coding interview practice and work outward from there.

What should I focus on for summer coding interview prep?

Start with the topics that appear most in early-round interviews: arrays, strings, hash maps, and trees. A consistent daily or near-daily practice schedule will get you further than sporadic cramming. RTC recommends Educative’s Algorithms for Coding Interviews course as a structured starting point.

Can I prepare for coding interviews without an internship on my resume?

Yes. A strong personal project, a completed prep course, and a polished portfolio can carry weight in early-round screening, especially if you can speak confidently about your project in interviews.