Summer Isn’t a Break Anymore, It’s When Careers Are Built

Summer is the season when Girls With Impact sees the highest demand for our programming. It’s no surprise that more and more young women are realizing the same thing: Summer ‘break’ is a thing of the past. 

For the future-focused, it’s a chance to get ahead. The reality that today’s early-career population is facing is different than it was even a few years ago.

The Reality: Launching a Career Is Harder Than Ever

The path from school to career is no longer straightforward.

• Only 45% of recent graduates have a job lined up at graduation

• Students are receiving fewer job offers than before

• Entry-level roles are becoming more competitive as employers raise expectations for day one on the job

At the same time, internships that were long considered the gateway to career success are increasingly out of reach, with many are unpaid or underpaid or relying on personal connection to seal the deal. Plus, only a fraction of internships actually convert into full-time jobs.

And now, with the rise of AI, the job market is changing even faster. Employers are prioritizing those who already have real-world skills and experience.

In short: the bar has been raised, and not everyone has the tools to meet it.

Gen Z Needs Access to a Level Up Summer

Summer is our highest-demand season, both because students have more free time and because they have more urgency.

They’re preparing for college applications, they’re thinking about careers. They’re trying to build confidence in a world that expects them to already have it.

Young women want to grab hold of their futures, but not everyone has the opportunity to. Some can’t afford unpaid internships or have access to professional networks. Others simply don’t know where to begin.

That gap widens not because of talent or a drive to succeed, but because of access.

This summer, Girls With Impact is working to change that for over 1,000 young women. 

Through our live, mentor-led programs, young women gain the skills, experience, and confidence to stand out. 

The GWI Summer of Success Difference

Whether they’re applying to college, pursuing internships, or preparing for their first job, young women in our programs don’t ‘sit through a lecture.’ They build, present, connect, and lead. 

For many, GWI programs become the catalyst for beginning to see themselves differently.

They gain confidence, skills, and experience they need to stand out from the crowd. They receive a microcredential for their resume and have a talking point of substance for their interviews. Many of our graduates point to these as crucial to their success in landing a spot at their dream school or their first job. 

During a time traditionally thought of as a break or a vacation, these young women lean in, step up, and seize the opportunity to differentiate themselves. 

Make This a Summer That Changes Everything

This summer, GWI has set a lofty goal: to fund 1,000 young women in our highest-demand season yet. Your support today helps ensure that more young women don’t miss this moment.

Summer isn’t a break anymore, it’s a turning point.

Will you help us launch her future? Support the Summer of Success campaign today.