Different ways a student can build credentials is to apply for internships, involve yourself in volunteer work, and apply for summer jobs. Some of these scenarios won't exactly pay well or pay at all, but they are essential to gaining experience and skills needed to apply for positions that you are working towards. It is also very important
to understand that not just any job or activity will be beneficial to the position you aspire to be in, so you must be selective in which experiences will accentuate your ability to work well in that position.