How do I get an Internship?

These are methods to help you find the right internship for you.

• Spend some time thinking about what type of internship experience you are interested in completing
• Brainstorm a list of organizations you would like to intern.  
• Meet with your academic department's Internship Coordinator
• Talk to potential employers at career and internship fairs.
• Remember, if you do not find an internship experience listed with the organization you're interested in, go directly to the source and inquire further!  Visiting the employer website can provide you with details on any internship programs they may have, or provide you with the information you need to inquire further.
• Don't forget to check on LinkedIn as well, where you can search for internship and entry-level job postings with companies related to people in your LinkedIn network.
• Reach out to your network via an informational interview, and make sure you ask where the person you are interviewing would recommend starting to look for internships in your field of interest.
• Make sure to fill out all of your paperwork correctly when applying for a posted internship! 
• Need more help?  Check out all the different ways that the Career Development Center can assist you!
• Check out the organizations’ websites and learn about their mission, noteworthy items that have been in the news, new program developments, and staff members.
• Handshake is a great resource for researching organizations that are specifically invested in Minnesota State Mankato students (See link to Video/Screencast below)
• Talk with people in your network to see if anyone has additional information about the organization you are interested in—often they have the “off the record” scoop and you can learn a lot from trusted sources.
• Keep organized notes on your findings to use as a resource in the application and interview process.
• Utilize your notes to form solid questions that you will ask at the end of your interview. You will impress them if you say “Upon doing some research, I found ____. Can you tell me more about this?”
• In any interactions with employers, know that they are the experts. Approach conversations with curiosity, not authority.

   

  Current Internship Openings

  Sports Management Intern

  Company Description Xelay Acumen is a boutique strategy and management consulting firm working across healthcare, technology, and emerging ventures. Sports Management is a new division within Xelay Acumen established to represent athletes by supporting business management, financial investments, brand development, revenue growth, strategic partnerships, and event operations. Our sports management team currently supports professional athletes with contract negotiations, sponsorship outreach, event planning, and social media strategy. At Xelay Acumen Group, Inc., our people are excited to help clients address their most pressing issues and challenges. We leverage the flexibility and expertise of our virtual network and organization and bring to bear an unparalleled combination of skill sets: strategic problem solving, rigorous analyses and methodologies, and clear and concise communications to bring about uniquely extraordinary results.  Xelay Acumen was first started in 2007 with a private investment fund (Xelay Capital) serving non-profit institutions. Xelay Acumen Group has rapidly established itself as a leading consulting firm in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors since 2012. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, the firm also established an Asia Pacific office in Taipei in 2018. Xelay Foundation, our non-profit foundation, was founded in 2015 and grants over $200,000 annually to local community organizations and global research institutions:01.2007. Xelay Capital founded07.2012. Xelay Acumen founded12.2014. Xelay San Francisco Area office established in San Mateo01.2015. Xelay Foundation founded11.2015. Xelay San Mateo office expands11.2016. Xelay San Mateo moves to a new building01.2018. Xelay Foundation grant program established05.2018. Xelay San Mateo office expands again09.2018. Xelay Acumen Taipei founded01.2019. Xelay Foundation Consulting established11.2019. Xelay San Mateo office expands again01.2021. Xelay Foundation scholarship established01.2022. Xelay Foundation AAA-Cup05.2022. Xelay Foundation Athletic Scholarship established04.2023. Xelay Taipei office established Position Description This internship offers hands-on experience in the business side of professional sports. Interns will work directly with our sports management team to support athlete representation activities and help expand athlete brand presence. This is a strong opportunity for students interested in sports management, marketing, communications, business, analytics, or entrepreneurship.  Given that this is a new division for Xelay Acumen, the internship also allows interns to be at the ground level in developing the systems and processes for potential growth of the division, eventually, taking on a leadership role that for the successful intern, would translate into a paid full time role within Sports Management or other divisions within Xelay Acumen Group (Pharma/Biotech Management Consulting, Property Management, Xelay Capital Investment Fund, non-profit Foundation). What You’ll DoIntern responsibilities may include:Assist with partnership and sponsorship research (brands, companies, and local organizations)Help prepare outreach materials (emails, flyers, schedules, social media messages)Support coordination of live events such as: clinics, brand collaborations, and athlete appearancesTrack communications, leads, scheduling, and contract statusContribute to social media strategy: content ideas, captions, influencer outreachConduct competitor and industry research in the rapidly growing sport of pickleballHelp maintain CRM, calendars, event sign-ups, and email marketing toolsProvide on-site support at select events or clinics (optional/local)What You’ll GainReal experience working with a professional athlete and sports management teamExposure to sponsorship negotiation, sales outreach, and event planningLearning how athlete branding, social growth, and revenue generation work in practiceOpportunities to develop leadership, organization, communication, and project-management skillsA meaningful résumé-building internship with direct impact on athlete successLetters of recommendation available based on performance and/or potential promotion to a full time role within Sports Management or other division within the Xelay Acumen Group Who We’re Looking ForRecent or soon to have an undergraduate degree (any major) with strong interest in sports, marketing, or businessPassion to learn and develop, high degree of professionalism to prioritizing clients and personal development, ultra reliable, super organized (strong J on MBTI), and obsessively proactive in communicating with teammates to align and learnAlready experienced with or will prioritize learning on their own, strong ability to communicate professionally over email and social media and verbally in-personExperience with PPT, Instagram/TikTok, Google Workspace, or CRM tools is helpful Time CommitmentFull time 40 hours per weekPart time >20 hours per weekMinimum 6 month internship for full time.  Part time >6 monthsCompensationThis is an initially unpaid internship with the possibility for top performers to be offered a full time paid analyst role  Interested parties should apply via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XelayAcumenJobs For more information, visit: www.xelayacumen.com or find us on LinkedIn and Facebook. 

  Mechatronics Engineer Intern（Dexterous Hand）

  Flexiv Robotics Inc. is seeking talented mechatronics engineer interns to join our team in developing specialized hardware and software for our next-generation dexterous hand. In this role, you will collaborate with other engineers to create and refine innovative designs, develop testing setups and test platforms, conduct experiments, and analyze results.Responsibilities:1. Design and build a mechatronics test bench for robotic hand evaluation, including mechanical assembly and electronics integration.2. Develop a functional GUI (Python/Qt or similar) to enable engineers and researchers to run automated test cycles and visualize real-time performance metrics.3. Implement data logging pipelines for high-frequency sensor data to support post-processing and performance analysis.4. Assist in developing a Universal Manipulation Interface (UMI) and teleoperation platform specifically optimized for robotic hand control.5. Conduct "human-in-the-loop" testing sessions to identify bottlenecks in the teleoperation interface and implement mechanical or software refinements.6. Research and evaluate new technologies for potential integration into the product development lifecycle;7. Document development processes, testing results, and data analysis comprehensively to support internal knowledge transfer.Requirements:1. Pursuing or holding a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.2. Prototyping & Assembly: Hands-on experience building mechatronics systems, including motor integration and sensor interfacing3. CAD & Design: Proficiency in 3D CAD (Solidworks preferred) with a solid understanding of DFM/DFA for rapid prototyping4. Software skills: experience creating GUIs and software interfaces (Python/C++) for hardware control and data acquisition5. Robotics Fundamentals: Strong understanding of kinematics, dynamics, and actuator technologies6. Excellent Communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills, with great attention to detail.Preferred qualifications:1. Experience with BLDC motor control and communication protocols.2. Familiarity with robotic teleoperation frameworks and UMI frameworks.3. Background in experimental data analysis and automated testing.4. Experience with robotics simulation tools (MuJoCo, SAPIEN, Isaac Sim, or PyBullet).

  Business analyst

  Part-Time Analyst (Singapore) – Health Trends in Sweet Packaged Foods Role:Support a regional SEA project by researching and building context slides on Singapore for health trends in sweet packaged foods.Responsibilities:1. Map Singapore consumer dietary habits, lifestyle shifts, and health priorities2. Identify key health trends in sweet packaged foods and consumer motivations3.Summarise government health and nutrition policies (e.g., sugar, FOP labelling)4. Provide examples from local and international competitors5. Assess trend maturity and relevance to other SEA marketsDeliverables:Clear PowerPoint slides with concise insights, examples, and referencesRequirements:1.Based in Singapore with a strong understanding of the local consumer and retail landscape2.Exceptional skills in desk research, data synthesis, and visual storytelling via PowerPoint.3. 2-3 years of experience in market research, FMCG (preferably food & beverage), nutrition science, or a related strategic insights field is a plusA curious, analytical mind with the ability to distinguish between a fleeting fad and a sustainable macro-trend.Duration: Part-time, project-based engagement for approximately 9 weeks 

  Summer Business Analyst Intern

  Company Description Xelay Acumen Group, Inc is a strategy and management consulting firm serving biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and health care provider clients. Our engagements focus exclusively on high value-add for our clients’ most critically important issues and challenges. Xelay Acumen strives to be the leading healthcare strategy and management consulting firm focused on enabling distinctive success for innovative products that matter. We deliver extraordinary results for our healthcare clients by attracting and developing talented high potential team members.  At Xelay Acumen Group, Inc., our people are excited to help clients address their most pressing issues and challenges. We leverage the flexibility and expertise of our virtual network and organization and bring to bear an unparalleled combination of skill sets: strategic problem solving, rigorous analyses and methodologies, and clear and concise communications to bring about uniquely extraordinary results.  Xelay Acumen was first started in 2007 with a private investment fund (Xelay Capital) serving non-profit institutions. Xelay Acumen Group has rapidly established itself as a leading consulting firm in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors since 2012. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, the firm also established an Asia Pacific office in Taipei in 2018. Xelay Foundation, our non-profit foundation, was founded in 2015 and grants over $200,000 annually to local community organizations and global research institutions:01.2007. Xelay Capital founded07.2012. Xelay Acumen founded12.2014. Xelay San Francisco Area office established in San Mateo01.2015. Xelay Foundation founded11.2015. Xelay San Mateo office expands11.2016. Xelay San Mateo moves to a new building01.2018. Xelay Foundation grant program established05.2018. Xelay San Mateo office expands again09.2018. Xelay Acumen Taipei founded01.2019. Xelay Foundation Consulting established11.2019. Xelay San Mateo office expands again01.2021. Xelay Foundation scholarship established01.2022. Xelay Foundation AAA-Cup05.2022. Xelay Foundation Athletic Scholarship established04.2023. Xelay Taipei office established Position Description Xelay Acumen summer interns are a diverse group of highly qualified people with a wide range of backgrounds, from hard science to business. Offering challenging responsibilities, broad business exposure and unrivaled career prospects, Xelay Acumen’s Analyst are provided an unparalleled opportunity to apply knowledge, business intuition, and analytical rigor to real-world challenges, building invaluable skills and experience along the way. It's a great way to set yourself up for future success—at Xelay Acumen and beyond. Candidates with all experience levels are encouraged to apply.  The Summer Business Analyst internship program allows exceptional candidates to go through our management, leadership, and consulting skills training while gaining firsthand experience in onboarding and the first 2–3 months of a full-time analyst or associate role in management consulting. Interns get to support strategic analyses of clinical, medical, and market data within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and health care provider industry, and collaborate with client and Xelay team members to accomplish project engagement goals and objectives. As our summer internships are a unique learning experience for the interns, internships are not paid but volunteer positions. Summer interns at Xelay Acumen have the opportunity to tackle some of the most advanced and difficult problems our clients face that drive the bottom-line financial returns and create tremendous value, includingCreating compelling communications of critical informationDesigning and developing visualizations of data and concepts to vastly improve audience engagement and understandingConducting clinical trial data analytics and designDeveloping and writing medical publications and communications with novel analyses and compelling visualizationsResearching to understand and shape new marketsFraming new business and medical treatment modelsAssessing specific competitors' performancePerforming due diligence  DevelopmentOne of the five core values at Xelay is to “develop our people”. This value goes beyond being a mere statement – it is a dedicated promise to invest in the personal and professional evolution of every individual within our organization. At Xelay, we have cultivated an environment where learning is seamlessly integrated into our daily operations. We actively engage our team members in real client engagements, providing them with hands-on responsibilities that not only challenge and stretch their abilities but also accelerate their professional growth. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and accomplishment among our team members. Our commitment to developing people extends to comprehensive training in consulting, leadership, and communication. This training is complemented by comprehensive onboarding training, a summer offsite, and biweekly meetings with mentors. We understand that each individual's journey is unique, and therefore, we offer personalized development plans tailored to the aspirations and goals of our team members. By championing a “people developing culture”, we empower our team members to excel in their current roles and prepare them for future leadership positions. We firmly believe that our investment in their growth is an investment in the overall success of our firm. Summer interns have the opportunity to help develop powerful insights and drive results for our clients. We invest heavily in our Analysts and believe in the apprenticeship model of management consulting. At Xelay Acumen, you will gain frequent professional development and consulting skills as well as a global network of like-minded colleagues that will prepare you for your time at Xelay and beyond. Development opportunities include:Direct access to the CEO, leadership team members, and team leads to develop leadership, consulting mindset/skills, communication, and analytics skillsOffsite training retreats to learn/practice new skills Leadership training from an Executive Leadership Coach typically reserved for C-level executives Assigned mentor to work on development goalsBi-weekly meetings with senior team leads to evaluate performance and progressOpportunities to serve global clients across healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotech industriesOpportunities to expand responsibility from consulting/analytics to talent acquisition, property management, foundation, office management, etc. ResponsibilitiesSummer Interns at Xelay Acumen quickly acquire the core capabilities of a successful, trustworthy team member through the following responsibilities:Manage individual workstreamsCreate, refine, and present recommendations to senior managementStructure and solve challenging problems to address critical business issuesCreate compelling storylines and visualizations to accomplish critical communication challenges Perform complex clinical trial and database analyses in support of ad-hoc and ongoing projectsSynthesize medical literature and communications into key takeaways and implications for the ClientReceive and provide timely feedback from managers and team membersDevelop programs, methodologies, and files for analyzing and presenting dataInterpret and organize data results, literature research and market research into executive summaries and professional consulting presentationsUse and support database applications and analytical tools: evaluate data quality, applications, and functions, produce output, maintain data assetsResearch new data sources and analytical tools; contribute to new product development and improvement in product delivery and presentation  Desired Skills & Experience Required:Enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Finance, Economics, Marketing or related analytical fields Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to conduct complex data analysis using analytical databases/tools like Microsoft Excel (eg, pivot tables, LOOKUP, SUMIF, COUNTIF functions, etc). Demonstrated ability to manipulate data, understand complexities, and generate reports/presentationsDemonstrated drive for quality, a strong commitment to and affinity for delivering the highest level of data services and analysesExcellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Deep/expert experience with Powerpoint presentationsFlexible & creative, with a collaborative work style. Ability to establish / maintain effective working relationships. High-energy, self-motivated, and organized.Strong project management skills Ability to relocate to the SF-Bay areaMust be able to work in person within an office setting (not remote)Values development feedback to learn new skills and learns new skills quickly; receives feedback well and is thankful and grateful for the other person’s investment Desirable, but not required:Consulting firm, market research firm, or financial analysis work strongly preferredExperience with large amounts of data (big data) and data warehouses preferredProject management, market research, questionnaire design, and website development experiences are a plusBasic statistical skills, including sample size, confidence intervals, linear correlation, regression analysis etc. Understanding of SAS, SPSS or other statistical analysis packageAbility to interpret data and express implications of analysis  Interested parties should apply via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XelayAcumenJobs For more information, visit: www.xelayacumen.com or find us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

  Business Operations & Marketing Intern

  About GradiantGradiant is a Different Kind of Water Company. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end solutions for advanced water and wastewater treatment powered by the top minds in water, the company serves its clients’ mission-critical operations in the world’s essential industries, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, lithium and critical minerals, and renewable energy. Gradiant’s innovative solutions reduce water used and wastewater discharged, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. The Boston-headquartered company was founded at MIT and has over 1,400 employees worldwide. Discover us at gradiant.com. Position OverviewWe are seeking a motivated Business Operations & Marketing Intern to support the Middle East leadership team on a wide range of strategic, operational & commercial initiatives. This role offers a unique opportunity to work closely with leadership, gain hands-on exposure to real-world business challenges & contribute meaningfully to the growth of our operations.The intern will be involved across business strategy, marketing execution, CRM management, analytics, operational excellence initiatives & enterprise systems support (SAP).This is an ideal role for candidates who are intellectually curious, proactive & eager to go beyond defined job boundaries while working with a fast-paced leadership team. Duration- 6 months Responsibilities1. Business Strategy & Operations SupportSupport the Middle East Operations in strategic planning, business analysis & operational initiativesAssist in preparing business reports, dashboardsConduct market research, competitive analysis & industry benchmarkingTrack & follow up on key action items, milestones & operational KPIs2. Marketing & Growth Initiatives (Middle East)Support execution of regional marketing campaigns (digital, events, webinars)Work with global marketing team to localize content & campaigns for the ME regionAssist in creating marketing collateral, campaign trackers & performance summariesAnalyze campaign effectiveness and provide data-driven insights for continuous improvement3. Salesforce CRM Documentation & AnalyticsSupport Salesforce CRM data hygiene, documentation & process standardizationAssist in maintaining sales pipelines, opportunity tracking, and account dataGenerate basic CRM reports and analytics to support sales and management reviews4. ICV (In-Country Value) & Localization InitiativesSupport ICV-related documentation, data collection & reporting5. SAP & Enterprise Systems SupportAssist in SAP-related coordination, documentation & user support activitiesSupport data validation, reporting & cross-functional follow-ups during SAP process6. Cross-Functional & Ad-Hoc ProjectsWork closely with sales, operations, finance, supply chain & global teams as required RequirementsShould currently be in their final year of Bachelors.Strong interest in business management, operations & marketingHigh learning agility with a hands-on, problem-solving mindsetBasic understanding of industrial processes, particularly in water treatment, is an advantage but not mandatoryAbility to work effectively in a team environment while also handling independent tasksPrior internship or work experience in a related field is advantageous but not mandatory. Gradiant is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.