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

  Heartland CPFD Intern

  Company Description As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs.  Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting. From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold.  Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.  Job Description We invite you to help us shape the future of agriculture. At Syngenta, we believe every team member has a role to play in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. Location: Owatonna, MN As an intern at Syngenta, you have the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry, and work on real projects finding real solutions. Work with us and you’ll get: • Considerable wages  • Ongoing career development resources  • The opportunity to work on meaningful, creative projects that solve problems  • A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and offers flexible work options to meet both your work and personal needs Estimated Duration: May 2026 – August 2026 You will: • Gain thorough knowledge and understanding of Syngenta and crop protection product development  • Support Crop Protection Field Development activities such trial implementation, maintenance, and data capture in field, and/or lab settings • Identify 2-3 personal development opportunities while in the internship program • Learn processes and skills utilized to develop products and technologies • Develop an understanding of Crop Protection Field Development’s role in research and development, and agronomy • Manage a project under the guidance of Crop Protection Field Development scientist(s) • Develop and deliver a summary presentation of internship experience to stakeholders  • Participate in monthly performance discussions with manager to enable continuous growth and improvement  Qualifications • Enrollment in an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or advanced degree program in Agriculture, Biological Science, or another closely related field of study  • Must be a current student continuing education upon completion of internship term (Graduation date of December 2026 or AFTER) • Fluent in English • A valid driver’s license and acceptable moving violations record  Additional Information What We Offer: A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs.Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal.Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.  #LI-DNI

  Marine Conservation Internship

  Marine Conservation Internship  Description:8-12+ weeks, with the first 4 weeks spent taking part in our conservation course and the later weeks spent working on an individual projectThe 4 week conservation course includes 1 morning lecture, which will cover topics such as how to conduct our ecological monitoring program, coral taxonomy, artificial reefs, coral diseases, sea turtle ecology, muck diving and more!Intern projects can vary based on interest, ranging from blacktip reef shark population studies, measuring artificial reef growth, growth rates in wild sea turtles, drupella snail population studies, whale shark identification, and more!We do 1 afternoon dive per day Mondays through Fridays, with weekends freeThe internship is geared towards anyone looking to do research as part of their thesis or PhD or those interested in getting a more in depth understanding of the marine ecosystem Requirements:Certified Advanced Open Water diver (can be done on site with our dive center)No background in marine biology needed Skills Gained:Learn to conduct underwater surveys and gain hands-on marine field experiencePerfect your diving skills, such as buoyancy, hovering, and body positioningContribute to ongoing conservation and research projects with the option to develop your own project if desiredGain certifications via Conservation DiverHone your data collection and data management skills *Besides applying on Handshake, please email us at conservation-team@newheavendiveschool.com to continue the application process and confirm your placement. **Due to the nature of this diving internship, there are costs involved. 

  Visual & Motion Designer

  Visual & Motion Graphic Designer (Internship) 📍 Remote | 💼 2–3 Month Internship | 🕓 Flexible Hours | 💸 $500 Stipend About Penned.ioPenned.io is focused on redefining the world of collaborative and intelligent writing tools for modern creators, marketers, and publishers. As we prepare to launch our brand-new website, we’re offering a unique opportunity for a creative visual designer with motion and UI sensibilities to help bring our landing pages to life through engaging, high-quality graphics and animations. 🌟 The OpportunityWe’re looking for a talented Visual & Motion Graphic Design Intern with experience in motion graphics, UI design, and digital storytelling to create custom visuals for each section of our new website.Our landing page layouts are already fully designed — what we need now are the graphics, motion elements, and supporting visual assets that elevate the experience: icons, illustrations, animated components, section visuals, and brand-forward design details.As part of this unpaid internship, you’ll work closely with our Head of Design and creative team to translate page structure into polished, modern visuals that match the quality of leading product websites. We will reward the successful applicant with $500 for their work, as well as mention their name in the footer of the website. 👨‍💻 What You’ll Be DoingYou’ll be contributing graphics and motion assets across 3–4 landing pages, as well as supporting visuals throughout the broader site. Section Graphics & Visual AssetsDesign custom illustrations, icons, and supporting graphics to accompany key landing page sectionsDevelop visual elements that enhance clarity, hierarchy, and storytelling Motion & Micro-Interactions (Bonus Focus)Create lightweight motion graphics, animated assets, or micro-interaction concepts that make the site feel dynamic and modernExplore subtle UI animation principles for web use Collaborate & IterateWork closely with internal stakeholders to understand design goals and brand directionApply feedback across iterations quickly and thoughtfully Export & Delivery for DevelopmentEnsure all assets are cleanly organized, export-ready, and optimized for implementationProvide developer-friendly files, specs, and motion references when needed Contribute to Brand GrowthHelp shape the visual identity of Penned.io during a major product momentBuild portfolio-worthy work that will be seen by thousands of creators and publishers 🛠️ What We’re Looking ForA strong portfolio showcasing motion design, web graphics, UI visuals, or digital product assetsExperience with tools like Figma, After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, or similarStrong visual instincts in layout, composition, typography, and brand consistencyUnderstanding of how graphics support user journeys and digital storytellingAbility to work independently, manage deadlines, and stay responsive to feedbackBonus: Experience designing animated UI components, Lottie files, or web micro-interactions 🎨 Style ReferenceWe admire the quality and polish of designers like DesignJoy:https://www.figma.com/proto/wbWTRa1jCey4uhInRAmH1r/Latest-Projects...We’re aiming for a similar level of modern execution, though there’s no requirement to match a specific artistic style. 🖥️ Tools You'll Likely UseFigmaAdobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop)After Effects (or similar motion tools)Slack, Notion, Google Workspace 🙌 What You’ll GetReal-world experience contributing to a high-impact product launchAutonomy to explore your creativity and build standout portfolio workA supportive, remote-friendly environmentExposure to cross-functional collaboration across Design, Marketing, and ProductA strong professional reference and visibility in a growing creative tech company 📩 How to ApplyEmail support@penned.io with the subject line: |APPLY: Visual & Motion Design Intern”Include:A short note about yourself and why you’re a great fitLinks to your portfolio or relevant motion/UI workAny ideas or inspirations you’d love to bringAt Penned.io, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that represents the audiences we aim to empower. We encourage creatives of all backgrounds and experiences to apply.We can’t wait to see how you’ll bring our website to life.

  Website Graphic Designer for New Website

  Website Graphic Designer (Internship)📍 Remote | 💼 1-Month Internship | 🕓 Flexible Hours | About Penned.ioFocused on redefining the world of collaborative and intelligent writing tools for modern creators, marketers, and publishers. As we prepare to launch our brand-new website, we’re offering a unique opportunity for a creative and UI/UX-savvy Graphic Designer to play a pivotal role in shaping the digital face of our brand. 🌟 The OpportunityWe’re looking for a talented Website Graphic Designer Intern with a strong background in UI/UX or web design to help translate our wireframes, branding assets, and copy into visually compelling landing page designs. These final designs will be handed off to our development team for implementation.As part of this unpaid internship, you’ll work closely with our Head of Design and wider creative team to transform strategy into design—bringing clarity, creativity, and consistency to every pixel on screen. 👨‍💻 What You’ll Be DoingWe have 3-4 landing pages you'll be working on, as well as revisions to other elements of the website.Design and Layout: Convert provided wireframes, branding materials, and copy into full landing page mockups that are visually aligned with our creative direction.Collaborate: Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand functionality goals and aesthetic preferences, applying feedback throughout.Prototype and Present: Build visual page compositions in tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch, and present iterations for review.Optimize for Development: Ensure all design files are well-organized and developer-ready, including clear structure, exportable assets, and specs.Contribute to Brand Growth: Help shape a fresh visual identity that reflects the ethos of Penned.io and resonates with a creative-forward audience. 🛠️ What We’re Looking ForA strong portfolio showcasing web design, landing pages, or digital product layouts.Experience with design tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or equivalent.Understanding of UI/UX principles and how design supports user journeys and digital storytelling.Attention to detail in layout, typography, spacing, and responsiveness.Ability to work independently and manage deadlines while being responsive to feedback.Bonus: Familiarity with web animation principles or micro-interaction design.Some designs we like from one designer at DesignJoy: https://www.figma.com/proto/wbWTRa1jCey4uhInRAmH1r/Latest-Projects?page-id=0%3A1&type=design&node-id=906-2343&viewport=450%2C721%2C0.13&t=ZYPXbxSFD1m31WCi-1&scaling=min-zoom Look through his portfolio. Hoping for something of this standard, but not necessarily any specific artistic direction in here. 🖥️ Tools You'll Likely UseFigma / Sketch / XDAdobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop)Slack, Notion, Google Workspace 🙌 What You’ll GetReal-world design experience for a product launch.Autonomy to explore your creativity and build a standout portfolio piece.A supportive and remote-friendly work environment.Exposure to cross-functional teams (Design, Marketing, Product). 📩 How to ApplyEmail support@penned.io with the subject line: “APPLY: Website Graphic Designer”.Include:A short note about yourself and why you're a great fit for this roleLinks to your portfolio or relevant web design projectsAny ideas or inspirations you’d love to bringAt Penned.io, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that represents the audiences we aim to empower. We encourage creatives of all backgrounds and experiences to apply.We can’t wait to see how you’d bring our vision to life

  Growth Intern

  🚜 Hey there! Join our startup as a paid remote Growth Intern! We’re a small, early-stage startup looking for a curious, motivated student to jump in and help us grow. This isn’t your typical internship - we’re offering a chance to work closely with repeat founders and maybe even stick around long-term if it’s a great fit. Fun fact: my current cofounder was my first intern at my very first startup, so we’re all about building real relationships long-term!💻 What you’ll be doing:Reaching out to users, getting them excited about our product, and helping them get startedConnect with customers to gather feedback and make the product even betterDiving into user growth ideas and running with them – expect to work independently!🧑 Who we’re looking for:Must have experience with farms, ideally you grew up on a farmExcited about early-stage startups and ready to learn on the flyComfortable talking to people and building relationshipsA curious self-starter who loves taking ownership of tasksInterested in tech, user growth, and using AI tools to work smarter⭐ What’s in it for you:Fully remote work with flexible hours - fit it around your lifeCompetitive pay, plus extra commissions for every customer you bring onMentorship from repeat foundersA real shot at joining our team long-term if we’re a great match🙂 About us:Repeat founder team with backgrounds at BCG and leading fintech startupsFully remote early-stage team located in the US and Europe