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

  Senate District Office Internship

  Balkema Senate Office Internship(Part-Time)Position SummaryInterns play a vital role in advancing the Senator’s priorities for District 53 and the State of Illinois. Working closely with the Legislative Assistant, Strategy Manager and the Chief of Staff, Interns support legislative agendas, communications, and district operations. This role provides hands-on experience in government, public policy, and constituent engagement, while developing strong leadership and professional skills.Key ResponsibilitiesResearch & Analytical Support• Conduct legislative and policy research to support staff and prepare materials for hearings or legislative sessions.• Analyze agency budgets and assist in the development of proposals for the state budget.• Respond to research requests from team members.• Draft summaries and reviews of documents necessary to advance legislation.Legislative Support• Track and analyze bill data throughout the legislative process.• Participate in Senate committee hearings, meetings, and public sessions.• Assist with legislative strategy and policy development.• Engage with constituents to understand their legislative requests.Constituent Services• Respond to constituent emails, letters, and inquiries.• Assist with constituent casework and provide updates on state resourceopportunities and legislative issues.• Support community outreach and district engagement efforts.Administrative & Office Support• Answer phones, manage databases, and coordinate meetings.• Maintain organized documentation and workflow for office operations.• Provide general administrative support to staff.• Build relationships with legislators, lobbyists, agency officials, and contractors.Potential Specialized Assignments(Assigned based on skills and interests)• Support Policy Team: Conduct in-depth legal research, analyze proposed legislation, and draft legal or policy briefs.• Support Communications Team: Assist with media relations, tracking press activity, and helping prepare the Senator’s communication materials.• Support Events Team: Support community outreach events and collaborate with community representatives and local organizations.Qualifications & Skills• Strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management abilities.• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with high attention to detail.• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), workflow software and office management tools.• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment.• Professional, compassionate, and committed to continuous improvement and public service.Compensation, Location & Time Commitment• Compensation: $15–$20 per hour, based on experience• Location: Flexibility inside District 53 with time spent in Springfield• Hours: 10–15 hours per week• Benefits: Internship positions do not include benefits Please email resumes to: balkema@ilsenategop.org

  Mental Health Support Intern

  Position ResponsibilitiesWork directly with members, often working in a group setting or providing 1:1 support in creative activities and creative work planningMotivate and assist members in their projectsBring technical and practical assistance to the workshop sessionsBe punctual, committed and professional in all aspects of workMaintain a positive and supportive work environment for both members and teachersAbout the OrganizationWe have been providing best practice and best value in Mental Health care in London. We promote positive mental health and wellbeing through a college-like environment of creative learning. Providing quality education, training, employment and social enterprise initiatives that enable people who experience mental health issues to overcome barriers, fulfil their potential and participate fully in their community.ADDITIONAL BENEFITSOn-site Supervision and SupportOur internships include 24/7 on-site staff to support students working and living abroad. All students will also report to a supervisor at their internship site. Supervisors provide and oversee daily tasks, introduce the intern to team members, and mentor the intern in organizational agility, skill acquisition, and career readiness. Interns complete a midpoint and final evaluation, and supervisors complete a final evaluation of their interns. All work responsibilities and projects are approved in advance.Academic CreditStudents on an internship have the opportunity to enroll in their home university for credit, or enroll in a course through API to transfer back to their university for credit. Email support-internships@apiexperience.com for more information and a syllabus.Housing and ExcursionsHousing and excursions are included in your internship and will be selectable during the application process.Visa SponsorshipSelected candidates will be responsible for obtaining a temporary work visa with support from API, please note that this has an additional expense on the candidate. For more information visit our visa page

  Semantic Graphic Design Engineering Intern at Deion

  Deion is the the done-for-you, anti-AI-slop Canva alternative for YouTube thumbnail design.It's powered by Semantic Design Engine—our proprietary algorithm that transforms YouTube video titles into custom, download-ready thumbnails. Learn more at https://deion.io/.We are looking for an undergraduate Semantic Graphic Design Engineering Intern for a fixed-scope, fixed-fee 1099 internship contract. This role is 100% remote in the United States.Qualification for this opportunity requires submission of code & design portfolios to eng-jobs@mydataproduct.com, completion of a demo project, and at least 10 hours of synchronous meeting availability between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM Central Time on weekdays, for the next 6 months.This role is not open toIndividuals on CPT/OPT/EADRecruitersAgenciesConsulting companiesC2C arrangementsThis role may be a good fit ifYou are a "double threat", excelling at both graphic design and data product engineeringYou believe that aesthetic choices must be defensible via symbolic rationale rather than just intuitive preferenceYou excel at designing algorithmic and autonomous systems that don't simply follow "if-this-then-that" rulesYou are comfortable working 100% remotely as part of a distributed teamYour work products demonstrate a high level of attention to detail and the ability to see the big pictureYour aptitude, mindset, and ability to learn quickly make up for shortcomings in your current skill setYou resonate with our core values:....... 1. High performance, engagement, and reliability....... 2. Proper prioritization, timeliness, and risk mitigation....... 3. Outcome ownership, accountability, and meritocracy....... 4. Systems thinking, modularity, and automation....... 5. Excellence in execution and hyper-detail orientation....... 6. Documentation and asynchronous work....... 7. Resourceful initiativeThis role may require you toEngineer bespoke algorithmic workflows that apply Gestalt principles, typographic hierarchy, color theory, and other graphic design concepts to produce professional-grade, non-deterministic graphic designsArchitect algorithmic color selection logic that prioritizes semantic alignment over arbitrary choicesDevelop programmatic validation systems that ensure graphic design deliverables meet production standardsBuild robust asset-handling pipelines and error-correction logic to enable high-fidelity rendering and system reliability across varied design output formatsLeverage Claude Code to enable high-velocity, AI-driven developmentDocument system designs, source code, workflow designs, and engineering standards to enable solution modularity and knowledge sharingCollaborate with teammates using Slack, Notion, Google Meet, and/or other softwareAn ideal candidate hasStrong proficiency in Python with a focus on writing clean, scalable code that bridges the gap between engineering logic and visual outputDeep understanding of professional graphic design fundamentals, including color temperature, saturation, value contrast, and psychological color alignmentTechnical mastery of typography, with the ability to programmatically control kerning, tracking, leading, and line-break logicThe "engineer’s intuition" required to troubleshoot probabilistic systems and debug non-deterministic design outputsDemonstrated systems thinking skills with the ability to map out intricate logic flows for complex visual processesPractical experience deploying and managing applications within the Google Cloud ecosystemExtensive experience using AI coding tools like Claude CodeThe ability to decompose high-level, ambiguous objectives into a series of small, autonomous, and verifiable tasksExperience using Git-based version control to manage codebases within a collaborative team settingExcellent communication skills for explaining technical trade-offs and architectural decisions to both technical and non-technical peersEmotional intelligence and coachabilityAbout MyDataProductMyDataProduct (MDP) is an independent data product studio and the owner-operator of Deion.Leveraging best-in-class talent, technologies, and techniques—we design and develop data-empowered software at the intersection of:Jobs-to-be-Done-informed product strategyApplied data scienceFoundational data engineering, andStakeholder value obsessionEngineered with thoughtful precision, MDP data products are defined by:Niche verticals & use casesFull-job-cycle value propositionsML-enabled capabilitiesSynergistic data integrations, andHyper-personalizationAll details of this job description are subject to change at any time, at the sole discretion of Deion or MyDataProduct.

  Business Research Analyst Intern (Unpaid | Part-time | Remote)

  Job descriptionDo you have a passion for data and a knack for uncovering insights?Are you eager to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, remote environment?  If so, Cooledtured's Business Analyst Internship could be the perfect launchpad for your data analytics career! About Cooledtured:Cooledtured is a dynamic company dedicated to Anime, Video Games, TV, Music and Movies. We're a passionate team fueled by data-driven decisions, and we're seeking a talented and motivated individual to join our ranks as a Business Analyst Intern. The Internship:Gain valuable experience in data analysis using industry-standard tools and techniques.Work alongside experienced data professionals and learn from their expertise.Contribute to real-world projects that directly impact Cooledtured's success.Develop your analytical and problem-solving skills in a collaborative and supportive environment.Build your professional network within the exciting world of data analytics. Responsibilities:Assist with data collection, cleaning, and organization.Perform basic data analysis tasks and generate insightful reports.Create data visualizations to communicate findings effectively.Stay up-to-date on data analytics trends and best practices.Contribute to the development and improvement of data-driven processes. Qualifications:Currently enrolled in a program in Data Analytics, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field (or have recently graduated).Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.Proficient in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, Python) a plus.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively in a team environment.A passion for learning and a strong work ethic. Note: This is an unpaid internship opportunity. However, we are committed to providing our interns with valuable experience and mentorship. Internship Expectations:Part-time remote position (<20 hours/week).Minimum 3-month commitment, with the option to extend.Unpaid InternshipLead and coordinate various exciting projects.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve goals.Embrace challenges and grow in the dynamic e-commerce industry.Harness your organizational prowess to drive success.Internship doesn’t guarantee job offer. Ready to Join the Cooledtured Family?If you're a highly motivated individual seeking valuable experience in a fun and fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply! Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your digital marketing experience and what excites you about Cooledtured. Check with your school's Internship Coordinator BEFORE accepting the hiring offer to determine if this position satisfies the criteria for receiving academic credit. Any interested student should go to our website for further information and application directions: https://cooledtured.com/internship 

  Copywriter Intern (Remote | Part-Time | Unpaid)

  Job descriptionCooledtured creates engaging content for fans of Anime, Video Games, TV, Music, and Movies. We're seeking a talented Copywriter to craft compelling written content across our platforms.Responsibilities:Develop clear, concise, and engaging copy for website, social media, marketing materials, and other content needs.Maintain brand voice and consistency across all written materials.Collaborate with the team to brainstorm and execute content strategies.Proofread and edit content for accuracy and clarity.Qualifications:Proven experience in copywriting or content creation.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Strong understanding of grammar and style.Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.Familiarity with Anime, Video Games, TV, Music, and Movies is a plus.Portfolio of writing samples required.Expectations:Ability to work remotely 20 hours/week for a minimum of 3 months.Unpaid internship.100% Remote InternshipInternship doesn’t guarantee job offer. Check with your school's Internship Coordinator BEFORE accepting the hiring offer to determine if this position satisfies the criteria for receiving academic credit. Any interested student should go to our website for further information and application directions: https://cooledtured.com/internship