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

  Horticulture Intern

  Session: Summer (May - August)Position Title: Horticulture InternHiring Manager: Sandy RichterAgency: Department of Game, Fish & ParksLocation: Sioux Falls - Outdoor CampusMinimum Salary: $18.83/hr*APPLICANT MUST BE A CURRENT PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDIT HOURS) IN UPCOMING SEMESTER OR IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SEMESTER.Position Description: Have some fun in the sun at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls maintaining our 6000 square foot butterfly garden, nature playscape, and bird viewing area. This position will include organizing the butterfly garden plant identification, advocating for pollinators including bees and butterflies, organizing clean up days with volunteers, as well as assisting education staff with outdoor skills programming such as fishing, camping, and hunting and nature-based and South Dakota heritage programs. Candidate must enjoy working with people of all ages and spending time outdoors. Training is provided. Qualifications: Applicant must be enrolled as a part-time/full-time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply. By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program. All students are encouraged to apply, but preference may be given to applicants with a standing of junior/senior, South Dakota residents, and students of South Dakota institutions.

  Community Naturalist Intern

  Session: Summer (May - August)Position Title: Naturalist InternHiring Manager: Sandy RichterAgency: Department of Game, Fish & ParksLocation: Sioux Falls - Outdoor CampusMinimum Salary: $18.83/hr*APPLICANT MUST BE A CURRENT PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDIT HOURS) IN UPCOMING SEMESTER OR IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SEMESTER.Position Description: This position will include leading and assisting education staff with outdoor skills programming such as fishing, camping and hunting, as well as nature based and South Dakota heritage programs. The position will serve community, school and group programs, ranging from preschool to adult classes. Interns assist with programs developed and scheduled by the program coordinators or volunteer instructors, develop future programs for the public, and work at the information desk to meet programming and customer service needs. Candidate must enjoy working with people of all ages and spending time outdoors. This is a fun, fast paced job that will give you valuable teaching experience in an informal setting. Training is provided. Qualifications: Applicant must be enrolled as a part-time/full-time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply. By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program. All students are encouraged to apply, but preference may be given to applicants with a standing of junior/senior, South Dakota residents, and students of South Dakota institutions.Applicants with fishing, hunting and other outdoor skills and experience will be given preference.

  Product Manager Internship

  Job Title: Product Manager InternLocation: On-site in San Jose, CA (Product Team)Job Type: Internship (with potential for full-time conversion)Stipend: $1,500/monthVisa Support: OPT extension and H1B sponsorship available upon full-time conversion Special Application Requirement:If you believe you have a strong product fit, please include a brief cover letter addressing the following:Share a project where you played a key role in product planning or decision-making—what was your contribution and the result?If you’ve worked with teams in different locations or time zones, how did you ensure collaboration and consistency?If you’ve helped define or manage hardware/software products, describe the role you played and how you worked with engineers.📌 Cover letters will be reviewed directly by the team lead and prioritized during initial review. About Us:Pando Electric is a fast-growing startup building the next generation of smart EV charging solutions for multi-unit dwellings and commercial properties. Our mission is to deliver intuitive, scalable, and grid-aware EV charging infrastructure that integrates seamlessly with user behavior and utility systems. About the Role:We are looking for a highly driven Product Manager Intern to join our Product team in San Jose, CA. You will support product planning and execution throughout the product lifecycle—from concept and feature definition to release and optimization. This role requires strong communication, analytical thinking, and the ability to work across engineering, operations, and business stakeholders. Key Responsibilities:Assist in defining product requirements, use cases, and customer journeysCollaborate closely with hardware, software, and firmware teams to drive executionConduct competitive and user research to inform product decisionsMaintain and prioritize product backlogs, timelines, and feature specsSupport validation and testing workflows to ensure quality and complianceCoordinate product launch efforts, including documentation and team alignmentWork with internal and external stakeholders to gather feedback and iterate Qualifications:Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline1+ years of experience in product, UX, software/hardware projects, or engineering roles (big plus)Strong analytical and problem-solving skillsExcellent communication and documentation abilitiesFamiliarity with Jira, Notion, Figma, or other product toolsInterest in EV, clean energy, or IoT domains is a plus Preferred Background:Experience working with both hardware and software teamsFamiliarity with user-centric product developmentExperience bridging engineering team to ship real-world productsPrior involvement in compliance, certification, or release testing is a plus What We Offer:$1,500/month stipend during internshipOpportunity for full-time conversion with OPT extension and H1B supportEnd-to-end exposure to building physical and digital EV solutionsFast-moving, supportive startup environment with mentorship and impactReal ownership of meaningful product initiatives in a high-growth sector

  Outreach Naturalist Intern

  Session: Summer (May - August)Hiring Manager: Outreach Naturalist InternAgency: Department of Game, Fish & ParksLocation: Sioux Falls, SDMinimum Salary: $18.83/hr*APPLICANT MUST BE A CURRENT PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDIT HOURS) IN UPCOMING SEMESTER OR IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SEMESTER.Position Description: Outreach Naturalist Intern will assist staff with programming needs during outreach events and programs at The Outdoor Campus. Interns will serve programs from preschool to adult age. Program topics include, but are not limited to, camping, hunting, fishing, cooking, South Dakota animals, and plants. Interns will assist with programs developed and scheduled by coordinators, develop future programs, and meet customer service needs. Qualifications: Course work in the following areas will aide in consideration: Education, Outdoor Education, Communication, Public Relations, Biology, Natural Resources Management, or similar environmental education. Must have enthusiasm!Applicant must be enrolled as a part-time/full-time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply. By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program. All students are encouraged to apply, but preference may be given to applicants with a standing of junior/senior, South Dakota residents, and students of South Dakota institutions.

  Volunteer Coordinator Intern

  Session: Summer (May - August)Position Title: Volunteer Coordinator InternSupervisor: Paige O'FarrellAgency: Department of Game, Fish and ParksLocation: Sioux Falls, SDMinimum Salary: $18.83/hr*APPLICANT MUST BE A CURRENT PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDIT HOURS) IN UPCOMING SEMESTER OR IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SEMESTER.Position Description:This position is responsible for assisting the Volunteer Coordinator in recruiting new volunteers and retaining current volunteers. Duties include, but are not limited to, interviewing, training, and completing orientation with potential volunteers; ensuring volunteers are properly utilized and engaged; coordinating volunteer recognition events; attending outreach events; assisting education staff with outdoor skills programming such as fishing, camping, and hunting, as well as assisting with South Dakota heritage programs. Applicants must enjoy working with people of all ages and spending time outdoors. Training is provided.Qualifications:Applicant must be enrolled as a part-time/full-time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply. By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program.All students are encouraged to apply, but preference may be given to South Dakota residents and students of South Dakota institutions.