Jobs, internships, and co-ops
Many science and engineering organizations begin recruiting for spring graduates and summer interns during fall semester, so get started early! September-October and January-February are the busiest times for job openings, on-campus interviews, and recruiting events.
What is an internship?
An internship is a short-term position that provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with professionals in a field related to their major. Most science and engineering internships are paid. Internships are available at private corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Most internships happen during the summer. Students generally complete an internship between junior and senior year, though some have an internship as early as the summer after freshman year. See resources below for alternatives to traditional internships.
What is a co-op?
Co-ops are a structured way to combine your academic knowledge with practical work experience. At the earliest, co-ops begin after you complete your sophomore year. Generally, you will complete two or three semesters of full-time work interspersed with semesters of full-time academic coursework. CSE has a formal co-op program where you will obtain academic credit for your co-op experience. Note that not all CSE majors participate in the formal program. There is also an option to complete a co-op for no credit, but you may have to take a leave of absence from the university. If you are interested in pursuing a co-op, be sure to create an education plan with your academic advisor. For more information, visit the Engineering Co-op Program website.
Steps for obtaining positions
Step 1: Before you begin to look for opportunities, it is important to establish what is important to you, such as what industries, organizations, and types of positions would be the best fit for your interests, strengths, skills, personality, and values.
Step 2: Use a variety of search strategies. Employers that recruit UMN students report that internship programs, their organization’s webpage, career fairs, Handshake (read Tips and Tutorials), and networking are the most effective ways for them to find qualified applicants.
Networking consists of building relationships with professionals, especially in your career field of interest. Connecting with these professionals can help you make yourself known in the industry you want to work in, gather career information, and learn about job opportunities. College is a great place to get started because most professionals enjoy meeting students, and building a network early can help you find internship and job opportunities. The Maroon and Gold Network is the University of Minnestoa’s alumni networking database. Visit the Maroon and Gold Network website.
For networking tips from CSE Career Services Peer Assistants, watch the Concise Advice: Networking Tips video.
Step 3: Create a resume and cover letter that are targeted for each position to which you apply. Use the position description to tailor your resume and cover letter to the qualifications. For guidance, view the guides under the “Resume and Cover Letter” heading on CSE’s Career Guides webpage.
Job search resources
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Industry
- Handshake is the University of Minnesota’s job and internship database.
- LinkedIn is an employment-oriented service to build and engage with a professional network.
- Indeed is the largest employment-related search engine.
- Simply Hired is an online employment and recruitment advertising network/job board.
- Zip Recruiter is an online job board.
- SciTechsperience connects students in STEM fields to internships in the state of Minnesota.
- Internships.com is a search engine/database specific for college-level internships.
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Pre-internships, Externships, Projects, and Micro-internships
Pre-internships, externships, projects, and micro-internships involve hands-on experiences, allowing you to work flexibly and often at your own pace, either paid or unpaid. These experiences are short-term, task-focused opportunities with real companies, offering valuable work experience. They provide insights into careers through short-term placements, enhancing resumes and expanding professional networks.
- Internships on Demand (Pre-internships)
- The Forage (Job simulations)
- Extern (Externships and labs)
- Parker Dewey (Micro-internships)
- Maroon & Gold Network (Projects)
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Third-Party Recruiting Agencies
Third-party or staffing agencies can help place candidates in temporary/contract, temporary-to-hire, or permanent positions and have access to positions that may not be found elsewhere.
- Aerotek Staffing Agency (science and engineering, medical device internships and FT)
- American Staffing Association (information about staffing agencies and how they can benefit you)
- Apex Systems (IT)
- Brooksource (IT)
- Doherty Staffing Solutions (science and engineering)
- Experis (science and engineering)
- Kelly Services, Inc. (science and engineering)
- PrimeStaff (science and engineering)
- Russell Tobin (science and engineering)
- Valere (IT)
- Verum Technical (medical device, science and lab, manufacturing, biotech, chemical, etc.)
- Volt (science and engineering)
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Academia
- AcademicKeys is an academic job board and search site.
- HigherEd360 is a higher ed job board with a comprehensive list of human resource websites.
- HigherEdJobs is a job board for faculty & administrative positions at colleges and universities
- Inside Higher Ed consists of higher ed news, advice, events, and a job board.
- ChronicleVitae is an academic job search database.
- Higher Education Recruitment Consortium is a higher ed job search website.
- University Jobs is an academic job search board for faculty, staff, and administrative positions.
- National Postdoc Association is a professional organization for postdocs and those searching for positions.
- Postdoc Jobs is a search board for postdoc, research, fellowship, and Ph.D. positions.
- Find a Postdoc serves as a directory for postdoc and Ph.D. jobs.
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Neurodiversity Employment Resources
Websites and Job Boards:
- Neuro-Inclusive Candidate Sign Up though University of Connecticut
- Workability Job Board
- Neurodiversity Career Connector
- Mentra is for Software, UX, Data
Placement Services
Get the Jobs and Internships Guides
For more details, download the Internship and Job Search Guide (PDF), Academic Job Search Guide (PDF), International Job and Internship Search Guide (PDF), and Researching Employers and Industries Guide (PDF).
Visit the Central Career Services website for more information on career resources for students with disabilities, international students, LGBTQIA students, multicultural students, women, and veterans.
Tips for International Students
Please connect with International Student and Scholar Services to learn about student visa and work authorization requirements (CPT/OPT) BEFORE obtaining a position. For more information and guidance, review the Career resources for international students webpage.
Get the International Student Job and Internship Guide
For more details, download the International Student Job and Internship Guide (PDF).