If you are a transitioning service member, the uncertainties of the private sector may be looming large as you begin to make your post-military career plans. Like many you may have decided to use your education benefits to attend college or a trade school. Maybe you have already started your degree and will finish it up after separating.
Whatever the particulars, if you are a student veteran, internships offer an amazing opportunity for you to expand your professional network, gain valuable skills, test the waters in your target career field, or beef up up your resume with quality private-sector experience. When going to school, summer internships provide the chance to keep your skills fresh during the summer.
According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, an internship often serves as a bridge to full-time employment, with over 51% of employers offering those who have successfully completed an internship within their company a permanent position. Many internships offer compensation of some sort — in 2015, the average rate of pay for bachelor-level interns was $17.20 per hour, which is higher than entry-level positions in some industries. Those involved in recruiting interns cited many of the people skills and leadership principles that are learned in the armed forces as qualities they were most interested in bringing into their programs.
Related: The 10 best pieces of advice for SVA chapter members.
Hirepurpose partners with a number of military-friendly companies that are looking for veterans to fill a variety of in paid internship positions. Here are just five of the many you may want to explore.
1. Business development internship in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Those veterans who have experience coordinating large projects and who are pursuing a college degree in business with a focus on sales or marketing will want to look at this paid internship with Anthem. Anthem is a health insurances company that was recognized as a top company for diversity by DiversityInc. magazine and ranked as one of America’s most admired companies among health insurers by Fortune magazine. The position requires schedule flexibility and affords its holder the chance to learn about the process of capture planning, market research, and the development and management of Sharepoint sites. Former service members with an entrepreneurial and inquisitive spirit, who also possess a high capacity to learn and adapt would be well-suited for this role.
2. Investment internship in Lake Oswego, Oregon
For student veterans and their spouses who are majoring in finance or economics, Wells Fargo has a paid summer internship available with their Bensen Value team located in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Wells Fargo is a financial services company that has demonstrated its commitment the military community through a variety of philanthropic donations to veterans organizations, a veterans recruiting program, its own internal veterans member network, and the development of the “Enterprise Value of A Veteran” training for employers. This internship requires someone who can generate quarterly financial reports, analyze numbers, understand business strategy, and provide high-level support to senior analysts and portfolio managers. Those who spent their time in the military as a finance specialists, financial management technicians or procurement specialists will have a distinct competitive advantage when applying for the position.