Confidently apply for your next internship with our expert tips from Montana High Tech Business Alliance members and higher education leaders. Graphic designed by Melissa Paulsen.

December 12, 2024

By Melissa Paulsen

Internships serve as crucial stepping stones into the workforce. According to 2024 LinkedIn data, students who acquire an internship while in school are 23% more likely to start a full-time position within six months of graduation.

Benefits of an internship include:

• Establishing meaningful relationships through mentorship

• Providing opportunities for hands-on learning and professional development outside of the classroom

• Enabling career exploration to see how different industries align with your interests

• Building a well-rounded professional network

• Setting up long-term success with real-world work experience

A Google search of “How to apply for an internship” yields thousands of results with similar advice about creating a strong cover letter and resume. But what if you could hear directly from Montana hiring managers and higher education leaders about what companies are looking for in an applicant?

Read on for expert tips from Montana High Tech Business Alliance members to confidently apply for your next internship.

Special thanks to our contributors:

• Brian Aegerter, General Manager, Applied Materials, Kalispell

• Kym Corwin, Head of Workforce Development & Site Strategy, Cognizant, Missoula

• Michelle Douma, Senior Engineering Manager, Workiva, Bozeman

• Lauren Patti, Director of Talent Acquisition, Marsh McLennan Agency, Bozeman

• Kate Pace, COO, Craton Consulting, Missoula

• DJ Reinhardt, People Operations Coordinator, Submittable, Missoula

• Katja Liebe, Personnel Marketing, VACOM, Lewistown

• Gabrielle Rowley, Director, Work-based Learning Collaborative - Reach Higher Montana, Helena

• Mario Schulzke, Chief Operating Officer, Pathlabs, Missoula

• Mariah Stopplecamp, Director, Bracken Center - Montana State University Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Bozeman

• Wil Carroll, Principal, Deloitte, Helena

• Paddy Flemming, Director, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC), Bozeman

• Paul Gladen, Executive Director, Accelerate Montana, Missoula

• Dr. Cheryl Minnick, Career Success Director, University of Montana College of Humanities & Sciences, Missoula

• John Paxton, Professor and Director, Montana State University Gianforte School of Computing, Bozeman

• Brandon Vancleeve, President, Pine Cove Consulting, Bozeman

• Steve Vincelli, Business Development, Blue Sky Inventors, Helena

Highlighted Internships:

• Applied Materials: Engineering disciplines such as Process Engineers (Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical, Physics), Mechanical Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Software Engineers, Business Analysts, Data Scientists, Finance, and Supply Chain positions.

• Marsh McLennan Agency: Business internships in Risk Management and Insurance.

• Workiva: Software Engineer roles and opportunities in Business Administration, Data Science, Finance, Graphic Design, IT, and Marketing.

• Submittable: Previously offered entry-level opportunities in Sales, Marketing, and Office Administration.

• Pathlabs: Media Services, Marketing, Data Science, and AI.

• VACOM: Product Development, Engineering, and Technical Support.

• Blue Sky Inventors: Engineering and Machining.

• Deloitte: Business Administration, Computer Science, and Engineering roles for summer internships as part of Deloitte’s client service teams.

• Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC): Environmental and Manufacturing Engineering roles.

• Pine Cove Consulting: Marketing, Technical Support, Project Technicians, and Administration positions.

Additional Internship & Career Resources:

• Bracken Center - Montana State University Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship: Prepares students to research, apply, and interview for internships. They also work with companies to create and share their internships with both MSU students and alumni. Popular internship industries include accounting, management, marketing, recreation, sales, and tech.

• CompTIA Career Explorer: Comprehensive resource designed to inform, inspire, and guide individuals toward their next steps in launching their career.

• 5 Tips from Hiring Managers - How to Land a Montana Tech Job or Internship:  Three leaders from Boeing Helena, Hyundai Motor Group, and Zoot Enterprises share what positions they hire, what their internship programs entail, and how candidates can make a good first impression. Published March 24, 2023.

• 5 Tips from Hiring Managers on Pursuing Tech Jobs or Internships in Montana: Hiring managers from Applied Materials, Bridger Aerospace, onX, and Workiva give the next generation of prospective employees advice on how to apply for tech jobs and internships in Montana. Published June 30, 2022.

• 5 Tips to Set Yourself Up for Success in a Tech Career: Hiring managers from Blackfoot Communications, Submittable, GL Solutions, onX, Skyfish, Cognizant, NorthWestern Energy, Pathlabs, Snapchat, and Instacart discuss their career journeys into the tech industry and share their advice for applying for internships. Published December 20, 2023.

• Four Keys to Launching a Biotech Career in Montana: Panelists from Bitterroot Health, FYR Diagnostics, McLaughlin Research Institute, Montana Pediatrics, PatientOne, and Rocky Mountain Biologicals share tips to secure a biotech job or internship. Published March 13, 2024.

• From College to Career - 5 Tips from Humanities & Sciences Graduates on Applying for High Tech Jobs and Internships: Four humanities & sciences graduates from Inimmune Corporation, onX, Cognizant, and Pathlabs give students tips on applying for jobs and internships and share their journeys into Montana’s tech industry. Published October 6, 2022.

• How to Get a High-paying Job with Your Humanities & Sciences Degree: The Alliance interviewed two humanities & sciences alumni from the University of Montana to learn about the value of liberal arts degrees in the job market. Published September 29, 2022.

• How to get a job in IT – pro tips from David Mayer and Neil Photikarm, Endpoint Utility Corp.: In this interview, Mayer and Photikarm share their IT-know-how: including their tips for how you can succeed in an IT career. Published August 17, 2022.

• Indeed - 30 Questions To Ask in an Informational Interview: Advice for preparing for an informational interview to learn more about a company or industry.

• Montana High Tech Business Alliance Career Pathways Guide: Discover pathways into Montana’s high-growth jobs based on eight distinct career clusters.

• Montana High Tech Business Alliance - Find a Job Page: Features the free MHTBA online jobs portal, our special Hot Montana Jobs reports, our comprehensive education & training resource guide, and several partner resources for launching a fruitful career in Montana.

• Montana Opportunities in Film - How to Start a Film Career and Capitalize on Local Productions: Discussion featuring five diverse Montanans who have built successful careers and businesses while working in media and film. Published December 30, 2022.

• Student Work-based Learning Toolkit: Work-based learning (WBL) is learning about work, at work. This helpful toolkit provides guidance for students exploring internships and career opportunities in Montana.

• Three Montana Innovators Share Their Tips for Launching a Career in Montana’s Biotech Industry: The Alliance interviews three Montana innovators from Golden Helix, KLEO, and McLaughlin Research Institute who are working at the intersection of bioscience and technology. Published December 28, 2022.

• University of Montana College of Business Informational Interviews Handout: Five steps for setting up successful informational interviews to learn more about a specific company or industry.

• University of Montana College of Humanities & Sciences Career Planning Center: Supports liberal arts students’ career readiness. Offerings include providing one-on-one coaching, finding local internships, creating a LinkedIn profile, hosting career events, and navigating college majors.

About the Publisher: Launched in 2014, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit association of more than 200 high tech and manufacturing companies and affiliates creating high-paying jobs in Montana. For more information, visit MTHighTech.org or subscribe to our biweekly newsletter. The Montana Jobs Network is the charitable nonprofit arm of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance and works to empower Montanans to launch high-paying careers.

About the Author: Melissa Paulsen is the communications coordinator for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2022 with a BFA in creative writing and a minor in history.