Working With an Intern

Types of Internships

Sandia offers many types of internships that meet Sandia’s business needs and help us develop our future talent pipeline. Learn more about eligibility for the different internship types through HR Solutions.

• Summer internship – This program is available to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. A summer internship usually runs from 10 to 12 weeks, between May through August.
• Year-round internship – This program is available to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who attend local schools or work with Sandia remotely while attending a non-local school.
• Co-op internship – This formal work-study program is available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in an official co-op program at their school. After the three- to eight-month internship, the student returns to school full-time.

Posting an Internship Position

You will need to ensure your staff has appropriate work, a mentor, and funding for an intern. Consult your Center Business Administrator to determine the cost for student intern positions. 

Once approved, you will work with HR Solutions and Student Intern Programs to complete several steps. Refer to this HR Solutions article for all of the details.

Advertising the Position

Sandia advertises all internship positions through the links available at Direct Employers. We also advertise top schools nationwide and publish open positions through campus career services websites via the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). 

Contact HR Solutions if you need additional advertising and sourcing support.

Screening Applicants

Intern candidates apply through Sandia’s external careers portal.

We screen applicants against Sandia’s student intern program requirements (including cumulative GPA, full-time student status, and education level).

To choose applicants you want to interview, follow these steps. 

Interviewing Applicants

As we identify individuals who may be a fit for a position, you or your talent acquisition partner will notify them about the interview process. 

Once you complete interviews, you will submit an interview evaluation through PeopleSoft. Refer to PeopleSoft Tips for Managers for all the details.

Internship Offers

Following interview and receipt of your evaluations, HR Solutions takes it from there. Sandia Human Resources will:

• Review transcripts and current class schedule
• Confirm the intern’s eligibility
• Create an offer letter for your approval 
• Collect and track acceptance of the offer and all pre-employment documentation
• Initiate the security clearance process if needed

Once confirmed for hire, you will receive notification of the intern’s official start date and additional instructions.

Refer to this HR Solutions article for all of the details.

Reporting to Work

About two weeks before your intern starts work with Sandia, you will work with HR Solutions and your administrative professionals to complete the following steps. Refer to this HR Solutions article for all the details.

• Set up a workplace
• Set up phone and voicemail
• Set up computer access
• Set up base access (in New Mexico)
• Confirm your intern’s work schedule

On day one, your intern will complete new employee orientation.

Working with a Student Intern

Sandia’s student intern programs serve serves as a pipeline for regular employment at Sandia. When you are working with interns, taking specific actions, including defining job expectations, setting goals, introducing learning opportunities, providing regular feedback, and helping the intern develop relationships, can maximize this program’s value – both for your intern and Sandia.

Refer to this HR Solutions article for tips on getting your intern going during week one and beyond.

Contacts and Resources

• Staffing Partners
• Student Intern Programs
• HR Recruiting Contact Information
• Supported Schools & Recruiting Teams Contact Information