Local professionals speak often of the value of an internship. A local professional says that “Learning outside of the classroom is really powerful.  I think internships get you to think outside of yourself.”

Local professionals at Maurices recommend an internship, but don’t stop there.  Pursue job shadowing opportunities. (At Maurices, the best way for a student to request a job shadow is to email the company with their contact information and, if a professional is available to be shadowed, it will be set up — it can be that easy).

Internships are available in places you wouldn’t expect to find them and might not even look.  This chapter lists some opportunities in the Duluth-Superior area. (Opportunities also exist in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, for example over summers — you can ask your advisor or departmental internship coordinator, or you can visit the Career and Internship Services offices in Solon Campus Center.)

While there are many internships available, internships require students to be self-directed;  they require passion.  Potential interns should make sure they have some real interest in the field they take on. For instance, people who don’t care about beer but who try to complete an internship at a company like Bent Paddle may not have a good experience.  Make sure to review with yourself how you’ll get yourself invested in your position (aside from what it does for your resume and graduation requirements).  If you are ready for an internship, and if you are interested in learning new skills and learning to think outside of your own horizons, below are some organizations in the Twin Ports that accept interns.

On-Campus Internships

University of Minnesota Duluth Marketing and Public Relations Internships

University Marketing and Public Relations is responsible for three primary areas for UMD:

Marketing and Branding: We lead UMD’s branding efforts, partnering with units across campus to create marketing that inspires all audiences. We are Driven to Discover.
Public Relations and Communication: through both internal and external partnerships and multiple channels, we are honored to tell the story and value of UMD to our community, state, and world.
Government and Community Relations: we build support for UMD among citizens and leaders across local communities, our state, in Washington, D.C., and among our faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

UMD PR hires students as interns for a variety of roles, including writers, photographers, and more recently, videographers and an archivist for a special project.  Some of these internships are for-credit towards your degree, and some of these internships are paid an hourly wage.

Glensheen Internships

Glensheen, the Historic Congdon Estate is a 20,000 square foot mansion in Duluth, Minnesota, United States, operated by the University of Minnesota Duluth as a historic house museum.

Internships at Glensheen are always changing:  “There used to be unpaid interns every semester; now we’re moving towards more a paid role (where possible), where it’s more like a job than an internship…because it’s more hands-on and doing the job,” according to Jane Pederson, Glensheen.

WDSE-FM, The North

KUMD-FM is a 95,000-watt public radio station operated by the University of Minnesota-Duluth, which primarily carries an adult alternative radio format but also has a number of programs focusing on jazz, blues, and other genres.

KUMD volunteers and interns have contributed thousands of radio broadcast hours, behind the scenes production work, pledge drive assistance and event staffing over the past 60+ years. KUMD offers on- and off-air opportunities from marketing, events, news, production program host and more.

The Bark

The Bark is the official student-run news organization for UMD, providing local media to over 10000 students. We publish a monthly magazine and daily online content.

The Bark is always looking for energetic and talented individuals who are passionate about letting everyone’s voice be heard. “Our three teams, editorial, visual and business, are open for volunteer and internship opportunities.  To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to barkumd@d.umn.edu. If you are applying for reporter, editor, photographer or designer, please send three examples of your work as well.”

Community Internships

Faster Solutions Internships

Faster Solutions was founded on the notion that “every business should have access to a marketing partner that is affordable and innovative. We have continued to back this idea by building teams of marketing experts who provide industry-leading website design and marketing services to hundreds of businesses nationwide.”

Faster Solutions is always open to internships, for programmers, graphic designers, or art, marketing, and communication majors.  Faster Solutions is “a big advocate for internships. An internship should benefit the student more than it benefits us. I want the student to have the best experience to learn.”

Faster Solutions doesn’t make a formal announcement of internship opportunities, but staff stay in touch with professors.  “Professors make recommendations for us.”  Students should also initiate contact through LinkedIn, networking events, and chamber of commerce events.

Flint Group Internships

As one of Duluth’s largest companies in marketing and public relations, Flint “delivers strategic, integrated marketing, PR and communications with a passion for client success.”

Flint Group is excited to offer internships.  “We offer some paid internships (which are great). We value your time.  We offer internships on the account management side, social media and marketing.”

AimClear Internships

AimClear works with “uber-focused audiences” as well as “mass-market branding.”  AimClear will focus on “elevating your brand to beloved-status. Aimclear integrates paid & organic search, social, bleeding edge creative, PR, data, human expertise, and performance marketing.”

AimClear offers internships selectively.  “They do happen from time to time. Sometimes it’s more opportunistic – a smart marketing/communications student makes the right connection at the right time and we might have an opportunity to create an internship role. When we do an internship, we do them for purpose:  a client need, an opportunity to engage a smart/talented student, a possible gap in current staffing that might not warrant a full hire due to duration or other constraint.”

Forum Communications

Forum Communications Company is a multimedia news company with locations across ND, SD, MN and WI. We have over 1,700 employees that work towards a common goal, delivering quality products and information to our clients and viewers. We publish both print and online versions of our newspapers.

Forum Communications in Duluth typically takes 2 college students on for a 6-month internship, both during the school year and summer.  Many members of the current staff were once interns with Forum.

Conclusion

There are many, many more locations in Duluth that offer internships.  This chapter is just a list to get you started, and to make you feel encouraged.  Organizations want your skills, and organizations want to work with you.