Internship Opportunities

Internships are an important part of South Dakota's workforce development initiative. Internships not only provide our young people with valuable real-world work experience as they pursue higher education, but also enable them to stay in South Dakota by connecting them with employers in our state. 

In order to help students find internships, the Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) has created SDWORKS, a one-stop shop database for all jobs and internships offered by the state government, Board of Regents, and state technical institutes. Furthermore, SDWORKS is promoted to all students attending a post-secondary institution in the state, ensuring that these internships are filled by quality applicants eager to apply what they have learned in the classroom.

Internships are also available through many private companies and organizations throughout our state. These companies and organizations rely upon internships to fill temporary workforce needs and identify potential long-term employees. In fact, according to recent surveys by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), many employers report that interns are the most fruitful source of new full-time employees. 

Here are some tips for businesses interested in offering internships:

• The work should be an integral part of the student's course of study.
• Learning objectives should be clearly identified.
• The student should be in a shadowing/learning mode.
• The employer should provide an opportunity for the student to learn important skills and processes integral to the business or profession.
• There should be educational value to the work performed.

For assistance posting an internship or applying for an internship, please contact your local Department of Labor and Regulations office.

Updates:
Valuable Internship Opportunities Highlight Summer Months for USD Students
Dakota State Students Start their Business Careers Before Graduation