Internships and Work Experience Programs
One of the ILR School's strengths is the educational experiences you will get outside the classroom. Whether it is through the influence of a fascinating class, an inspiring speaker, or a rewarding experience with a campus organization, most students consider several different career paths during their time at Cornell. ILR excels at programs that let you explore different career opportunities by experiencing life in the working world — sometimes while earning both a salary and academic credit. For example, the semester-long credit internship program gives you a chance to work with a company while earning credit towards your degree. Summer, winter, and other internships are available as well.
For more information on any of these opportunities, please see the ILR Office of Career Services website.
Freshman Externship Program
During the winter break after the first semester, students can shadow a professional in the field for an entire day.
Winter Intersession Program
During the first three weeks in January, sophomores, juniors and seniors can volunteer their services in corporations, unions, and public agencies in order to complement their education with practical work experiences.
Summer Employment Opportunities
Many organizations recruit ILR students for summer positions, and many students will obtain full-time positions through these experiences.
Julia Donahue
Worker-owned coffee cooperative, Chiapas, Mexico
Lila Ontiveros
Investment banking, Goldman Sachs, NYC
Patricia Moscoso
White House Office of Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
Rayon Taylor
UBS Financial Services, New Jersey
Vladimir Gogish
Change management and organizational design, Deloitte Consulting, New Jersey
Credit Internship Program
Forty percent of ILR juniors and seniors participate in semester-long professional internships, gaining valuable on-the-job experience and earning college credit. ILR alumni provide a world-wide network for internships and possible jobs after graduation at organizations such as the U.S. House and Senate Committees, Citibank, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, IBM, MCI, Morgan Stanley, Nabisco, Proskauer Rose, Universal Studios, and Xerox, to name a few.
Aaron Edelman
Senator Ted Kennedy, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Ga-Young So
International Labor Organization
Jenna Kessler
National Labor Relations Board, Washington, D.C.
Jessica Carter
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Mississippi
Kate Hudson
U.S. University Recruiting team at IBM, Raleigh, North Carolina
Lee Leviter
International Labor Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Michael Snyder
Transport and General workers union, England
Ryan Hughes
International Labor Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Research Apprenticeships
Approximately six students each year, and another six each summer, work closely with a professor to learn about and gain experience with various research methods. For more information, please review our Student Research pages.
Cornell-in-Washington
Sponsored through the College of Arts and Sciences, this program provides students with additional work experience options. See the Cornell-in-Washington website for details.