Internships
Gain real-world experience that sets you apart. We’re dedicated to connecting you with internship experiences to gain career skills, expand your network and build your résumé.
Meeting your unique interests and goals is important, and so is finding an internship in the right location. Central students intern close to campus, close to home and all over the globe. There are four large, international companies headquartered within one mile of campus. In addition, Des Moines, a renowned epicenter for young business professionals, is just a short drive away. Central students intern through programs in Chicago, Washington D.C. and every study abroad site.
Beyond Central
Successful Careers
Internships often lead to a career, such as in the examples below:
- Morning anchor, WHO-TV, Des Moines
- Medical imaging physicist and faculty member, Duke University Health System
- Senior Manager of Partnership Marketing, Kansas City Royals
- CEO, Principal Bank, Des Moines
- Director of asset management, CSM Corporation, Minneapolis
- Strength and Conditioning Coach, Brown University, Providence, R.I.
- Director of operations, Des Moines Symphony Orchestra
Organizations
Central College has active connections at more than 500 internship sites across the U.S. and around the world, including:
- Alliance Technologies
- Army Corps of Engineers
- British Parliament
- CBS News
- Iowa State Capitol
- Mayo Clinic
- Morgan Stanley
- Paramount Studios
- Pella Corporation
- Pfizer
- The White House
- Vermeer Corporation
The Central Difference
Internship Coordinator
Cyndi Boertje, assistant director for experiential learning, coordinates the internship program at Central. Cyndi is committed to helping students expand their knowledge and understanding through experiential learning opportunities.
Internship Networking Fair
Each year, Central hosts an Internship Networking Fair on campus with more than 50 area companies and organizations looking for interns and full-time employees.
Career Kickstarter
Central sophomores can participate a free, one-week Career Kickstarter program offered during winter break that offers guaranteed micro-internship opportunities with local alumni or other professional mentors, plus in-depth career exploration and career planning workshops.
Jodie Smith, associate director of career development, is available to talk through Career Kickstarter and other internship opportunities.
Employers Love Our Students!
Central interns benefit from the support and guidance of a faculty member who is paired with each intern to maximize the internship learning experience.
