CO-OPS & INTERNSHIPS

at SD Mines

BENEFITS• Gain valuable work experience.

• Increase chances for job and higher salary offers.

• Earn money to help pay for college.

• Confirm or redefine your career focus.

• Strengthen communication and teamwork skills.

• Obtain academic credit.

$18

$16

$14

$12

$10

$8

$6

$4

$2

0

$17.57

CO-OP/INTERN AVERAGE WAGE2014-2015

* Some employers also provide free housing or housing allowances, bonuses, and relocation expenses that are not reflected in the salary average.

“On top of helping pay for college, internships and co-ops have helped me explore the many career options available for my degree and has definitely helped me stand out more in a competitive job market. Not to mention internships have provided me real world job experience where I’ve worked alongside professionals in an informal extended interview where I have been able to showcase my capabilities to potential employers.”

Mark Mazzucco Co-op: ExxonMobil Summer/Fall 2015 BS, Metallurgical Engineering, 2016

CO-OP/INTERN AVERAGE WAGE

OTHER FACTS• Starting salaries are usually higher for

graduates with co-op or internship experience.

• Employers first consider their co-op/intern students when hiring new graduates for full-time positions.

• Many co-op/intern students receive job offers several months before graduation.

“Nothing beats taking what you learned in the classroom and applying it out in the real world. My internship allowed me to do just that. I was not sure if metallurgical engineering was the right field for me. After my internship, I know it is exactly the field I need to be in.”

Anna HaydockIntern: Freeport McMoRan, Summer 2015BS, Metallurgical Engineering, 2017

Mines intern/co-op students worked at more than 225

employers in 36 states and District of Columbia this past year.

WHAT ARE CO-OPS & INTERNSHIPS?

Internships and co-ops provide great opportunities for students to apply classroom learning to “real world” work experiences. Students are hired by industry and government agencies to work on projects related to their fields of study. With approval from their academic department, students may earn academic credit for their internship or co-op experience. All Mines students are strongly encouraged to obtain relevant work or research experience before graduating.

Internships are usually for the summer or part-time during the school year. Co-ops are often 6-8 months in length (semester + summer) but vary with employers. However, the terms are often used interchangeably by employers.

STEPS TO TAKE1. Develop a good résumé and cover letter.

2. Apply to prospective employers at career fairs or through SD Mines’ “Gold Mine” system.

3. After accepting an internship or co-op, notify the Career & Professional Development Center of your job offer.

4. To obtain academic credit, contact your department co-op coordinator and register for the correct co-op course (CP) and number of credits.

* Students registered for CP credit maintain full-time student status while working on co-op.

A SAMPLE OF 2014-15 MINES CO-OP/INTERN EMPLOYERS 3M609 Consulting*7400 Circuits*Adams Thermal Systems*ADMAE2SAGCOAlbertson Engineering*AlcoaAlpha Natural ResourcesAMECAmerican Eng. Testing*Antimicrobial Materials.*Apache CorporationArch CoalArgonne National LabAshfall Fossil Beds ParkBaker Concrete Banner Associates*Banner Engineering*Barrick GoldBasin ElectricBDBHP BillitonBlack Hills Corp*Black Hills Info. Security*Blattner EnergyBNSF RailwayBobcatBraun IntertecBrink Constructors*Burns & McDonnellCargillCase New HollandCaterpillar*CHR Solutions*Cirrus AircraftCity of Aberdeen*City of Rapid City*Civil ScienceClark Engineering *Cliffs Natural ResourcesCloud Peak EnergyCobalt Technologies*Coeur Mining*Computers UnlimitedDakota GasificationDakota Pump*Daktronics*Dow ChemicalDOWL HKMDslution*Dyno NobelEchoStarEmerson Process Mgt.ExxonMobilFerber Engineering*Fermilab Flatiron ConstructionFord Motor Company

Freeman’s Electric*Freeport McMoRanFugro Geospatial*GarminGerdauGreentree*HDR Inc.Hendrickson Trailer*HF Webster*Highlands EngineeringHMMI-Huron*Hormel FoodsHornadyHouston EngineeringHuffman EngineeringHutchinson TechnologyIndian Health Service*Infrastructure Design*Innovative Materials*Innovative Systems*John DeereJohn Morrell*KiewitKimberly ClarkKinross GoldKLJ*L-3 Communications LafargeLehigh HansonLG Everist*Littelfuse*Logan AluminumLuminant EnergyMarathon OilMasaba Mining Equip*MDU*MedtronicMichelinMicrosoftMolded Fiberglass SD*MonsantoMosaicMSHANASA National Oilwell VarcoNational Radio ObservatoryNational Security TechnologyNational Weather Service*Newmont MiningNexus Smart Pay*NISCNorth American CoalNorth Atlantic Industries*NucorNutra-Flo*OCIO’Connor Company*Oftedal Construction

Omnitech*OneOKParker HannifinParson’sPeabody EnergyPete Lien & Sons*Pixel Pines*POET*Polaris IndustriesQEP ResourcesRaven Industries*Raytheon RESPEC*RFA EngineeringRockwell CollinsRosenboomRPM*RS StoverSanford Underground Research Facility*Schwans Food CompanySD DENR*SD DOT*SD GF&P *SDN Communications*SDSM&T*SECO Construction*SiemensSolvay ChemicalsSouth Dakota Dashboard*SPN and Associates*Sram/Quarq*StantecSteel DynamicsStinger Ghaffarian Tech*StratasysSuperior IndustriesTaney EngineeringTerracon*ToyotaTrail King*Twin City Fans*UlteigUS Army Corps of Engineers*US Forest Service*Universal IndustriesUS SteelUSGS*UTC Aerospace Valley Queen Cheese*Vishay Dale*Volkswagen AmericaWalt DisneyWorthington Industries*Wurth Electronics*

*South Dakota employers

Darrell Sawyer, EdD, DirectorJason Pfeiffer, MS, Assistant Director

Cindy Christensen, Program Assistant II

Career & Professional Development Center501 E. St. Joseph Street

Rapid City, SD 57701605.394.2667

careercenter@sdsmt.eduhttp://careers.sdsmt.edu

EFFECT OF CO-OP/INTERN EXPERIENCE ON AVERAGE

SALARY OFFERS

$65,000

$63,000

$61,000

$59,000

$57,000

$55,000

$53,000

$51,000

0

$62,031$63,740

NO EXPERIENCE CO-OP/INTERN EXPERIENCE

2013-14 Graduates (BS degrees)

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, military status, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, political preference, or disability in employment or the provision of service. The Mines Career & Professional Development Center adheres to NACE’s Principles of Professional Conduct for Career Services and Employment Professionals.

MORE INFORMATION