The Career Exploration Internship Program is a paid program hosted by the Career & Employment Hub. These internships allow students to directly apply their classroom learning and build on-the-job skills in a professional setting. University of Southern Maine student interns gain valuable workplace experience and make connections in their field.

Students have the opportunity to apply for internships at Maine community partners. Student interns complete a minimum of 120 hours of work (min. 10 and max. 20 hours/week) over the course of a semester and are paid $18.50/hour. To be eligible, students must: 

  • Be matriculated at USM as full-time or part-time student
  • Have at least a 2.7 overall GPA and a minimum of 30 credits prior to the internship
  • Commit to the >120 hours and 10-20 hours/week outlined above
  • Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US (international students on F-1 visas may apply) 

One of the goals of the Career Exploration Internship Program is to support USM students from diverse, international, and immigrant-origin backgrounds in building on their prior education, life experience, and skills through meaningful internship opportunities. Applications from these student populations are highly encouraged.

Detailed information for students regarding the Career Exploration Internship Program can be found here.

For questions, please contact hubinterns@maine.edu

Program Timeline

Student application deadline October 16
First-round interviews with Career & Employment HubOctober 21-
November 5
Second-round interviews with host sites November 11-26
Internship placements announcedDecember 4
Spring internships startJanuary 24
Spring internships endMay 2
For more information, please contact hubinterns@maine.edu

Advanced Technologies for Forestry and Agriculture

2nd Harvest Partnership – Research & Evaluation Intern

Maine International Trade Center – International Trade Research Intern

Aquaculture and Marine Technology

Bigelow Laboratory – Zooplankton Technician Intern

Bristol Seafood LLC – Marketing Intern

Kelson Marine Co. – Computer Science, Virtual Reality Content Development Intern

Pelagic Fisheries Lab – Lab Intern

Arts

Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine – Education Program Intern

Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine – Theatre Program Intern

Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine – Visitor Program, Visual Arts Intern

City of Lewiston – Recreational Department Intern

Kinonik – Film Archival Intern

Biotechnology

IDEXX – Validation & Verification Intern

IDEXX – Operational Excellence, Industrial Engineering Intern

MaineHealth Institute for Research – Lab Intern

Marin Skincare – Biomedical Production Intern

Environmental Technology

Dead River Company – Digital Experience & Marketing Intern

Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine – Cleantech Intern

Humanities

Binnie Media – Programming, Promotion & Production Intern

City of Biddeford – Employee Relations Intern

House of Languages – Human Resources Intern

House of Languages – Marketing & Communication Intern

Portland Public Schools – Multilingual Multicultural Center Intern

Information Technology

IDEXX – Statistician Intern

RSU 23 – Technology Support Intern

SlicPix Inc – Digital Marketing Intern

Nonprofits

Cultivating Community – Youth Programs Intern

Educate Maine – STEM Exploration & Community Engagement Intern

Gateway Community Services Maine – Programs or Operations Intern

Iris Network – Accounting Intern

Iris Network – Human Resources Intern

Iris Network – Social Media & Development Intern

Iris Network – Non-Profit Management Intern

LearningWorks AfterSchool – Classroom Intern

Maine Brewers Guild – Member Analyst Intern

Maine Food Convergence Project – Event Planning & Development Intern

Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund – Program Intern

MaineHealth Food Pantry Portland – MHFPP Intern

Opera Maine – Administrative Intern

Portland Housing Authority – Youth Program Intern

PSL Services/STRIVE – Finance & Human Resources Intern

PSL Services/STRIVE – Marketing & Development Intern

Saco River Wildlife Center – SRWC Intern

SAD DADS CLUB – Grantwriting Intern

The WindowDressers, Inc. – Energy Efficiency & Weatherization Research Intern (1-2 positions)

USM Foundation – USM Foundation Intern (3 positions)

World Affairs Council of Maine – Communications & Social Media Intern

Precision Manufacturing Technology

Green Gean’s LLC – Operations Intern

IDEXX – Water, Industrial Engineering Intern

IDEXX – Mechanical Engineering Intern

IDEXX – Business Analyst Intern

IDEXX – Data Analyst Intern

EQUIP – Equity in Internships Program

These employers are dedicated to providing an enriching internship experience for first-generation students, to support the development of valuable professional skills and networking connections.

Focus Maine – Policy Intern

L.L. Bean – Home Merchandising Intern

MaineHealth – Workforce Development Intern

Maine State Chamber – Legislative Analyst Intern

The Career Exploration Internship Program is a USM-funded internship program hosted by the Career & Employment Hub. 

To support the workforce needs of Maine, USM sponsors project- and research-based internships in industries and businesses in a range of fields. These internships allow students to directly apply their classroom learning and build on-the-job skills in a professional setting. Student interns gain valuable workplace experience and make connections in their field.

Becoming a host site for a Career Exploration student intern offers the host site community partner the opportunity to connect with, guide, and evaluate talent that may contribute to your business.

For more information, please contact Lindsey Freeman at lindsey.w.freeman@maine.edu or at (207) 228-8268. 

Employer Application | Career Exploration Internship Guidelines for Host Site Community Partners