
Columbia University offers a wide range of internship opportunities to its students. With its Center for Career Education (CCE), Columbia helps undergraduates and alumni develop key competencies, generate ideas and opportunities, and establish connections with employers and organizations. The CCE also offers the Alumni Mentorship Program (CAMP), which allows students to develop professional skills while interning, participating in fellowships, or engaging in research and volunteer opportunities. Columbia students have interned in various fields, including politics, economics, and statistics. For instance, one student interned with the Governor of Arkansas, while another worked as a statistical analyst for the New York Yankees. Columbia's location in New York City also provides students with diverse internship prospects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of jobs and internships posted annually on LionShare | 125,000+ |
| Number of one-on-one career counselling sessions | 5,800+ |
| Number of career fairs, skills workshops, and industry showcase events | Dozens |
| Percentage of undergraduates with at least one internship by graduation | Over half |
| Internship opportunities | Research, volunteer and community activities, part-time positions, etc. |
| Internship focus | Skills learned and experiences gained |
| Internship sources | Company websites, job boards, job posting systems, networking, self-created opportunities |
| Internship examples | New York Yankees, TheLadders, Governor of Arkansas |
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What You'll Learn

Internships with Columbia CCE
The Center for Career Education (CCE) at Columbia University offers a wide range of resources and support for students seeking internships. CCE helps students develop key competencies, generate ideas and opportunities, and establish connections with employers and organizations across various industries.
CCE provides valuable industry research and data, leveraging insights from current students and alumni to refine its internship offerings. It offers guidance on resume and cover letter preparation, as well as navigating the application process. CCE also hosts events like the Creative Industries Showcase, connecting students and alumni with potential employers.
The CCE Alumni Mentorship Program (CAMP) is a unique opportunity for students to develop professional skills while participating in internships, fellowships, research, or volunteer work. CCE Internships+ partners with employers from diverse career fields, ensuring a quality internship experience and early career development support.
Columbia University also emphasizes the importance of compensated internships and adheres to regulations regarding unpaid internships. Students are encouraged to consider hidden internship opportunities in smaller companies, which are often identified through networking. Additionally, Columbia offers funding programs for students undertaking unpaid or low-paid internships related to their career pursuits.
Overall, Columbia CCE provides comprehensive support and resources to help students secure meaningful internships, gain valuable experience, and make informed career decisions.
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Interns' rights and compensation
Columbia College offers funding to students participating in unpaid or low-paid internships. This is beneficial, as interns in the US may not always be entitled to compensation for their work. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), interns and students may not be classified as "employees", meaning that the FLSA does not require them to be compensated for their work. However, if an intern is deemed to be an employee, they are entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay under the FLSA.
In the US, an intern's rights depend on their employment status. If an intern is classed as a worker, they are typically entitled to the National Minimum Wage. If an intern performs regular paid work for an employer, they may be considered an employee and gain eligibility for employment rights.
In some states, interns have additional protections. For example, in New York, interns are protected from sexual harassment and discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law. In Maryland, interns are not included under the definition of "employee" in the Maryland Employment Practices Act (MEPA), meaning they are not entitled to the same relief as regular employees. However, they can access their employer's internal procedures on discrimination and file a complaint with the Maryland Commission of Civil Rights if necessary.
In California, intern-like workers who are unpaid or paid less than minimum wage are called 'trainees'. Trainees may be exempt from federal overtime and minimum wage requirements, but a six-factor test, similar to the FLSA's "primary beneficiary test", must be used to determine if an internship can be unpaid.
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Internship search strategies
Columbia University offers a plethora of resources to help students find internships. The Center for Career Education (CCE) is an invaluable resource for undergraduates and alumni alike, offering career development resources and options for internships and externships. The CCE helps students develop key competencies, generate ideas and opportunities, and establish connections with employers and organizations. The CCE also offers a wealth of industry research and data points, which it uses to refine its offerings and deliver the best outcomes for students.
The CCE's LionSHARE platform is another useful resource, serving as a hub for career connections and opportunities exclusively for students and alumni. Over 125,000 jobs and internships are posted annually on LionSHARE, and it is recommended that students fill out their LionSHARE profile to get the most up-to-date information on recruiting cycles and opportunities.
Columbia also offers an Alumni Mentorship Program (CAMP) that provides a unique opportunity to develop professional and practical skills while participating in an internship, fellowship, research, or volunteer opportunity in any field.
When searching for internships, it is important to keep in mind that no two internship searches will look the same. Students should build time into their search strategy for research, planning, polishing their professional image, and relationship-building, in addition to applying, interviewing, and following up. It is also important to be aware of fraudulent job postings or predatory employers.
There are generally three ways to find an internship: advertised opportunities, hidden opportunities, and self-created opportunities. Advertised internships are often posted on company websites, job boards, and job posting systems, and many are part of established internship programs that offer additional support. Hidden opportunities are not advertised and are usually found in newer or smaller companies through networking with personal contacts. Self-created opportunities are made by the intern and employer together, where a student approaches an organization and proposes a project or offers their skills.
Additionally, students should be aware of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and specific criteria for unpaid internships at for-profit companies as outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor. For internships in the State of New York, both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations must adhere to the New York State Minimum Wage Act and Wage Orders, and academic credit should not replace compensation for work performed.
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Columbia's Center for Career Education
The CCE offers a range of programs to help students find internships, including the CCE Alumni Mentorship Program (CAMP), which provides students with the opportunity to develop professional and practical skills while participating in internships, fellowships, research, or volunteer opportunities in any field. The CCE also partners with employers from various career fields to provide quality internship experiences and early-career professional development programming.
Additionally, the CCE hosts events such as career fairs, skills workshops, and industry showcase events, where students can connect with employers and learn about different industries. The centre also provides one-on-one career counselling sessions to help students review their resumes, cover letters, and application processes.
The CCE's LionSHARE platform is an exclusive hub for career connections and opportunities for students and alumni. It is important for students to be aware of recruiting cycles in their target industries, as many organisations recruit well in advance of their start dates, while others hire on an as-needed basis. The CCE leverages industry research and data points from current students and alumni to refine its offerings and deliver the best outcomes for students seeking internships.
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Internships in New York City
Columbia University is located in New York City, a place of tremendous opportunity and professional possibility. As a Columbia student, you have unique access to career development resources and options for internships, externships, and more. The Center for Career Education (CCE) is an invaluable resource for undergraduates and alumni alike, helping you develop key competencies, generate ideas and opportunities, and establish connections with employers and organizations.
CCE Internships+ partners with employers from a variety of career fields to provide quality internship experiences and early career professional development programming. The CCE also offers the Alumni Mentorship Program (CAMP), which allows students to develop professional and practical skills while participating in internships, fellowships, research, or volunteer opportunities in any field. Additionally, the Columbia College Summer Funding Program provides funding to students participating in unpaid or low-paid summer internships related to their career pursuits or academic studies.
When searching for internships in New York City, it is important to be aware of the recruiting cycles in your target industry. Many organizations, including government agencies and large media companies, recruit well in advance of their start dates, while others hire on an as-needed basis, usually 2-3 months in advance. Remember that internships are available throughout the year and that you can find opportunities through advertised, hidden, or self-created avenues.
There are a variety of internship opportunities available in New York City for Columbia students. For example, a student in the Department of Statistics MA Program interned for the New York Yankees as a statistical analyst for a year. Another student in the undergraduate admissions department interned with the Governor of Arkansas and used the CCE to review their resume and cover letter. These internships can affirm your interest in a particular field, such as politics and its relation to economic policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Columbia's Center for Career Education (CCE) is a great resource for undergraduates and alumni alike, offering career development resources and options for internships and externships. The LionSHARE job portal is another resource, with over 125,000 jobs and internships posted annually.
Students have interned with the Governor of Arkansas, affirming their interest in politics and economic policy. Another student interned for the New York Yankees as a statistical analyst.
There are generally three ways to find an internship: advertised opportunities on company websites and job boards, hidden opportunities in smaller companies found through networking, and self-created opportunities where a student approaches an organization and proposes a project.
It is important to be aware of recruiting cycles in your target industry, as these vary. Additionally, focus on the skills you will learn and experiences you will gain rather than the company name.
Students should familiarize themselves with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and specific criteria for unpaid internships at for-profit companies outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor. In New York, where Columbia is located, employers must adhere to the New York State Minimum Wage Act and Wage Orders.

































