MetroMBA

Guide to MBA Internships in the Washington DC Metro

management/consulting

MBA internships can be just as important as a job for business school students. This makes a lot of sense — your mba internship will play a huge role in whatever job you end up landing post graduation. 

Whereas many MBAs may only have experience in classrooms or in case competitions, internships are the real deal. They are test runs for companies — a three-month trial where graduate students gain real-world experience by working on major projects with paid professionals in actual industries.

If you succeed in your internship responsibilities, projects and goals, there’s a good chance you’ll be rewarded with a job. According to quintcareers.com, several studies show that organizations that offer MBA internships strongly prefer hiring their interns.

The article describes one study that found that not only did employers say they hired more than half of their MBA interns, but they also paid those they hired a higher salary than other new hires.

Another study of employers who offer MBA internships found that almost three-quarters said they first interview previous MBA interns for new positions before opening the position to other candidates.

A third study of MBA candidates found that almost 90 percent of interns were offered full-time positions with their employers, further stating that the internship helped them make key networking contacts and find a mentor.

What things should I consider when starting to think about mba internships?

There are plenty of things to consider about an internship when beginning your search: how do you see your career evolving, which industry do you want to dive into, what type of company do you want to work for, and which city do you want to intern in? Do some soul searching and ask yourself where you’d like your career to go. An internship is the first step.

Where can I find an mba internship?

If you’re looking to land an internship, you’ll oftentimes need to start planning in the late fall when top MBA employers begin their internship hiring process. In a recent post, we outlined a few different ways to find an internship, including:

So, what are the best companies, groups and organizations to intern at in the DC Metro?

In the Washington DC Metro, there are numerous opportunities to land a great internship, especially in government/public-sector agencies and offices. A post on Monster.com describes various federal internship programs that are available to students across a wide variety of disciplines. Many of these internships often take place during the summer, including:

If working for “The Man” isn’t quite your thing, Forbes published a slideshow outlining the “Best Internships for 2015”, which described the following as top-notch internships in the DC Metro:

Remember: A great internship (and the great job that follows) will help increase your ROI  and really make your MBA worth it!

About the Author

Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.

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