IBM's intern and co-op programs are designed to provide the kind of valuable, real-world experience that accelerates preparation for a professional career. IBM joins with colleges and universities to provide work experience that offers students the opportunity to apply classroom theory to practice in the workplace.
 IBM intern and co-op programs overview
Eligibility
Student benefits
Opportunities
How it all fits together
How to apply
A student employment assignment at IBM gives you real-world experience that offers you a competitive edge when you enter the workforce. Student employment assignments provide you the opportunity to become familiar with IBM's organization, work style and corporate culture.
Co-op and internship programs are an important recruiting channel for IBM because they help management identify high-potential prospective employees. Participating students are often considered for a long-term commitment of regular employment. Our philosophy is recruit once, hire twice.
As an IBM intern or co-op, you will be assigned to a paid technical or nontechnical position related to your major or career goals. Salary is based upon the number of credits completed towards your degree. You will be requested to provide verification of credits in writing from your school prior to your assignment.
Co-op or intern?
Although there is some difference in the terms co-op and intern, they are often used interchangeably within IBM. The type of work performed by these students is identical. Here's the difference between co-ops and interns:
As a co-op, you would be enrolled in a cooperative education program at an accredited four- or five-year college or university pursuing a bachelor's or advanced degree. You can work any time of the year, including part-time, and can be enrolled in either a technical or nontechnical discipline. Most managers prefer co-ops to work a six-to-seven-month period although there is flexibility within this requirement.
As an intern, you would also gain professional work experience. Most interns work at IBM during summers between academic sessions. IBM will work with students and schools that do not have formal programs to arrange internships for six-to-seven-month work periods like those of the cooperative education program.
Principal U.S. sites
Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boulder, CO; Burlington, VT; Dallas, TX; Endicott, NY; Poughkeepsie, NY; East Fishkill, NY; Research Triangle Park, NC; Rochester, MN; San Jose, CA; Westchester County, NY, Southbury, CT; Tucson, AZ; and many other cities across the U.S.
Relevant degrees
Accounting; Business Administration; Chemical Engineering; Communications; Computer Engineering; Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Electrical Engineering; Finance; Graphic Arts; Human Factors; Industrial Engineering; Marketing; Material Science; Mechanical Engineering; Management Information Systems; Physics; Supply Chain Management; Technical Writing; Telecommunications.
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IBM employs both undergraduate and graduate students in the co-op and intern programs. You can be considered for participation if you are a full-time student at any four- or five-year accredited U.S. college or university. Multiple assignments might be available. You are eligible for employment after completing your freshman year; however, the largest population of students are junior level and above.
Part-time positions, not to exceed 20 hours per week, might be available if you are attending a school near an IBM facility.
As a candidate under consideration for a co-op or intern assignment, you will need to demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (grade point average). You should have relevant work or research experience and be able to demonstrate strong leadership, communication and teaming skills. You will also need to earn a high evaluation during the interview process. Most of the students who are accepted attend schools where IBM recruits.
Position availability
The main hiring seasons follow the academic school calendar (fall, spring and summer), but IBM continuously seeks top students to employ as co-ops and interns throughout the year.
Return assignments
You will be eligible for a return IBM assignment if your job and school performance are satisfactory and a business need exists. Information on the procedure for return assignments will be provided to you by your manager or staffing representative prior to your exit interview.
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As a co-op or student intern at IBM, you can gain a competitive edge toward regular employment, receive a competitive salary, and sometimes receive an offer to live and work in another area of the country. In addition, the workplace experience can give you valuable insight for your future academic and career decisions.
Benefits resulting from IBM employment
- Challenging and stimulating work assignments in leading-edge technology operations
- Relocation assistance funds for eligible students
- Housing location assistance provided prior to arrival at IBM location
- Competitive salaries that increase as additional credits towards the degree are earned
- Overtime pay at time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond the normal 40-hour week for undergraduate students
- Paid holidays during assignment period according to site procedures
- Five sickness and accident days for assignments greater than 60 work days
- Eligibility for IBM recognition programs
- Eligibility for IBM suggestion program, "Ideas"
- Travel and accident insurance for job-related travel
- Expense reimbursement for job-related travel
- Educational offerings through IBM Global Campus based on position requirements
- Participation in IBM Club social activities
- Use of IBM recreational facilities located at larger sites
- Accessibility and membership in Federal Credit Union
- Participation in Employee Sales Program
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IBM offers individual and team-based assignments. Although both categories offer project-based opportunities, individual assignments allow you to hone your skills and independence while working as part of a larger group. Team assignments typically have four students working together on a specific project. Opportunities are available in the following categories, depending on business needs at the time you apply:
Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
- Advanced processes
- Appearance
- Application engineering
- Architecture
- Circuit design
- Equipment
- Functional design
- Logic design
- Methodology
- Physical design
- Procedural and process engineering
- Quality and cost scheduling
Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Computer Information Systems
- Application programming
- Design/code/test/performance analysis and measurement
- Development programming
- e-business solutions
- Hardware and software system solutions
- Networking technology
- Operating systems
- Programming languages
- Software testing
- Systems programming
Accounting, Finance, Marketing and Technical Writing
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We offer IBM interns and co-ops diverse opportunities focused on individual interests, experience and goals.
- Individual assignments allow you to hone your skills and independence while working on individual objectives as part of a larger group or department.
- Speed Teams is a project- and team-based internship program. Interns work in small teams that are designed specifically to focus on challenging projects at select IBM locations.
- The IBM Extreme Blue™ program is also team based. It is known worldwide as an incubator for talent, technology and business innovation. The Extreme Blue program offers both technical and MBA interns the opportunity to work on emerging business initiatives in a unique lab environment. The program operates in three U.S. locations, and seven other countries. Please refer to the Extreme Blue Web site for additional information.
- IBM occasionally hires students to participate in an internship through one of our various vitality programs. These programs offer students with targeted skill sets the opportunity to work on assignments that nurture those skills. These programs tend to focus on nontechnical disciplines such as Finance, Marketing, and Human Resources. Typically, these assignments run more like an individual assignment.
IBM also has strategic partnerships in diversity recruiting programs such as Project View, INROADS, Entry Point, National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to attract a pool of outstanding candidates.
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Please use the link below to access Jobs at IBM. Sign in or register a new account. Select Student/Internship as the position type, select the job area, region and country and search to view available Co-op/Intern opportunities. Then apply.
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