Almost every college student wants to intern for the very best. When it comes to hospitals, U.S. News & World Report named Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as the best in the nation. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you’re not pursuing a degree in the medical field. It takes a lot of different functional areas to keep a hospital like Mayo Clinic running smoothly, so it’s worth checking out if you want and internship that will make future employers sit up and take notice. Here’s how to go about getting one.
1. Do your homework
Many people who have interviewed with Mayo report that they were asked about the hospital’s history, mission, and values. Mayo Clinic’s primary value is, “The needs of the customer come first,” and that’s true in every functional area. Whether you’re interviewing for an internship in accounting or maintenance, you’ll be expected to understand that the end result of your job is excellent patient care.
2. Search Mayo’s jobs site
Internships are listed on the job site and are available in any number of functional areas. Current internship postings include opportunities in Wellness (focused on employees), Exercise, Recreation Therapy, and Construction. There’s also a yearly summer internship in Biomedical Statistics and Informatics (so there really is something for everyone!).
3. Thoroughly read any listings that appeal to you
Requirements vary widely from department to department. An IT intern, for instance, will obviously need very different skills than an HR intern. And there may be details that aren’t obvious from the internship title. The current opening for a construction intern, for instance, isn’t looking for someone to wield a hammer. They’re looking for someone studying energy or industrial technology to work on energy-reduction projects.
4. Apply online
Once you’ve found an internship that interests you, you can apply on line. Most give you the choice between starting from scratch and drawing information from your LinkedIn profile. If you do use the LinkedIn option, review the information before submitting the application in case there is anything you need to tweak.
Wait for the call. Mayo Clinic receives many applications for every opening, and not everyone is called for an interview. If you get the call, here’s what you can expect:
- The process will probably take a few weeks.
- There will probably be multiple rounds of interviews with different panels/individuals.
- Mayo Clinic will probably offer to pay your travel costs.
- You will probably spend most of the day interviewing.
5. Prepare
Mayo Clinic expects applicants to be well-prepared, as evidenced by the fact that their website tells you exactly how to prepare. Some of their tips include:
- Be prepared to answer behavioral questions, such as: “Tell me about a time you…” or “Describe the most recent situation where you…”. Mayo Clinic advises applicants to apply using the SHARE model: Situation, Hindrances, Actions, Results, and Evaluation.
- Be prepared to talk about your job-specific skills as well as some more intangible characteristics: ability to work in a team, problem-solving skills, preference for a structured or unstructured environment, etc.
- Dress in business attire.
- Bring a resume for your own reference.
- Arrive early.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question.
Mayo Clinic is one of the most prestigious hospitals in America, if not the world. But you don’t have to be in the medical field to take advantage of their internships. It’s a huge organization with many of the same functional areas as any other large company, and you just might find your perfect internship among their listings.
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