Esri Internship Pathways and How to Tailor Your Resume for Them
Are you interested in a summer internship at Esri – especially after learning more about this exciting opportunity from my rockstar teammate Joe Galarza’s blog on Esri’s Student Programs?
I’m Liz, and I work on Esri’s University Programs team. I am thrilled to share more about Esri’s major internship pathways, as well as our recommendations for tailoring your resume to stand out in the applicant pool.
Let’s dive in!
5 Internship Pathways at Esri
We have five major pathways for Esri interns, including teams noted under each:
Pathway #1: Creating Our Software
- Software Development and Engineering
- ArcGIS Product Engineering
Pathway #2: Selling Our Products and Services
- Corporate Marketing
- Global Business Development
Pathway #3: Implementing GIS
- Professional Services and Consulting
Pathway #4: Supporting Our Customers
- Technical Support
Pathway #5: Supporting Our Operations
- Finance and Accounting
- Information Technology
We generally seek undergraduate and graduate students studying Computer Science, GIS, Geography, Marketing, Business, Finance, Accounting, Information Technology, and other relevant majors for our summer experience.
Regardless of your class year, there are so many opportunities to learn and grow that you can seize now to stand out as an applicant in the future – whether that is when applications for our 2025 internships open this fall, or perhaps in a year or two! Once you narrow down which Esri internship pathway you are interested in pursuing, it’s time to build your master resume.
Tailor Your Resume
In addition to gaining work experience via internships, co-ops or full-time roles, I recommend focusing on five major areas:
Area of Focus #1: Coursework
Your first step here is to declare your major if you have not yet – perhaps one of those noted above is a fit for you! I recommend meeting with your advisor to discuss your major for a clear understanding of what your core requirements are.
At most universities, the first two years of undergraduate studies are focused on required courses, and major-focused classes come after. Be sure to declare a major and register for both required courses and electives that will enhance your skillset and prepare you for your future career goals.
For example: If you are interested in ‘Creating Our Software’ on the Software Development and Engineering team, declare Computer Science or another relevant major, and be sure to register for classes that will strengthen knowledge and understanding of, as well as experience in languages like C++, C#, Python, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML5 … the list goes on!
Area of Focus #2: Projects
Immerse yourself in projects – both at university and in your personal time – whenever you can! Projects are extremely valuable, as they provide opportunities to put learnings into action and to practice, practice, practice!
Detailing projects on your resume is just as important as detailing work experience – even more so if you have yet to obtain your first internship, co-op, or full-time role in the industry you are aiming to enter. In these cases, describing a significant project or two is the number one way to highlight demonstrated relevant experience and skills required for the position at hand.
For example: If you are interested in ‘Selling Our Products and Services’ on the Corporate Marketing team, be sure to take any chances you have to conduct market research, develop email campaigns, build a social media strategy … so on and so forth! If it makes sense for the type of work you do, go the extra mile to showcase all your projects on a portfolio website and include a link to that in your resume.
Area of Focus #3: Certifications
You may find that some jobs require a specific certification. For example: Some companies may require candidates for Accounting roles to have the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification. In general, earning certifications is another great way to enhance your skillset and obtain relevant demonstrated experience.
There are thousands of online certifications to consider – even free ones! – in various areas of study, including those we seek for internship roles. If you are interested in any of our internship pathways focused on ArcGIS experience, like ‘Creating Our Software’ on our ArcGIS Product Engineering team, ‘Implementing GIS’ on our Professional Services and Consulting team, or perhaps ‘Supporting Our Customers’ on our Technical Support team, be sure to check out Esri’s MOOC Program!
These free online courses are for anyone who wants to build new skills, grow professionally, and expand their horizons. Courses range from four to six weeks and are self-paced. Have fun, explore a new topic, get hands-on practice with the latest ArcGIS software, and earn a certificate of completion.
Area of Focus #4: Student Organizations
Joining a student organization that is relevant to the industry you are aiming to enter is incredibly beneficial.
By meeting others with shared interests and similar experiences, you will gain exposure to the possibilities in your future field and – in turn – learn more about yourself and your strengths, as well as clarify your personal and professional goals.
Joining a student organization also provides opportunities for sharpening soft skills, teamwork, professional development, and perhaps even leadership.
You will build upon not just your community on campus, but also your professional network – and these relationships may stay with you for years to come. I recommend researching what student organizations are active at your university and seeking more information on any that may be of interest, like Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for example!
Area of Focus #5: Professional Conferences
There are so many perks to attending professional conferences! These events provide extraordinary industry exposure and numerous opportunities for learning and development through participation in various components like keynotes and technical workshops. Not only will you enhance your skillset – you will also have endless chances to build your professional network!
If you are interested in joining Esri in any capacity in the future, I recommend attending one of our annual conferences like:
- Federal GIS Conference in Washington, DC every February
- Developer Summit in Palm Springs, CA every March
- Energy Conference in Houston, TX every April
- Esri User Conference – the largest GIS conference in the world – in San Diego, CA every July
You may even be interested in getting your foot in the door at Esri by supporting one of these events as a student assistant. If so, mark your calendars!
Openings for our student assistantship program at our 2025 conferences will be posted to our Careers site on September 2, 2024.
After you have obtained these valuable experiences and added them to your master resume, be sure to keep an eye out for applications for our 2025 internships to open on our Esri Careers website on September 2, 2024.
We highly recommend reading through the job description for your selected Esri internship pathway carefully and thoroughly and – from there – editing your master resume to a tailored resume for that particular position.
Your tailored resume should highlight any demonstrated experience you have that is relevant to the candidate requirements and responsibilities noted on that specific job description. We know it can be difficult to include all your experience and achievements on a resume, which typically consists of just a page or two. Help us get to know you better by detailing the career path you desire and your related experience in a cover letter!
I sincerely hope you found this overview of our five major pathways for Esri interns and my recommendations for five major areas of your resume to build helpful. These processes can be overwhelming, and we hope to provide as much guidance and support as we possibly can!
If you have any questions about our student programs going forward, please visit Esri Student Programs or contact us at university@esri.com. Otherwise, we hope to see your application this fall!
All the best,
Liz