Hiring Timelines

Various industries hire undergraduate students on different timelines so it’s important to take the time to research what particular industries you are interested in so you can plan ahead. Preparing your applications for an industry should start much earlier than when those employers hire. Conducting research on the trends in that industry and having informational interviews with alumni in those fields are all part of the preparation. For more information, read the following OCS resources to help with this process: Networking, Creating a Target Employer List, Informational Interviewing and sample informational interview requests and questions to ask.

Below are the general hiring timelines for these industries. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there will always be some employers that are outliers and hire on a different schedule so be sure to do your own research.

Business, Law, & Industry

The hiring timeline for undergraduates seeking roles in advertising, marketing, and public relations varies depending on the type of company and the role. Marketing is a particularly broad area to cover as it is both a job function (marketing as a role in a company) and an industry (marketing firms). If you are interested in marketing as a job function, it can span across many industries. Refer to the specific industry on this page that you are looking to gain a marketing role to get more details on the timeline. Familiarize yourself with the OCS Advertising, Marketing, & PR page which includes news on recent trends and openings, a job opportunities section and professional associations and industry job boards.

Here is a general overview of advertising, marketing & public relations to help you plan.

Fall Semester (August–December)

  • Agency Recruiting: Large advertising and public relations agencies like Ogilvy, Edelman and Weber Shandwick often recruit early in the academic year. Some agencies have structured entry-level programs, with application deadlines between September and November.
  • Internship Applications: Some marketing or advertising firms begin recruiting for summer internships as early as September. These internships often lead to full-time offers.
  • Information Sessions: Look at OCS Employer Events section of Yale Career Link to sign up for any employer sessions with these employers.

Spring Semester (January–May)

  • Smaller Firms & Rolling Deadlines: Medium-sized firms, startups, and companies with rolling deadlines often post openings between February and April.
  • In-House PR Roles: Companies with internal PR departments may post job openings in the spring for summer internships or full-time positions.
  • Internship Search Continues: If you’re still seeking internships, spring is a key time for smaller or more flexible organizations to post positions.
  • Late Spring: Some companies may post last-minute roles in late spring or early summer. These could include smaller agencies, startups, or freelance opportunities.
  • Portfolio Building: If you don’t secure a role, consider taking on freelance projects, volunteering for nonprofit marketing efforts, or interning remotely.

Best Practices

  • Industry-Specific Portfolios: For advertising or marketing roles, develop a portfolio of campaigns, copywriting, or projects. For PR, showcase press releases, articles, or crisis communication plans.
  • Follow Industry Trends: Stay informed about key trends in digital marketing, social media, and public relations to stand out in interviews.
  • Leverage Your Yale Network: Use alumni connections via the Yale Alumni LinkedIn page or Peer Networking Lists to learn about opportunities.

The hiring timeline for undergraduates seeking roles in consulting varies depending on the type of company. Familiarize yourself with the OCS Consulting page, which includes employer events and workshops, news on recent trends, and a job opportunities section.

Below are general trends to assist you in your research.

Spring Semester

  • Large firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain (MBB) begin recruitment efforts, especially for early career exploration programs that offer industry exposure.
  • Firms may host recruiting events like information sessions and coffee chats before applications open. Attending employer events can help you build connections and gain tips on the application and interview process.

Summer (one year in advance of internship/graduation date)

  • MBB and other large consulting firms open applications for internships and post-graduation roles from June to August.  Deadlines vary by firm, typically falling between early July and mid-September. Refer to the application deadlines provided here.
  • Boutique consulting firms open applications later in the summer. Refer to the application deadlines provided here.

Fall Semester

  • MBB and large firms conduct first-round interviews (behavioral + case) and final-round interviews (can be on-site or virtual).
  • Boutique firms continue recruiting.  Attending information sessions/coffee chats and the Consulting Networking event offers valuable opportunities to network with alumni and recruiters while gaining insights into the application process.

Rolling Applications

  • Some consulting firms have a rolling application process, meaning they review applications and select candidates for interviews as they receive them, rather than waiting for a specific deadline. To maximize your chances, submit your application as soon as you’re prepared.

Best Practices

  • Follow the employers you’re interested in on LinkedIn and join their talent communities through their websites to stay updated on opportunities.
  • Begin preparing for case interviews before applications open.

The hiring timeline for undergraduates seeking finance roles varies depending on the company and the role. Below are some general trends to assist you in your research.

Investment banks begin recruiting for summer internship programs approximately 1.5 years before that summer. Internships after junior year will often lead to full-time offers after graduation. Bulge bracket banks open applications as early as January; some boutique investment banks may start accepting applications as early as November/December.

It’s important to begin the networking, research, and preparation process early to ensure you have the strongest chance of landing a junior-year internship. This resource can assist you in creating a list of target firms and outlining the steps to take before submitting applications. The OCS Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate page includes upcoming employer events, advice, and job postings.

Fall Semester (Sophomore Year)

  • The recruiting cycle starts with applications for Early Insights programs that begin to come out the summer before your sophomore year and continue into the fall semester of your sophomore year.
  • Investment banks may host recruiting events before applications open. Attending employer events can help you build connections and gain tips on the application and interview process.

Spring Semester (Sophomore Year)

  • By January of your sophomore year, bulge bracket investment banks will begin to open applications.  Applications are on a rolling basis, meaning they can be reviewed at any time during the process. Interviews follow soon after applications open, so it’s crucial to stay informed about application timelines and submit your applications sooner rather than later. 
  • Sign up on The Coffee Chat by Adventis to receive recruiting updates, including when firms open applications.  Updates are sent out on Mondays.

Fall Semester (Junior and Senior Year):

  • Applications may open for emerging positions within investment banking, private equity, and other front-end office fields, such as equity research and investment management. Sign up on The Coffee Chat by Adventis to receive updates (sent on Mondays).
  • Some boutique and mid-market investment banks have a less structured interview process. They usually hire on demand. Recruiting at these companies can take place all year round.  
  • Recruiting for corporate finance, insurance, and real estate tends to occur in the fall semester, typically aligning with on-campus recruiting timelines. This resource can be helpful for your research: Vault Guides.

 Best Practices

  • Follow the employers you’re interested in on LinkedIn and join their talent communities through their websites to stay updated on opportunities.

The deadlines for these programs for undergraduate students vary depending on the company and the industry. Check out the OCS General Management and Leadership Development Programs page. Below are some general trends to assist you in your research.

Fall Deadlines (August-November)

  • Most Common: Deadlines for rotational programs in consulting, finance, and technology frequently fall in the fall semester, typically aligning with on-campus recruiting timelines.

Winter Deadlines (December-February)

  • Second Wave: Some programs reopen or accept applications through winter. Companies in fields like retail, healthcare, and some niche industries may have deadlines around this period.
  • Examples:
    • Healthcare firms and consumer goods companies often conclude by early February.

Spring Deadlines (March-May)

  • Less Common: A few industries, particularly education, government, and nonprofit sectors, set deadlines closer to spring as their hiring cycles align with the academic year or fiscal planning.

Best Practices

  • Always check specific program deadlines on company career pages or job boards, as variations depend on industry and hiring needs.

The hiring timelines for legal opportunities and internship programs for undergraduate students vary depending on the company. The OCS Law & Legal Services page breaks down the various career paths within law. Below are some general trends to assist you in your research.

Fall Deadlines (August to November)

  • Paralegal First Wave: Some law firms will begin to recruit for full-time paralegal and legal assistant positions.
  • Public Interest First Wave: A small number of internship and full-time employment options begin to open for public interest roles.

Winter Deadlines (December to February)

  • Paralegal Second Wave: Some law firms will begin to recruit for full-time paralegal and legal assistant positions. Events like LAUNCH provide opportunities for students to interview with multiple firms. This is the final wave of recruiting for private law firms.
  • Public Interest Second Wave: A greater number of internship and full-time employment options open for public interest roles.

Spring Deadlines (March to May)

  • Public Interest Third Wave: The final set of internship and full-time employment options open for public interest roles.

Key Tips

  • Legal Internships: Many legal internships are targeted at students already in law school. Undergraduates should use resources like the Peer Networking Lists and focus on opportunities in public interest law for the greatest chance of success.
  • Public Interest: While public interest roles in government may have consistent opportunities, legal aid clinics and other legal non-profits may hire on an as-needed basis. Use informal connections and proactive outreach and follow OCS networking advice.
  • Private Law Firms: Law firms looking to hire graduating seniors may have opportunities that range from paralegal training programs to longer term legal assistant positions.

Startups often hire on an as-needed basis, making their timelines less structured compared to larger firms. It is best to be prepared to apply for opportunities 1-3 months before the intended start date. Startups often prioritize hires from referrals and informal connections – refer to the OCS Startups, Entrepreneurship, & Freelance Work page for up-to-date information and resources and focus on implementing OCS networking advice.

Common Good & Creative Careers

Arts-oriented organizations—such as museums, galleries, art studios, design companies, theater and performance venues, etc.—most often run their hiring on an “as needed” basis. These organizations represent a broad range in terms of size and structure, and many do not have a large enough HR component to sustain high levels of recruiting and fully organized hiring mechanics. For more information on specific industries within this category, check out the OCS Arts page.

Fall Semester

  • Certain early action, external Fellowships (such as the Fulbright and the Brandeis) are adaptable to arts-related research projects and artistic study. These fellowships require much earlier preparation and should be looked into as soon as the summer prior to graduation. More information is available through Yale Fellowships and Funding.
  • Established internship programs for larger companies will sometimes start their recruiting in the mid- to late- Fall. As scheduling is company specific, research into your target organizations (including networking conversation) should start early to see if there are earlier pathways available.
  • Become comfortable and familiar with the industry specific jobs boards and trade publications that can help supply context to enrich your networking efforts.
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Peer to Peer Networking Event which usually happens in late-Fall at Dwight Hall. Yale students share about their past summer internship experiences in the areas of nonprofit, the arts, education, and government, giving participants an inside scoop on potential paths for common good and creative careers.
  • Though many Yale funding sources that could be used to support arts research and independent projects (see below) don’t have deadlines until the early spring, it is still a good idea to begin exploring project potentials, assembling elements for your proposals, and confirming letters of recommendation as soon as you can.

Spring Semester

  • Continued networking as necessary to open up channels and uncover additional opportunity. Remember the creative industries are built atop relationships and the network you build as part of a career outreach has impact on longer term collaborative potentials. Follow the additional Networking tips available on the OCS website.
  • Internship opportunities emerge in higher volume by the early spring, and carry forward all the way through to the early summer. Even seniors might consider applying for post-grad internship possibilities, as many creative industries use these positions to identify talent for future hiring and opportunity extension.
  • With a little bit of creativity, arts-related research and independent projects can sometimes take advantage of Yale Fellowships to fund creative opportunities. See Students Grants Database for details. Note: You do not have to have the proposed opportunity secured in order to request funding. The Common Application for fellowships is usually due by late February, early March.
  • For eligible students seeking summer experience, the Summer Experience Award (SEA) can be used as a funding source for both arts-related non-profit internships (museums, community arts, arts policy, theaters, literary publications, etc.) as well as mentorships with arts practitioners (Arts Apprenticeships). The priority application deadline for the SEA is usually 4/1, with a final deadline on 5/1.
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Employer Networking Event which usually happens in February. Representatives from dozens of partner organizations, in the areas of nonprofit, the arts, education, and government, come to campus to answer questions and recruit for common good and creative careers positions.
  • Most post-grad positions within the arts industries are filled well into the spring, with hiring often starting within a month of the preferred start date. That means that seniors should come into the more active, late hiring season well-prepared with networking expansion, industry exploration, and resource familiarity already established. Good luck!

Education encompasses a number of different interest areas and spaces that include K-12 teaching, higher education/academia, education policy and so much more. Hiring will vary based on interest area and employer needs, but here is a general timeline to help you prepare for upcoming opportunities within education:

Fall Semester

  • Visit the Ed Studies Wiki page, as well as the OCS Education page to view information and access resources regarding each education interest area. Dwight Hall will also have resources, especially for opportunities within the greater New Haven community.
  • Subscribe to the Ed Studies newsletters and customize your weekly OCS newsletter to receive alerts about opportunities and events within education.
  • Watch insightful videos with featured alumni speakers and panelists through the Ed Studies YouTube channel.
  • Check out where fellow students/recent alumni have interned/are currently working through the Peer Networking Lists. Consider reaching out to discuss their experiences while recruiting as well as working for their respective employer.
  • Identify and connect with additional alumni through resources such as Cross Campus, LinkedIn, and Yale Alumni Educators Facebook Page.
  • Begin searching through the Student Grants Database from the Office of Fellowships to identify funding opportunities for education opportunities when applicable. Among them include the Yawkey Fellowship for internships within New England. Most applications typically open in October.

Spring Semester

  • Even more education opportunities will materialize. For example, Teach for America’s application for a full-time teaching placement will open in January.
  • There will be more career fairs scheduled with education employers among those in attendance. Examples include LAUNCH and the Government, Education, and Non-Profit Career Fair (GEN) . Check out the OCS events calendar on our website and CareerLink. Additional career fairs organized externally include those listed through careereco.com and Handshake.
  • Attend the CGCC Career Fair that is typically scheduled in late February.
  • Most fellowship applications will be due in March, but double-check the Student Grants Database for more specific deadline information with each fellowship opportunity of interest.
  • For eligible students seeking summer experience, the Summer Experience Award (SEA) can be used as a funding source for unpaid or underfunded ($2k or less) opportunities with non-profit organizations (including universities) and government agencies (local, federal). The priority application deadline for the SEA is usually 4/1, with a final deadline on 5/1.

Recruiting in environment, sustainability, and energy does not typically offer a structured recruiting timeline, and will vary based on the organization. To get started, review the OCS Environment, Sustainability, & Energy page for ideas on various career opportunities in these areas. For a more hands-on opportunity to speak directly with recruiters and interact with various organizations, check out the annual All Ivy Environmental & Sustainable Development Career Fair which happens every February at Columbia University. This fair offers a valuable opportunity to network with employers seeking candidates for full-time and internship positions. Another great way to use this fair as a resource is to peruse the past recruiter’s tab to see what organizations have attended in the past. This review is a good way to start a target list. See below for a general timeline across some of the main areas under environment, sustainability, and energy:

Finance (Sustainable Investing, ESG, Climate Finance):

  • Recruitment: Early Fall of Junior Year (summer internship recruiting starts in August/September).
  • Summer internships can often lead to full-time offers.
  • Firms may have separate ESG or impact-investing divisions with slightly different timelines but generally follow the finance calendar.
  • For a more detailed timeline please review the finance section of this page.

Consulting (Clean Energy, Environmental Strategy):

  • Recruitment: Summer before or Early Fall of Junior Year (for summer internships and direct-hire programs).
  • Full-time roles: Begin recruiting Summer before or Senior Year Fall for immediate hiring after graduation.
  • For a more detailed timeline please review the consulting section of this page.

Government (Environmental Policy, Agencies like EPA or UN):

  • Recruitment: Spring of Junior Year for summer internships.
  • Fellowships or entry-level roles: Recruit heavily Spring of Senior Year and occasionally into the summer after graduation.
  • Federal jobs often require advanced planning due to long hiring processes.
  • For a more detailed timeline please review the government section of this page.

Nonprofit Organizations (Conservation, Advocacy, Think Tanks):

  • Recruitment: Spring of Senior Year for post-graduation roles.
  • Internships: Applications open late Fall or early Spring of Sophomore/Junior Years.
  • Smaller nonprofits may hire closer to start dates due to limited resources.
  • For a more detailed timeline please review the nonprofit and/or policy sections of this page.

Most internship applications will tend to open around the beginning of the semester before the internship start date, while full-time roles will materialize at any time. Employers who require extensive background checks will open their applications 9-12 months ahead of when they will require to you to start. Examples include U.S. Department of State and CIA. the OCS Government pages includes detailed information on federal, state, local and tribal government along with intelligence and counterintelligence.

Here is a general timeline and some suggested action steps for each semester:

Fall Semester

September Onward

  • Customize your weekly OCS newsletter to receive alerts about government opportunities and events.
  • Visit usajobs.gov and begin to create a profile and view their calendar of upcoming events. Watch the recorded presentations from the Partnership for Public Service available on our government page. Their facilitators will explain how to navigate usajobs.gov as well as the federal hiring process overall. 
  • Discover and learn more about federal internship/job opportunities through the Federal Internship Finder from the Partnership for Public Service. 
  • Check out where fellow students/recent alumni have interned/are currently working through the Peer Networking Lists. Consider reaching out to discuss their experiences while recruiting as well as working for their respective employer.
  • Stay updated about opportunities and the current work of employers of interest by subscribing to their newsletters and following them through LinkedIn when applicable.
  • Begin searching through the Student Grants Database from the Office of Fellowships to identify funding opportunities for government opportunities when applicable.

Late September/Early October

  • The application for U.S. Department of State will open and close within about a 2-week window. Plan to submit your application sooner than later.

Mid-to-Late October

Late November through December

Spring Semester

January Onward

  • Even more federal opportunities will materialize.
  • Local and state internship applications will begin to open. Visit their respective websites to view postings and apply (e.g. cityjobs.nyc.gov).
  • There will be more career fairs scheduled with government employers among those in attendance. Examples include LAUNCH and the Government, Education, and Non-Profit Career Fair (GEN) . Check out the OCS events calendar through our website and CareerLink. Additional career fairs organized externally include those listed through careereco.com, Handshake, and usajobs.gov.
  • Attend the CGCC Career Fair that is typically scheduled in late February.
  • For eligible students seeking summer experience, the Summer Experience Award (SEA) can be used as a funding source for unpaid or underfunded ($2k or less) opportunities with government agencies (both federal and local). The priority application deadline for the SEA is usually 4/1, with a final deadline on 5/1.

Note Regarding Federal Hiring

Media & Communications organizations cover a wide range of industries—from publishing and journalism, to entertainment and music—with most of these areas managing their hiring on an “as needed” basis. These organizations represent a broad range in terms of size and structure, with the larger companies having well defined hiring and recruiting programs, but many of the smaller companies lacking the infrastructure for traditional recruiting; instead, they rely on an ad hoc hiring process. For more information on specific industries within this category, check out the OCS Media & Communicatons page.

Fall Semester

  • Certain early action, external Fellowships (such as the Fulbright and the Brandeis) are adaptable to media-related research projects and international study. These fellowships require much earlier preparation and should be looked into as soon as the summer prior to graduation. More information is available through Yale Fellowships and Funding.
  • Established internship programs for larger companies will sometimes start their recruiting in the mid- to late- Fall. Examples: within the Entertainment industry the Film & Television Studios, Talent Agencies, and major Music Recording lablels will tend to start their summer internship recruiting as early as November-December; the larger Newspapers and Book Publishers will also tend to begin recruiting in the late Fall. Because scheduling is company specific, research into your target organizations (including networking conversation) should start early to see if there are earlier pathways available.
  • If you’re interested in journalism and public policy jobs, take a look at the funded opportunities made available through the Yale Paul Block Summer Journalism and Buckley Media & Public Policy internship programs, available as part of the CGCC Select Internship Programs. Further journalism-based resources can be found through the Yale Journalism Initiative.
  • Become comfortable and familiar with the industry specific jobs boards and trade publications that can help supply context to enrich your networking efforts. Many of these can be found within the Resources section of the individual industry pages located in our website’s Explore Careers section. Examples: EntertainmentCareers.net for Entertainment; Bookjobs.com for publishing; journalismjobs.org for journalism; musicbusinessworldwide.com for Music; and mediabistro.com for the broader media and communications. Additional external resources can be found for each industry within the relevant Explore Career community pages.
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Peer to Peer Networking Event which usually happens in late-Fall at Dwight Hall. Yale students share about their past summer internship experiences in the areas of nonprofit, the arts, education, and government, giving participants an inside scoop on potential paths for common good and creative careers.
  • Though many Yale funding sources that could be used to support media research and independent projects (see below) don’t deadline until the early spring, it is still a good idea to begin exploring project potentials, assembling elements for your proposals, and confirming letters of recommendation as soon as you can.

Spring Semester

  • Continuous networking as necessary to open up channels and uncover additional opportunities. Remember all of the creative industries—and especially the entertainment and media categories—are built atop relationships; the network you build as part of a career outreach has impact on longer term collaborative potentials. Follow the additional Networking tips available on the OCS website.
  • Internship opportunities emerge in higher volume by the early spring, and carry forward all the way through to the early summer. Full-time, post grad positions become available for application closer to graduation, but seniors might also consider applying for post-grad internship possibilities, as many creative industries use these positions to identifying talent for future hiring and opportunity extension.
  • With a little bit of creativity, media-related research and independent projects can sometimes take advantage of Yale Fellowships to fund creative opportunities. See Students Grants Database for more details. Note: you do not have to have a proposed opportunity secured in order to request funding. The Common Application for fellowships is usually due by late February, early March.
  • For eligible students seeking summer experience, the Summer Experience Award (SEA) can be used as a funding source for both arts-related non-profit internships (museums, community arts, arts policy, theaters, literary publications, etc.) as well as mentorships with creative practitioners (Arts Apprenticeships). The priority application deadline for the SEA is usually 4/1, with a final deadline on 5/1.
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Employer Networking Event which usually happens in February. Representatives from dozens of partner organizations, in the areas of nonprofit, the arts, education, and government, come to campus to answer questions and recruit for common good and creative careers positions.
  • Most post-grad positions within the media industries are filled well into the spring, with hiring often starting within a month of the preferred start date. That means that seniors should come into the more active, late hiring season well-prepared with networking expansion, industry exploration, and resource familiarity already established. Good luck!

Nonprofit organizations hire on a need basis, typically posting full-time positions one to two months prior to hiring in the spring. The OCS Nonprofit page has a plethora of resources including job postings and various career paths within the nonprofit sector.

Below is a timeline of when students can look to apply for various opportunities within the nonprofit sector.

Fall Semester

  • Nonprofit Consulting Firms (August/September) full-time jobs and internships
  • Some International and Multilateral Organizations (August – October) full-time jobs and internships
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Peer to Peer Networking Event which happens in October at Dwight Hall. Yale students share about their past summer internship experiences in the areas of nonprofit, policy/think tanks, the arts, education, and government, giving participants an inside scoop on potential paths for in common good and creative careers.

Spring Semester

  • Yale President’s Public Service Fellowship (January) internships
  • Gap Year/ Fellowship programs typically open in January and later. Deadlines for these full-time jobs will continue throughout the spring. Refer to the OCS CGCC Sample Lists of Fellowships to get started on researching fellowships by a number of categories
  • Consider attending the Government, Education and Nonprofit virtual Career Fair in early February which is a consortium event. There are often think tanks and policy positions and opportunities to connect with those employers.
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Networking Event that occurs every February and hosts employers from nonprofits, government, education and the arts to come to campus and speak to students about their opportunities.
  • Yale public interest fellowships. (February/March) See Students Grants Database for details. Note: You do not have to have the proposed internship secured in order to request funding
  • Applications continue throughout the spring semester for both full-time and internships
  • For eligible students seeking summer experience, the Summer Experience Award (SEA) can be used as a funding source for unpaid or underfunded ($2k or less) opportunities with non-profit organizations. The priority application deadline for the SEA is usually 4/1, with a final deadline on 5/1.

Best Practices

  • Even if your ideal position will not open until the spring, one should start their networking much earlier.
  • OCS’ Nonprofit Page includes a list of the top nonprofit job boards. Become familiar with those lists and set up alerts asap.
  • Yale Alumni Affairs has a shared interest group called YANA (Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance) with incredible alumni across the globe who work in the nonprofit sector. This is a great opportunity for students to connect with alumni in their desired field.

The majority of think tanks hire in the spring semester for both internships and full-time opportunities. The OCS Policy & Think Tanks page includes a long list of think tanks along with other resources like industry trends and openings.

Below is a timeline of when students can look to apply for various opportunities within policy and think tanks.

Fall Semester

  • The policy internships and full-time positions that are in the fall would be those with the Government, particularly for the State Department. See Government timeline for more details.
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Peer to Peer Networking Event which happens in October at Dwight Hall. Yale students share about their past summer internship experiences in the areas of policy/think tanks, nonprofit, the arts, education, and government, giving participants an inside scoop on potential paths for in common good and creative careers.

Spring Semester

  • The majority of think tanks hire in the spring semester for both internships and full-time opportunities.
  • Consider attending the Government, Education and Nonprofit virtual Career Fair in early February which is a consortium event. There are often think tanks and policy positions and opportunities to connect with those employers.
  • Attend the Common Good & Creative Careers Networking Event that occurs every February and hosts employers from nonprofits, government, education and the arts to come to campus and speak to students about their opportunities.
  • Some Yale fellowships support policy work (February/March). See Students Grants Database for details. Note: You do not have to have the proposed internship secured in order to request funding
  • For eligible students seeking summer experience, the Summer Experience Award (SEA) can be used as a funding source for unpaid or underfunded ($2k or less) opportunities with non-profit organizations and the government. The priority application deadline for the SEA is usually 4/1, with a final deadline on 5/1.

Best Practices

  • Start early by listing out the think tanks that you are interested in. This resource can be helpful for your research: On Think Tanks | Open think tank directory
  • Follow the employers you’re interested in on LinkedIn so you can get alerts for job openings.
  • Utilize the Traverse Job Board for policy opportunities as OCS has a subscription for this resource.
  • To gain experience, consider joining a student organization like the Yale Policy Institute or The Sycamore Institute that operates like a think tank and conducts policy research.

STEMConnect

The hiring timelines for Engineering opportunities and internship programs for undergraduate students vary depending on the company. Below are some general hiring timeline resources to assist you in your research.

Electrical Engineering Hiring Timeline

Mechanical Engineering Hiring Timeline

Chemical Engineering Hiring Timeline

Environmental Engineering Hiring Timeline

These guides provide a general overview of hiring timelines for these areas. For more job or internship opportunities, check out the OCS Engineering Career Page.

You can also review the Technical Interview resources to help with preparing for an upcoming technical interview.

The hiring timelines for Healthcare, Biotech & Global Public Health opportunities and internship programs for undergraduate students vary depending on the company.

Below are some general hiring timeline resources to assist you in your research.

Biomedical Engineering Hiring Timeline

General Resources for Internships & Jobs:

Review the OCS Healthcare, Biotech, & Global Public Health Careers page for ideas on various career opportunities in these areas. 

You can also review the Technical Interview resources to help with preparing for an upcoming technical interview.

The hiring timelines for Life & Physical Science opportunities and internship programs for undergraduate students vary depending on the company. Below are some general hiring timeline resources to assist you in your research.

General Resources for Internships & Jobs:

Search Fellowships, Scholarships, Paid Internships, and Research Opportunities: PathwaysToScience.org

College Students or Recent College Graduates | Office of Intramural Training & Education at the National Institutes of Health

Physics Today: Intern/Student Jobs

These guides provide a general overview of hiring timelines for these areas. For more job or internship opportunities, check out the OCS Life & Physical Sciences page.

The hiring timelines for Programming & Data Science opportunities and internship programs for undergraduate students vary depending on the company.

Below are some general hiring timeline resources to assist you in your research.

Computer Science Hiring Timeline

General Internship Resources for Computer Science

STEM – FAANG Tech Internships for (First & Second Years) 

These guides provide a general overview of hiring timelines for these areas. For more job or internship opportunities, check out the OCS Programming & Data Science page.

You can also review the Technical Interview resources to help with preparing for an upcoming technical interview.