Start thinking about: what are you curious about, which skills would you like to work on this summer, what are your budgetary needs, where you’d like live, attend an info session etc… Check out Handshake, the current Employer Partner postings list, and the FAQ section for more details.

You can also apply for paid summer internships with 50+ employer partners across the country and world.  Employer partners prioritize hiring from Bates, giving you unique access to find out what it takes to run a hospital, mentor kids, learn to code, conduct ESG research…and more.

Purposeful Work internships with employer partners are posted in Handshake and are updated frequently. You can search PW 2023 to find these. Please check back to this page frequently for updated listings, especially at the beginning of January- April. In the meantime, in order to apply for any of these opportunities, you must complete the following eligibility requirements:

START the process by becoming eligible through the three required steps facilitated by the Bates Center for Purposeful Work.

Step 1: Have your resume reviewed by the staff in the Bates Center for Purposeful Work.

This is something all students will be required to do each year to participate in our programs. For more information and helpful tips, please review our Resume and CV Guide.

Step 2: Have a cover letter draft reviewed by the staff in the Bates Center for Purposeful Work. For more information and helpful tips, please review our Cover Letter Guide.

Why? We’re here to help you put your best foot forward as an applicant, whether this is the first or the 50th time you’ve applied for an opportunity using a formal resume and cover letter.

Students are encouraged to use our daily drop-in hours to have their resume and cover letter reviewed virtually. For more information about drop-in hours, please visit the Center for Purposeful Work website.

Please remember, you MUST be eligible (completed all required steps) AT LEAST one full business day before the application deadline. Plan ahead!!!

Step 1 —> Step 2 = Step 3

“resume reviewed 2022/23” + “cover letter reviewed 2022/23″ = ”purposeful work internship program 2022/23″

Visit the Summer Funded Opportunities website to learn about additional research grants and civic engagement fellowships available to Bates students.

To be eligible and apply for Purposeful Work 2023 Internship Competitive Funding you must submit all materials by the Funding Application deadlines (March 1, 2023, April 3, 2023 and May 3, 2023)

PW 2023 Internship Competitive Funding

We recognize that organizations are considering both in-person, remote, and hybrid options again in 2023. We will continue to evaluate the public health and COVID-19 protocols and follow guidance from Bates, (the Center for Global Education) and the CDC to inform our decisions in the best interest of our students’, health, safety, and professional growth.

Funding Amounts

Internship funding awards will range from $2500 to $5000 to support internships ranging from 250 to 300 hours. Bates sophomores (2025) and juniors (2024) who have received an offer for an unpaid or low-paying internship will be eligible to apply for funds.

Click here for the application form on Handshake.