Garmin began as a GPS start-up in 1989 and has since grown into a Nasdaq listed, international corporation that develops navigation, communication, and information devices and applications.
Garmin’s international headquarters are located in Olathe, Kansas, with offices in the UK, Taiwan, and Oregon. Interns are placed in Olathe, Kansas; Chandler, Arizona; Diamond Bar, California; and Cary, North Carolina.
What You Need To Know:
Garmin is a great place to start a career. The company was included in Forbes Best Internships of 2011. Internships last from 10-12 weeks, starting in May, and are mostly available through the Engineering Department.
Garmin's internships offer students a great opportunity to expand their knowledge and gain experience to add to their resumes. Garmin's career website explains that internships "...definitely will be hands-on work — working side-by-side with a mentor, making real contributions to the company — no getting coffee and picking up dry cleaning!"
Interns get paid holidays and accrual of paid time off, among many other perks. The company also hosts nights out to ensure that there is a rewarding social experience in addition to all the hard work. Garmin has a long history of hiring top interns, so this is a great way to get your foot in the door.
How To Prepare:
Learn about the company. Unlike Microsoft and Galllup, Garmin bases their hiring process more on skills than on company fit. Garmin recommends first attending a career fair, which can be applied for online.
The company looks to hire its interns if performance meets expectation. Keeping this in mind, you should know why you would want to stay with the company after graduation. Previous interns have created YouTube videos about their time at the company, which are worth looking at in preparation.
Apply. Applications can be found online on Garmin's careers website. The application process is relatively short. On-campus interviews are available. Consider whether you want to interview at UNL or go to Garmin headquarters.
Interview. The candidate will be invited to Kansas for an on-site interview with HR and engineering managers and asked a few technical questions. You will be expected to bring a piece of sample code work or a portfolio, depending on the position which you are applying for. While a 3.0 GPA is required, serious candidates will be expected to have a 3.5 or above.
An internship at Garmin will not only get your foot in the door, it will give you a glimpse of what life is like in the company. With an emphasis on developing social ties among its employees and great benefits for its interns, Garmin is a great place to start your career.