Put your brain to work.
My first year interning at Garmin, a group of us began calling ourselves “The Garminators.” Now, 12 of us work here full-time and hang out for lunch and on the weekends. There’s at least one person in every division (aviation, marine, automotive, fitness and outdoor recreation). I think it’s really neat how we’ve kept in touch and stayed friends over the years.
— Jason, former intern turned employee
Whether you’re still in school or a new graduate, our laid-back atmosphere (no ties!) inspires innovation and creativity. Forget “special projects” for newbies, our interns and “early career” professionals work side-by-side with a mentor, making hands-on contributions to the world’s top-selling GPS navigation and wireless communication products.
Garmin Internships
Pack your college gear because you can wear it here.
At Garmin, we don’t worry about what you’re wearing; we’re too busy pursuing the next best thing, and we want you to be a part of that innovation.
You give us 10-12 weeks, and we’ll pay you to play with toys, build cool electronics and meet new people — not only at work but at outings, such as laser tag, ice cream socials and more. Now, this is what you’ve been studying for.
Early Career Professionals
If you’re a new graduate or in the early stages of your career, let Garmin show you the way.
Here, it’s not “sink or swim”; you get a lot of support from more experienced professionals, who will build on skills you already have so you can create cool new products and accessories.
Are you an engineer? We need your newfound knowledge to bring innovation and new creativity to Garmin.
Are you into maps? We’ll take the basic tools and functions you already know and teach you about attributing, digitizing and editing.
We have entry level positions in other areas too — industrial and process engineers, order administrators and contact center representatives, to name a few. If you’re ready for the challenge, we’re ready for you.
Upcoming Events
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do internships occur?
A: Our internships occur each summer, between the months of May and August. We are flexible with start and end dates, depending on your school schedule. Internships typically last 10 to 12 weeks.
Q: What areas or departments do you hire interns?
A: The majority of our interns are in the engineering department, but we have had interns in operations, finance, marketing, IT and legal.
Q: Do you have a GPA requirement for your internships?
A: At least a 3.0 GPA is required, but we prefer 3.5 or higher.
Q: Are internships paid?
A: Yes. Internship compensation depends on the position, and rates of pay are competitive.
Q: Do interns get benefits?
A: Yes, but they vary slightly from full-time associates. Interns receive paid time off, vacation and are eligible for the corporate YMCA membership discount. They do not receive health, dental or vision insurance.
Interview Process
Q: What is the best way to get hired as an intern?
A: Attend one of our Career Fairs (calendar) and apply online.
Q: How do I know when you will be at my school?
A: Check out the calendar on our website.
Q: What is the process to be hired as an intern?
A: Search our current internship openings and create an online application. If we feel you are qualified, we will contact you.
Q: How does the interview process work for interns?
A: Typically, If we are interested a recruiter will contact you to conduct a phone interview. From there, you may receive a more technical on-site interview with a tour of the facility.
We also conduct on-campus interviews at some campuses. We will let you know if your college/university is one of those locations.
Q: How should I prepare for my interview?
A: We encourage you to contact your university’s Career Services Department. Typically, they offer programs, such as resume reviews and mock interviews. We also encourage you to research Garmin and prepare questions.
Q: What should I bring to my interview?
A: Since we already have a copy of your resume and references, you may be asked to bring in items, such as sample code work or a portfolio, depending on the position. We’ll let you know if we want you to bring anything with you.
The Ins and Outs
Q: What would I do as an intern?
A: It varies depending on the projects that we have going on at Garmin at the time, but it 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!
Q: What are some perks to interning at Garmin?
A: Garmin has a lot of perks, including paid holidays (Memorial Day and Independence Day), accrual of paid time off, product discounts and discounts to the YMCA, just to name a few.
Q: What are my chances of getting hired on full-time after graduating, if I intern at Garmin?
A: We frequently hire our top interns, if interested, for full-time work after graduation.
Q: If I intern there, what is there to do outside of work?
A: We plan lots of fun activities for you to hang out with other interns and get to know the Kansas City area — baseball games, laser tag, bowling, museum tours, amusement/theme parks and so much more.
Q: If I accept an internship at Garmin, how can I connect with other people?
A: For interns, Garmin hosts several activities throughout the summer, including outings to Worlds of Fun, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and laser tag.
For part- and full-time employees, Garmin also hosts regular outings, for full- and part-time associates, so employees can get to know one another.
There also is a group called GenKC that organizes ongoing events to help young professionals enhance their personal and professional skill set.
More questions? See our list of general FAQs