Just Do It! And we did….
DU along with Daniels Career Services recently traveled to Portland, Oregon to visit the Nike World Headquarters and to learn more about Nike’s robust and engaging summer internship program called “Nike Ignite.” The program is a 12-week full time summer internship opportunity which includes 145 undergraduate and graduate students from various majors who work at Nike World Headquarters from June to August. The program provides exposure to real life projects on global issues, networking, a Nike executive speaker series and interaction with other interns from other local companies including Intel, Wieden and Kennedy. The interns work in cross-functional teams focused on actual Nike business challenges. Nike Ignite interns are diverse, experienced and socially conscious.
So how do DU students position themselves to become Nike Ignite interns?
It’s tough. Nike hired 145 interns last summer, but received 12,000 applications! Here is what we learned about qualifications on our visit. Nike is looking for intern candidates who are outgoing, creative, prepared, engaging, articulate and positive. They must also have the standard core skills including communications, critical thinking, problem solving and team work. Nike recruiters want students who have a passion for sports and who like competition. Applicants must know Nike! The Nike culture is based on storytelling as you have seen through their marketing videos and other media. Nike expects interns to be storytellers too. They believe in this so much that they require video cover letters. They ask applicants to state what they can do for Nike and demonstrate team collaboration in a creative video.
Sounds like a lot of prep work?
You bet–and that is why students should think about applying. Most of the worthwhile opportunities in life are a lot of work so…JUST DO IT!
Recruiting for the summer Nike Ignite internship program begins later this fall until early spring.