General Information

The Cornell Extern Program is a career-exploration program that allows students to get an insider's view of a career field and explore the workplace firsthand by visiting Cornell alumni/ae in their workplaces during winter break (January only). Externships are not available in December or at other times of the year unless specified by the sponsor in the listing. Externships usually last from one day to one week; the length of externships is predetermined by the sponsors.

Externships can help students explore what to do with an academic major, assess their "fit" with a given career field or type/size of organization, refine their interests within a career field, etc. An externship gives students the opportunity to observe the day-to-day activities of a Cornell sponsor, discuss specific jobs and careers with alumni and their colleagues, and sometimes obtain limited hands-on experience.

The Cornell Extern Program is open to fully matriculated sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all undergraduate colleges. If you are matriculated and plan to graduate in December or are way/abroad fall or spring semester, you ARE eligible as long as you are available during the extern visit dates and meet all requirements and deadlines. Special students who are visiting Cornell for a semester or a year, but not earning a Cornell degree are not eligible. (The FRESH Program is a Spring Break job-shadowing program for freshman from all colleges.)

Applications and Externship Listings

Application Instructions and externship listing descriptions are available in college career offices and 103 or 203 Barnes Hall. There is a NEW three step application process for winter 07-08 externships. Please pay close attention to the application instructions. Externship listing descriptions are also available online.

Alumni Sponsors participate in the externship program for several reasons. They receive statisfaction by sharing their professional experience and expertise to assist current Cornell students. Alumni also benefit professionally as they welcome the opportunity to introduce well-qualified, motivated, up and coming professionals to their career field. Alumni are not participating to identify potential candidates/employee. The Extern Program is not a job-search service for students who are looking for permanent or summer employment with the organization where the alumnus/a is working. Students who have submitted or will submit a resume through on-campus recruiting to companies which are also offering an externship should not apply to the company for an externship, whether selected for an interview or not.