Internships give college students real-world experience and practical skills to get ahead in their chosen career. It’s even better when those internships lead to career opportunity and growth. 

Year after year, we hire students from across the country to join our team. These students aren’t fetching coffee. They are working with our teams to develop real solutions. Our goal is to allow students to explore different opportunities with one of America’s Best Large Employers. 

Our BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina internship experts have some tips for landing that summer gig and answer commonly asked questions. 

How many summer interns do you hire? 

This year, BlueCross will have close to 100 summer internship positions. Our internships span across many different areas of the business to include IT, human resources, accounting and finance, marketing, health policy, healthcare innovation and communications. Most of our internships are in Columbia, South Carolina. But we do have some positions in other locations.  

What are the basic requirements for internship positions? 

To be considered for an internship, you must be enrolled in a bachelor’s program majoring in an applicable field and should be returning to university/college for at least a term, semester or quarter following your internship period. 

Interns must have at least 12 semester hours in a major aligned with the internship and be enrolled in college and working toward obtaining a four-year degree.

When do I need to apply? 

Summer internship positions are posted during the fall and in the first quarter of each year.  

How long is the internship? 

We have a 12-week program that starts mid-May and runs through early August. We do sometimes have year-round positions. 

How do I apply? 

You can find details about all our internship positions on our website. These positions are posted on a regular basis until January or February. Many are major-specific. Check back often. 

You can also fill out a form* to be notified when positions are open. 

What are the benefits of participating in a summer internship?

Just a few of the benefits of a BlueCross internship include: professional training and development, participation in discussions and presentations with industry experts, community service projects and networking with our senior leaders. You can read about past intern experiences on our blog, including how interns transitioned to a full-time role.  

Do I get paid for the internship? 

Yes, interns are paid. 

What are my work hours? 

The internship positions are scheduled around the traditional work hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Monday through Friday.

What type of internships are available? 

Internships vary. BlueCross is more than an insurance company. We offer internship roles in the following areas, including but not limited to: 

• Actuarial 
• Accounting 
• Health Policy 
• Human Resources
• Operations 
• Statistics 
• Technical Writing 
• Visual Communications
• Information Technology 

Any advice for my application? 

Include all your work experience on your resume, even if it’s not related to your major or the internship you’re applying for. This experience can show recruiters and managers that you have experience with customer service, working on a team, a strong work ethic, conflict management skills, leadership, oral and written communication skills, etc. 

Share your interests. For example, we have IT interns throughout the I/S department in everything from programming to hardware to project management. It’s helpful for students to have an idea of what their preferences are and what they’d like to focus on within IT. 

Managers prefer candidates who display a passion for their IT preference, so if you have related school and/or side project experience, include that on your resume.

Find more tips on perfecting your resume on our blog. 

What do I do if I get an interview? 

Research what we do before your interview and understand what we are looking for in interns. For example, don’t say that you want to go into cyber security if you’re interviewing for a programming position.

Practice interviewing as much as possible. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be and the better you’ll do. Work with your school’s career center if you need help with your resume or interviewing. 

What do I do after the interview? 

A good, old-fashioned thank-you note goes a long way. 

When you are ready, check out our internship opportunities on our Careers website. Good luck!