6 Internships with the Best Perks

Ask any college advisor about interning and you’ll be informed that these career previews are a cornucopia of benefits. They pad your resume, lead to networking, and of course, give a taste of the real world outside of cable television. But some internships give collegiettes™  a bit more than a comparative advantage and thicker skin. From weekends in the Hamptons to flying for free, check out a few of the coolest internship perks around.

1. South West Airlines
South West calls its internship course the “NoLimits Internship Program” and, considering all that it offers, this title is truthful. Working with this airline gets you more than a decent paycheck and career development classes: interns here participate in a variety of events like Intern Happy Hour, “The Not-So-Amazing Race” (which consists of several obstacle courses, one including a hefty amount of marshmallows), company parties, and, oh yeah, they fly for free! Any U.S. South West flight with available seating is open to interns. No pay travel? It makes you wonder how attached you are to your major.
 
2. Google
If you’re searching for a fun internship, look to the company you search with every day. Google’s 11-week internships—which are competitively paid—give you the opportunity to attend weekly meetings and to work with a mentor to develop your growth. No matter your major, Google encourages you to apply. Interested in traveling the world? This major company’s interns work in North America and Canada. Additionally, Google interns receive free gourmet breakfasts, lunches and dinners, as well as massages, access to a gaming room and other exciting activities like rock climbing and evening cruises.
 
3. Magazine and media internships
Images of Anne Hathaway knocking over innocent pedestrians with boogie boards or finding the impossible Harry Potter manuscript in Devil Wears Prada may come to mind when you think of working in the media industry. And although many internships with fashion magazines and design houses are filled with exhaustingly long hours and moody employees, interns often receive other benefits as well. If an editor is sent new products and doesn’t want them, at times the interns can take their pick. This can be anything from a new lotion, a travel-sized hair iron or even unwanted clothing. Rachel Gates, a former AOL intern, notes that “[she] was able to go to industry parties, [AOL] had celebs in the office all the time, and had ah-mazing office parties,” to cite a few of the perks. And for those whippersnappers who consider extra experience an added bonus, interns at certain magazines, like Billboard, who impress editors do everything from writing online blurbs, to on-camera interviews with music stars and can even land a story in the magazine itself.  Check out Ed2010 for magazine internship postings.