Expert: David A. NewMyer - 1/10/2008

Question
Hey Mr. NewMyer,
I have some questions/concerns about summer internships. I have been looking around the Internet for some and have some concerns. My life: My dream is to become a pilot (cargo, commercial, armed forces, whatever. I love flying). I am a just turned Senior at Florida State Univ. in the process of a BS in Sociology and minoring in Business (I have about 3 semesters left). The thing is, is that I was majoring in Business, but didn't do well in some classes and my GPA dropped. A lot of the internships I have been looking at require at least a 3.0 GPA and be pursuing an aviation degree. Do you happen to know any companies in which i could internship that I don't have to be pursuing an aviation degree or have a 3.0.
Thank you very much,
  Matt

Answer
Hi, Matt:

Nice to hear from you.  I will try to assist.

First of all, there are some airlines that do not have a 3.0 GPA for internship applicants....one of them is Southwest Airlines.  I have noticed that some of their internships require a 2.5 GPA, for example....check on Flight Operations for Summer, 2008.  If you go to the Southwest Airlines main website and then click on "careers" at the bottom of the main page...once at careers, page down to internships.

Second, some of the internships at Southwest specifically mention business....so, your minor in business should be enough to apply to those particular internships.

As far as I am aware, the Southwest Airlines intern program is one of the largest, but, other airlines are starting or have interns....you just have to check with each airline to see what they offer via their websites or by contacting their people or human resources departments.

One thought or piece of advice:  Your enthusiasm should show through in any application that you send to an airline, particularly an airline like Southwest (which hires, in part, based on the outgoing personality of the people who are applying).  So, make sure you show any airline that you really want to do an internship with them, that you want to learn about the airline industry and that you want to learn about their airline in particular. That will take you  a long way in ther interview process.

Good luck,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu