What does an operations internship do?

Operations interns learn the management techniques on how to lead and supervise others. Interns usually gain experience by being an unpaid employee in the operational department. They should possess skills like attention to detail, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and strong phone presence. The operations internship objectives include career path exploration, work experience, skills development and refinement, and confidence buildup. The majority of the activities interns are absorbed by the company where they serve an internship.
Operations internship responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real operations internship resumes:
- Manage SharePoint database and spreadsheet for coverage opinion bills.
- Manage the month-end financial statement reporting process, including journal entry preparation, and account reconciliations.
- Implement request template, CSS, and JavaScript changes to existing site.
- Process request through an electronic queue for client's website changes using asp, JavaScript, and HTML languages.
- Develop 3D models & renderings in Revit & Photoshop.
- Develop scripts in perl to enhance the pre-building and building process of software.
- Assign to renovation projects to provide asbestos air monitoring per OSHA and EPA regulations.
- Research and create local documents and procedures in accordance with OSHA regulations and compliance information.
- Design new parts and systems to make machines run more efficiently using SolidWorks and other programs.
- Process phone and email service requests from users needing assistance with the computer applications support by CSS.
- Provide object-oriented design, programming and implementation support to the faculty computer system, written in SQL and Java.
- Assist in the transition to an electronic filing system using Microsoft SharePoint
- Experience writing systems utilizing embed Linux (Microcross GX-Linux distribution).
- Monitor and control inventory, balancing negatives and implementing proper POS etiquette.
- Plan and execute digital marketing campaign on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Operations internship skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Operations Interns are proficient in Operations Intern, Customer Service, and Work Ethic. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Management skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Operations Interns that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Operations Intern, 19%
Selected from hundreds of applicants to participate in a twelve-week marketing & operations internship program designed to develop core professional competencies.
- Customer Service, 14%
Maintained quality control/satisfaction records, constantly seeking new ways to improve customer service as well as database efficiency and consistency.
- Work Ethic, 6%
Promoted to full-time position for demonstrating exceptional work ethic and strong dedication.
- Patients, 6%
Assisted in operating room preparation and educating patients on procedures prior to surgery and teaching them about post-operative care.
- Project Management, 5%
Supported project management team in completion of operational improvement projects and provided administrative support to two hospital interdisciplinary committees.
- Process Improvement, 4%
Integrated quickly into a team tasked with investigating, recommending, planning and implementing process improvements in manufacture of proximity sensors.
Most operations interns use their skills in "operations intern," "customer service," and "work ethic" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential operations internship responsibilities here:
Leadership skills. One of the key soft skills for an operations internship to have is leadership skills. You can see how this relates to what operations interns do because "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." Additionally, an operations internship resume shows how operations interns use leadership skills: "gained experience in leadership, event planning, and problem solving. "
Time-management skills. operations interns are also known for time-management skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to operations internship responsibilities, because "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." An operations internship resume example shows how time-management skills is used in the workplace: "updated the sharepoint website for the operations control (oc) team and met required deadline. "
Communication skills. A big part of what operations interns do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to operations internship responsibilities because "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical operations internship tasks: "concert set-up/break downeducation workshop assistancefront desk assistanceinterpretive ranger radio communicationsculpture tour guidevan driver"
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for an operations internship to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what operations interns relies on this skill, since "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." How this skill relates to operations internship duties can be seen in an example from an operations internship resume snippet: "improved and optimized current process based on analysis, through pareto analysis, continuous data collection, and solution implementation. "
The three companies that hire the most operations internships are:
- JBS USA91 operations interns jobs
- Oracle48 operations interns jobs
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services39 operations interns jobs
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Operations internship vs. Summer analyst
Summer analysts are people who undertake an internship within a banking institution. These professionals perform analyses of detailed financial and corporate information. They establish statistical exhibits analyzing comparative financial performance. It is their responsibility to create models illustrating projected financial results, which is of great value to the companies. The skills necessary for this job include knowledge of financial statements, equity, portfolio companies, and financial models. They should also develop due diligence, strong communication, asset allocation knowledge, and attention to detail.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, operations internship responsibilities require skills like "operations intern," "customer service," "work ethic," and "patients." Meanwhile a typical summer analyst has skills in areas such as "capital markets," "financial analysis," "risk management," and "first hand." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, summer analysts reach higher levels of education than operations interns. Summer analysts are 5.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Operations internship vs. Business development internship
A business development intern is responsible for supporting the organization's goals and objectives in providing the best services to clients and ensuring a smooth flow of operations with maximum productivity and efficiency. Business development interns observe the operational processes of the department and perform duties under the supervision of a direct manager or tenured staff. They also assist with the creation of new products and services, pitching strategies to promote them in the market, develop marketing campaigns, and creating proposals for business partnership purposes. A business development intern must be detail-oriented and highly organized to support daily operations.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that operations internship responsibilities requires skills like "operations intern," "customer service," "work ethic," and "patients." But a business development internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "powerpoint," "social media marketing," "crm," and "financial analysis."
Business development interns may earn a lower salary than operations interns, but business development interns earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $36,190. On the other hand, operations interns receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,232.business development interns earn similar levels of education than operations interns in general. They're 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Operations internship vs. Project management internship
When it comes to a project management internship, the tasks may vary on the organization or industry where one is involved. However, the primary duties are to provide administrative support by accomplishing tasks ranging from performing research and analysis, responding to inquiries and concerns, assisting in data entry and record-keeping, producing reports, and managing schedules. There are also instances where one must participate in crafting various promotional or project materials, which would be a great learning experience.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from operations internship resumes include skills like "operations intern," "work ethic," "patients," and "data entry," whereas a project management internship is more likely to list skills in "management," "leadership," "portfolio," and "human resources. "
Project management interns earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $40,498. Operations interns earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $40,232.When it comes to education, project management interns tend to earn similar degree levels compared to operations interns. In fact, they're 1.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Operations internship vs. Operations specialist
An operations specialist is responsible for optimizing the business' daily operations, ensuring smooth process flow to provide the best services to clients. Operations specialists' duties include analyzing business procedures, identifying opportunities for business improvement, tracking the department's metrics and activities, providing assistance to colleagues, suggesting strategies for operations efficiency, and managing customer's inquiries and complaints. An operations specialist must be an excellent team player and detail-oriented, as well as proven time-management and decision-making skills to meet clients' needs and support the business' objectives.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between operations interns and operations specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an operations internship might have more use for skills like "operations intern," "patients," "project management," and "administrative tasks." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of operations specialists require skills like "logistics," "basic math," "powerpoint," and "customer satisfaction. "
In general, operations specialists earn the most working in the government industry, with an average salary of $65,446. The highest-paying industry for an operations internship is the government industry.operations specialists reach similar levels of education compared to operations interns, in general. The difference is that they're 1.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of operations internship
Updated January 8, 2025











