Launch Your Career: Internship Opportunities at Intuitive

Intuitive, a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, offers a range of internship opportunities for students and recent graduates. These internships provide hands-on experience, challenging projects, and the chance to contribute to the future of healthcare. This article delves into what makes Intuitive's University Hiring Programs (UHP) stand out, the experiences you can expect as an intern, and how to maximize your chances of securing a coveted spot.

A Fresh Approach to University Hiring

Intuitive's commitment to innovation extends to its recruitment strategies. In the spring of 2021, MJ Perez, a seasoned recruiting leader, joined Intuitive as the global head of university programs. Her mission was to revamp the intern recruiting strategy and take it to the next level. With nearly a decade of experience at Apple and previous roles at companies like Grant Thornton, Cisco Systems, and AMD, MJ brought a wealth of knowledge and a passion for talent acquisition.

Just over a year later, MJ has grown Intuitive’s University Hiring Programs (UHP) 144% and is already hard at work improving the program even more for the next season. She works alongside a dedicated team, including Mary Saetern, who joined Intuitive as an associate recruiter and has risen to UHP program manager. Mary emphasizes the collaborative environment at Intuitive, stating, "It’s been a great place to work… I just love how well people collaborate here. It shows that everyone really cares."

What to Expect as an Intuitive Intern

Intuitive's UHP is designed to provide interns with a comprehensive and rewarding experience. Here's what you can expect:

Onboarding and Cohort Experience

To facilitate networking and camaraderie, Intuitive organizes three onboarding dates, creating distinct cohorts of approximately 60 students each. This allows interns to build relationships with their peers and share their experiences.

Read also: Diploma in Surgical Tech

Social and Networking Opportunities

Intuitive provides numerous opportunities for interns to socialize and network with each other, as well as with company leaders. These include professional development events and an executive speaker series. In-person events are strategically planned around National Intern Day, featuring social events tailored for MBAs, graduate-level students, and undergraduate students, including their mentors and managers.

Mentorship and Relationship Building

Building relationships is highly encouraged at Intuitive. Mentors play a crucial role in connecting interns with other team members and internal partners. Interns are encouraged to attend meetings and network as much as possible, not just for potential job opportunities but to expand their professional network and gain valuable insights.

Impactful Projects

Interns at Intuitive are given the opportunity to work on impactful and technical projects designed by managers and connected to Intuitive’s larger goals. These projects provide real-world experience and allow interns to contribute to the company's mission of improving patient outcomes.

The Intuitive Culture

One of the most appealing aspects of Intuitive is its company culture. MJ describes the people as "great" and the leadership as "high integrity, very down-to-earth, very transparent." She emphasizes the importance of believing in the leadership of the company where she works.

Mary echoes this sentiment, highlighting the leaders who have been with the company since its early days and their genuine care for the mission. She also notes the company's growth and the abundance of opportunities for career development.

Intuitive's culture is driven by passionate people who want to make a difference. The company believes in supporting happy and healthy teams, and benefits extend far beyond hourly pay or salary.

Securing an Internship at Intuitive

Intuitive employs a unique approach to recruitment, prioritizing character, capacity, energy, and experience (C-C-E-E). Here's how the process typically works:

Hiring Manager Screen

Hiring managers (HMs) initiate the process by reaching out to potential interns for an initial screening. If the HM finds promising candidates, they connect with a recruiter to schedule longer interviews and involve other team members.

Super Day (for Select Roles)

For certain roles, such as finance, mechanical engineering, and MBAs, Intuitive conducts a "Super Day." This involves a group of prospective interns meeting with multiple individuals within a short timeframe. Prescreening is conducted before Super Day.

The C-C-E-E Rubric

Intuitive uses the C-C-E-E rubric to evaluate candidates. This framework assesses:

Character: Problem-solving skills and accountability. Inquiries might include, “Tell me about a mistake you made and how you figured it out and fixed it.”
Capacity: The ability to learn and grow.
Energy: Proactive and willing to help. Inquiries might include, “Tell me about a time when you jumped in to help on something when you weren’t asked.” Note that energy doesn't mean you have to be bouncing off the walls.
Experience: Skills and knowledge relevant to the role.

Intuitive is "school agnostic," meaning they recruit from a wide range of universities. In one year, 80 different schools were represented in the intern class.

Adaptability and Asking Questions

Adaptability and the ability to ask questions are highly valued. Interns who can navigate ambiguous situations with grace and proactively seek clarification are more likely to succeed.

Available Internship Roles

Intuitive offers internships in various departments. One example is the Manufacturing Software Engineering team. As a Manufacturing Software Engineering intern, you will design and develop the software and algorithms to support and automate product manufacturing to assure each product’s performance and safety.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Intuitive's UHP, candidates must meet the following requirements:

University Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in and returning to an accredited degree-seeking academic program after the internship.
Internship Work Period: Must be available to work full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) during a 10-12 week period starting May or June. Specific start dates are shared during the recruiting process.

Specific roles may have additional requirements. For example, the Manufacturing Software Engineering intern role typically requires current enrollment in an Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, or related) degree-seeking program at the undergraduate, Masters or PhD level.

Additional Tips for Finding Internship Opportunities

While Intuitive's UHP is a fantastic option, here are some additional strategies for finding internship opportunities:

Online Platforms: Utilize online platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor to search for internships.
University Resources: Consult your university's career services department for exclusive internship resources and connections.
Networking Events and Career Fairs: Attend networking events and career fairs to meet recruiters and learn about opportunities.
Social Media: Follow companies you're interested in on social media and engage with their content.
Alumni Network: Reach out to alumni through your university's alumni association or networking events.
Faculty Connections: Build relationships with professors in your field of interest.

A Final Word of Caution

Be aware of recruitment scams. Fraudulent job offers are sometimes sent to candidates by individuals posing as representatives of companies. Always verify the legitimacy of job offers before providing any personal information.

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