Hormel Foods

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    • World Headquarters – Austin, MN
    • Flagship Austin Plant – Austin, Minnesota
    • Algona Plant – Algona, Iowa
    • Alma Foods – Alma, Kansas
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    • Atlanta Plant – Tucker, Georgia
    • Beloit Plant – Beloit, Wisconsin
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    • Columbus Craft Meats – Hayward, California
    • Creative Contract Packaging – Aurora, Illinois
    • Dan’s Prize, LLC.
    • Dold Foods – Wichita, Kansas
    • Fontanini Foods – McCook, Illinois
    • Fort Smith Plant – Fort Smith, Arkansas
    • Fresno Plant – Fresno, California
    • Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc.
    • Knoxville Plant – Knoxville, Iowa
    • Lloyd’s Barbeque Company – Mendota Heights, Minnesota
    • Logistic Services, LLC.
    • MegaMex Foods, LLC.
    • Osceola Food – Osceola, Iowa
    • Papillion Foods – Papillion, Nebraska
    • Progressive Processing – Dubuque, Iowa
    • Rochelle Foods – Rochelle, Illinois
    • Skippy Foods – Little Rock, Arkansas
    • Swiss American Sausage Company – Lathrop, California
    • Suffolk Plant – Suffolk, Virginia
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Gain hands-on experience. Earn competitive wages. Make connections that could lead to a job after graduation. Completing an internship at Hormel Foods could be the best career decision you’ll ever make.
We are honored to be recognized among the top 150 best internship programs in the nation.
Why ChooseHormel Foods?
Our experience-based internship program is designed with your growth in mind! You will do meaningful work with iconic brands and develop your professional skills while working for a Fortune 500 company.
During a three- or six-month, full-time internship, you will have the unique opportunity to:

• Manage company projects independently with support from our talented staff;
• Network with peers and employees of various levels in different departments;
• Participate in strategy sessions with industry leaders;
• Receive competitive pay and housing / relocation assistance;
• Learn about career paths that only a sustainable and international company such as Hormel Foods can offer;
• Increase your potential to land a full-time job; and
• Participate in social events designed to increase connection and create lasting memories of an unforgettable internship with Hormel Foods.
  

TheInternship Experience
Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. At Hormel Foods, we offer meaningful paid internship opportunities to help them get started.
As an intern, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-life work situations. Your work will directly contribute to the success of our company.
Internships may be located at our corporate office in Austin, Minn., or at one of our manufacturing plants or sales offices around the United States. We actively recruit for internship positions during the fall and winter months, but occasionally post internships during other times of the year.
Experience-based internship program
3 or 6-month opportunities
85
%
interns offered full-time
upon completion of their internships
Opportunity to work for a Fortune 500 company
Meaningful real-world work with iconic brands
Networking Opportunities
with leaders, team members & interns across the company
Our Values
We seek out talented people whose values align with our own. They drive our global enterprise and help us create an inclusive team environment of accountability.

• We earn trust in every relationship.
  

We listen and engage – we create value for all our stakeholders.

• We play for the whole team.
  

We lead with intent, appreciate differences and have each other’s backs – we win as one team.

• We act like owners.
  

We own the outcome – we move with speed to deliver results that matter.

• We do the right thing.
  

We act with integrity in all we do – we prioritize safety, quality and transparency.

• We originate what’s next.
  

We stay true to our founder’s call to “Originate don’t imitate” – we lead with curiosity and explore what’s possible.
Internship OpportunitiesAcross These Departments
Our organization of 19,000 strong believes in investing in the future. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. This is why we are proud to offer a variety of internships annually to support various areas of our business.
Foodservice Sales Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will be responsible for calling on a variety of existing foodservice customers with the objective of increasing sales for their district; add products into distribution and expand the usage of existing Hormel Foods products.
Preferred major(s): Marketing, Professional Selling, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Hospitality or Hotel/Restaurant Management or relevant degree program
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship
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Marketing Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will gain real world experience in Brand Management Marketing. Developing and executing marketing plans. Developing plans to increase brand penetration, pricing strategies and advertising projects.
Preferred major(s): Marketing
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship
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Industrial Engineering Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will work in various departments and throughout the plant to Identify opportunities for improvements by performing ergonomic job surveys, analyzing operations, reviewing job loads, and making recommendations. Identify improvements to work methods by reviewing the methods and analyzing potential method/design changes. Analyze operations and create AutoCAD layouts. Evaluate downtimes and methods to increase efficiency. Evaluate, recommend and install new equipment and layouts.
Preferred major(s): Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology, Engineering Technology or a related field
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship or 6-month co-op
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Maintenance Engineering Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will gain real world experience by performing the duties of their full-time engineering counterparts, supervising maintenance personnel and directing the modification, improvement and installation of high-tech equipment in a manufacturing facility to maximize equipment and facility productivity at minimum cost.
Preferred major(s): Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related engineering field
Preferred GPA: Minimum 2.7 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship or 6-month co-op
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Production Management Internship
Internship Opportunities
Review production processes against the current Process Specification Summary. Assist Production Supervisors with information gathering to optimize performance. Document job descriptions for key positions, identifying major accountabilities. Assist with the supervision of a staff of approximately 15-30 employees. The position is very hands-on – supervisors are usually in the production area “on-their-feet” about 80% of the shift.
Preferred major(s): Supply Chain, Operations, Business Administration, Agribusiness, Management, Industrial Management, or related field
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship
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Live Production Internship
Internship Opportunities
Will gain real world experience in poultry management. Daily management of a poultry flock where you’ll analyze capital and labor expenses to ensure flock costs are met. Design, execution, and analysis of your own project, depending on your interests and our needs.
Preferred major(s): Science, Business or Agricultural related major
Preferred GPA: Minimum 2.7 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship or 6-month co-op
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Food Safety & Quality Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will gain real world experience in the successful manufacturing of food products by performing the duties of their full-time Food Safety & Quality. This includes supporting management in the implementation of food safety and food quality processes and procedures.
Preferred major(s): Food Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Business, Management, or related field
Preferred GPA: Minimum 2.7 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship or 6-month co-op
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Supply Chain Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will gain real world experience in one of the following areas: Transportation, Procurement, Warehouse, or Demand Planning.
Preferred major(s): Supply Chain Management
Preferred GPA: Minimum 2.7 cumulative, preferred 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship
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R&D Packaging Engineering Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will be involved in one or more of the following assignments: Enter data into our packaging specification database system, Evaluate barrier and abuse characteristics of various packaging materials, Collaborate with suppliers concerning various packaging systems for our products, Coordinate “Machine Trial Orders” as part of a label development, Assist our Packaging Engineers in conducting various abuse tests such as drop, vibration and shipping tests, Assist in the design of creative packaging options involving point of purchase and Club store displays.
Preferred major(s): Packaging Engineering
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship or 6-month co-op
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R&D Product Development Internship
Internship Opportunities
Intern projects may include Product formulation, Process/Product Troubleshooting, Testing new ingredients and processes, Conducting meat quality audits, Preparing and presenting food prototypes for review by sales, marketing, operations and research & development (R&D).
Preferred major(s): Food Science or another related field
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship
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Information Technology Internship
Internship Opportunities
Interns will be involved in one or more of the following activities: Infrastructure management, Data science and analytics, Web development and support, Cyber security, Business analysis and project management.
Preferred major(s): Management of Information Systems (MIS) or related field
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship
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Insights & Analytics Internship
Internship Opportunities
Will work with the Brand Fuel Consumer Insights team on category and brand assignments to develop consumer engagement plans. Will gain exposure to and understanding of consumer and customer research components of category and brand thought leadership initiatives, analyzing various data/information sources to develop recommendations for brand growth opportunities.
Preferred major(s): Business Administration, Marketing, Statistics, Marketing Research or Marketing Analytics or related major fields
Preferred GPA: Minimum 3.0 cumulative
Length of program: 3-month summer internship
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Recruiting Process
Recruitment Timeline
Internship opportunities are posted in the fall at the start of the academic year for the following summer. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions have been filled.
Position availability will vary per role and could fluctuate based on the business needs of Hormel Foods.
Our teams visit universities across the country during the fall and spring semesters to find top talent to join our organization. Come say hello if you see us on campus!
Follow our employer page on Handshake to be notified when new job opportunities are posted.
Eligibility Requirements

• At least 18 years old
• Completed junior year of college education (1 to 2 semesters left after completing internship)
• Must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer.
• Must not now, or at any time in the future, require employer sponsorship for a work visa. (No OPT/CPT)
• Meet cumulative GPA preference dependent on the position
• Access to reliable transportation to get to and from work location
• For positions that require the use of a personal or company vehicle, a valid U.S. Driver’s License is required
• For the positions that require preparation and/or consumption of Hormel Foods products, must be comfortable with pork, beef, chicken, turkey, and nuts.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Committed to working in an environment that values integrity, diversity and sustainability
• Innovative spirit that matches our own
• Dedicated work ethic and growth mindset
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• And of course… passionate about food!
  

Internship FAQs
Duration
Hormel Foods offers 3-month summer internships and 6-month co-op opportunities. Interns can expect to work 40 hours per week.
The summer internship program typically runs from the day after Memorial Day in May to the first or second week in August (10-12 weeks).
Location
Depending on the position, you will be located at our corporate office in Austin, Minn., or at one of our manufacturing plants or sales offices around the United States.
In most instances, location is determined at the time an offer is made, and the candidate must be open to relocation.
Expect your internship to be primarily on-site. Hormel Foods does not currently offer remote internship opportunities.
Compensation
This is a paid internship program. Wages vary by position are included in job postings. Interns are paid weekly.
Eligible business expenses incurred during the internship can be submitted for reimbursement.
Housing
Austin, MN-based interns are provided housing for the duration of their internship. Housing may be an apartment-style dorm on the local community college campus OR a local apartment. The cost of this is covered by Hormel Foods. In most cases, interns are provided their own room within the apartment, but the apartment is typically shared with 2-4 other interns. There are some cases where room sharing is necessary.
Plant and sales office interns based outside of Austin, MN will be provided a one-time lump sum prior to your start date. The actual amount varies by location. You will be responsible for securing your own housing, but Hormel Foods will share any resources available to assist you with your search.
Hormel Foods will also reimburse you for expenses related to moving to and from your origin destination including mileage and meals, lodging and/or flights if necessary.
Orientation
You will attend our Inspired Intern orientation program during the first week of the internship to learn more about our organization, initiatives and policies, as well as get to know other interns and team members.
Your team will be responsible for the bulk of your training related to your specific job responsibilities.
Professional Development
Hormel Foods wants to help all our team members grow and achieve their professional goals. We provide two critical resources to all interns to assist you in your professional development – a supervisor and mentor.
Your supervisor trains and coaches you on job specific responsibilities and projects. They also manage your daily activities and provide feedback on a regular basis throughout the internship.
Your mentor provides coaching and support in navigating the professional work environment.
We encourage interns to focus on learning and demonstrating growth during their internship and to meet with both their supervisor and mentor regularly.
Formal evaluations will be completed throughout the internship to track progress and deliver performance feedback.
Intern Appreciation Week & Capstone Project
Near the end of the summer, we bring all our interns together for a week of celebration at our corporate headquarters in Austin, Minn. We call it Intern Appreciation Week.
The week is a mix of networking, fun, and appreciation, and interns are able to showcase their learning through presenting their capstone projects to senior leadership. Giving back is what we do, so we also organize a philanthropic project with a local partner to engage interns to support and help our local community.
Post-Program Placement
The Hormel Foods internship program provides a strong pipeline for entry-level career opportunities after graduation.
Upon successful completion of your internship, you may receive an offer for permanent employment. Open positions for entry-level careers vary depending on the business needs of Hormel Foods at the current time. Strong internship performance is required for eligibility.
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