If you’re looking for the answers to the questions posted below, check out our follow up post Q&A with Greg Muccio on Internships and Southwest Airlines. If you still have questions, feel free to post them in the comments in case we do another round of Q&A with Greg.
A little over a year ago we featured internships at Southwest Airlines. It’s been one of our more popular post, and it’s resulted in some active discussion in the comments section. Luckily, someone from Southwest has chimed in to answer some of the questions of One Day, One Internship readers. His name is Greg Muccio, and he is the South West Airlines Team Leader responsible for short-term staffing including college relations and hiring for their NoLimits Intern program. He previously worked as a Senior Recruiter supporting the hiring needs of areas such as Finance, Internal Audit, Schedule Planning, and People (HR) for all of their hiring needs, and before that he worked in the Staffing Industry.
Greg is in charge of recruiting for an internship program that gets thousands of applicants every year, so he knows a thing or two about what it takes to get a highly sought after internship. He also knows about working at a company with a storied corporate culture (how many textbooks has Southwest Airlines been featured in?).
Ask Greg Anything
After answering a few questions on our original post about Southwest Airlines, Greg reached out to me and said that he’d love to do a Q&A with the wider One Day, One Internship audience. He’d prefer to focus on general internship and career related questions, but if you have a great question that’s not related to Southwest or internships, I’m sure that he’ll be happy to answer it.
Right now, we’ll be accepting questions through the comments form below. We’ll keep the comments form open for the next week or so, and we’ll try to get Greg’s responses posted during the week of November 16th. He probably won’t be able to answer all of your questions, but we’ll do our best to have him answer the most interesting and relevant ones.
Start asking!
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, Greg. I’m from the DFW area and am very familiar with the greatness of Southwest! I have a general internship question for you:
I graduated from college back in 2002 but am now looking at internships as a way to make a career transition after recent well-known economic events fueled my personal motivation to change my career track a little bit. I have lots of skills that transfer to other job titles but little knowledge of the industries I want to be in, and I’m lacking a few industry-specific skills, so internships seem like a good way for me to get that experience. I’m running into two problems: Nearly all internships say they are open only to current students or recent grads, and I’m always afraid employers will look at my years of professional work experience and brand me “overqualified.” Do you have any recommendations for finding an internship that will fit me as an “adult” intern, and do you think employers will indeed see me as overqualified, even though I would be applying for internships clearly not in my field of expertise?
Dear Greg Muccio:
I came across this opportunity from Syracuse University’s Job Posting Site. I am very interested in interning with Southwest because since freshman year I have always learned in many of my classes that Southwest is one of the top leaders in its industry.
I am currently a junior majoring in accounting and finance at Syracuse University. After reviewing the different opportunities Southwest has to offer, I am interested in the Internal Audit internship because it is aligned with my future goals.
I would like to learn more about the internship program. My questions are as follows:
How long is the internship program? I understand that it is full time but if the semester ends in May, when do I start and when do I end?
Also, what kind of training do interns at the internal audit division typically go through before starting to work?
Lastly, what kind career opportunities does southwest offer after the internship?
Thank you for your time and cooperation.
-Rico K Setyo
How should we present ourselves at interviews? What should we say? Should we take a risk and be lightly humorous and fun on our cover letters?
If I’m applying for things like marketing, and have no formal working experiences, what kind of experiences or skills should I include in my resume?
When and where do I send in my cover letter, unofficial transcript, essay:”Why Southwest Airlines” and letters of recommendation?
I am a student at Michigan State University, and I am majoring in marketing and specializing in both Entrepreneurship and Information Technology. I recently applied for an internship with Southwest because I know this is a company that will allow me to reach my full potential, while allowing interns to have great experiences. However, like you said there are thousands of applicants, and I was wondering how do I make myself stand out among the rest? I know that my resume is in line for the internship, but how do I make sure my resume does not get over looked?
Thank you,
Nicholas Pingtella
Are the flight benefits for Southwest Airline Interns also available for their family and close friends?
How is my resume processed and reviewed after I submit my application?
Thousands of students apply to the No Limits Internship Program. What qualities, characteristics, cover letters, and resumes rise above the other applications?
Southwest is a fun-luving company. Is it acceptable to use this relaxed attitude and loves life attitude within a cover letter?
Stereotypes are rough, accounting especially. I hope that I can bring an energetic creative style to the Internal Audit department and break freeeeee from downer stereotypes.
if a job entails skills A B C D E F
should i put on my resume A A B B C or should i put A B C D E ??
(in other words, do you just want me to demonstrate the breadth of my skills or would you rather have someone w/ lots of experience in one thing)
also, what’s the line between too proud and confident on a resume??
Greg,
Is there any possibility there may be college internships in the Orlando-McCoy airport for 2010? I would not be able to get to Dallas, Texas as my vehicle is not reliable enough for that type of trip. I attend the University of Central Florida in Orlando and need to find an Internship within the area. Thank you.
Dear Greg,
I’m a sophomore in University of Texas at El Paso. I’m majoring in Economics and Finance and I heard about the Southwest Internship. I wanted to do one in the summer when I’m off or next fall while I’m a junior. I looked at the southwest site and I couldn’t find any job listings. Where can I see a list and how would I go about applying?
hey greg, when will southwest start hiring at the new airport in florida?
Hi Greg,
Do you’ll offer internships to international students in particular undergraduate students…..any link will be helpfull.
Dear Greg
I am a graduate student at the University of North Texas majoring in Accounting(audit) and will be Texas CPA eligible in May 2010. I expect to graduate December 2010 and have been looking to secure an internship in internal audit in the DFW area. I just needed some information about Southwest’s internship policy regarding international students. I would be grateful for any information from you.
Thank you.
You’re all idiots to think SW has employees surfing blogs looking for interns to hire. If you want a job, take it up with the airline directly. If you have a question, look for the answer on the company website; it’s probably already been answered.
What makes a resume/cover letter (especially cover letter) stand out to you? Also, what makes you immediately disregard a candidate?
Dear Greg,
I know it sounds cheesy but it is my dream to work for Southwest Airlines when I graduate next year from college. My major is Human Resource Management with minors in General Business and Spanish. I just wanted to know how much the internship prepares you for a full-time job with Southwest. If one were to intern with Southwest would they have a higher chance at working for them full-time?
Thank you
Ashley Elder
Kevin, you’re calling people idiots, yet you aren’t able to realize that Greg actually took the time to answer many of these questions here: http://www.onedayoneinternship.com/blog/qa-with-greg-muccio-on-internships-and-southwest-airlines/
What is the age requirement for being an intern?
Hello Greg,
Firstly, I want to thank you for being so kind to answer so many doubts of aspiring interns. Greg, I had a final interview on friday, 22nd September. I was wondering when I would be notified if I have been considered for the post or no. Again, thank you for all your time and consideration.
Hello,
Do you have any internships, and or positions, at Southwest that is related to a buyer or purchaser?
Thanks so much!
what type of housing is available or is there some allowance for rooming if coming from another city?
Dear Mr. Muccio,
I am a senior at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, I have been looking at Southwest Airlines NoLimits Internship but have found no current opening or further information. When does Southwest accept applications for the program and are there any majors in particular that Southwest is looking for? In hopes that you receive this message, considering the age of this Q&A forum, I thank you for your time and consideration
Sincerely,
James
Hi! What is your email to get in contact about interning this coming summer 2011?
I’d like to talk one on one and get more information about this incredible opportunity~
Thank you,
Briana
When will the posting for the 2011 internship program take place?
Dear Greg Muccio
I was wondering if Southwest Airlines offer internships opportunities to international students.
Thank you for your time
-Jess Liu
Dear Greg Muccio,
I was wondering if Southwest Airlines offered Summer 2011 internships in Chicago. Please let me know and thank you for your time!
Ellen
Dear Mr. Muccio,
I am a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in Operations Management, I have been looking at Southwest Airlines NoLimits Internship opportunities online and have found some internship postings for this fall in Dallas but was wondering if there would be any for this upcoming summer. I hope you receive this and would greatly appreciate and further guidance.I thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Tim
Dear Greg,
I am a student at San Jose State University, and looking for an summer internship at the Southwest Airlines in San Jose, California. I am extremely looking forward to joining the team! Please feel free to contact me! Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Victoria
Dear Mr. Muccio,
I am an aviation enthusist living in Dallas and I have been looking at Southwest Airlines NoLimits Internship but have found no current opening or further information. When does Southwest accept applications for the program and are there any majors in particular that Southwest is looking for? In hopes that you receive this message, considering the age of this Q&A forum, I thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Joseph EJJ
Dear Greg,
I just completed my undergraduate degree program in Banking and Finance from the University of Buea, and a professional program(Airline Finance and Accounting Management)
with IATA’s Training and Development Institute (ITDI). I write to inquire of the possibility of undertaking an internship with Southwest Airlines starting from the beginning of January 2013.
Accept, while waiting the assurances of my highest regards and deep obligations.
Sincerely,
ARS