How to get a Tesla Internship

Tesla Motors is arguably one of the most innovative companies in the world. With the mission to “accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy,” the company is a pioneer in designing and manufacturing electric vehicles, battery energy stores, solar panels and many other products. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is continuing to reach a new level of success and profit. The company has weathered the pandemic better than other automotive companies after reporting a profit of $104 million in July. 

Tesla's workforce spans 9 countries and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. Other locations are as close as Fremont, CA and as far as Tokyo, Japan. With a growing base of 48,000 employees, Tesla has a constant need for top talent. Tesla’s internship program, targeted towards those pursuing an undergraduate or advanced degree, is intended to be a “talent pipeline program,” meaning that interns are being prepared for future careers at the company. This, unsurprisingly, makes an internship at the company one of the most common paths into a full-time opportunity-- if they hire you, they hope you'll develop into a more permanent member of the team.

The internship program allows students to work on new technologies and experimental projects related to electric vehicles and energy. With interesting roles and a big name to back them, this summer internship is highly sought after. Here’s your guide to securing one of these prestigious positions.

What to Know Before Applying

Find the right role

Tesla’s internships are offered on countless world-class teams throughout the company. According to tesla.com, one may apply for multiple roles. However, best practice dictates that you only apply to those that interest you and suit your previous work experience.

One of the biggest distinctions between potential roles is whether a certain role is technical or non-technical. Technical roles require specific knowledge related to programming languages, mathematical or scientific skills and other specific abilities.

Technical roles

For its technical roles, Tesla prefers candidates with backgrounds in areas such as automotive engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, manufacturing, and robotics. Of course, this isn’t an all inclusive list. However, it's important to note that many of these roles revolve around engineering teams.

Some opportunities for technical roles include:

• Vehicle Engineering - Design Engineering Internship (view here)
• Manufacturing - Engineering Internship (view here)
• Software - Integration Engineering Internship (view here)

Non-technical roles

Non-technical roles encompass almost everything else that wouldn’t require technical expertise. For these roles, Tesla prefers candidates with backgrounds in areas such as accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, and sales.

Some opportunities for non-technical roles include:

• Government Relations and Policy Internship (view here)
• Finance and Accounting Internship (apply here)
• HR and People Teams Internship (view here)

You can also view all open positions here.

When you should apply

Tesla hires for varying internships throughout the year. For the U.S.-based positions Tesla splits its hiring into three separate seasons: the Spring/Winter, Summer and Fall seasons. Depending on their hiring needs and candidates availability, internships can range anywhere from 3 to 12 months. Each position's recruiting cycle can last for up to four months once it is posted. Here’s when postings for each season can be expected: 

• Spring/Winter applications posted in early Fall the prior year
• Summer applications posted in early or mid-Fall the prior year
• Fall applications posted in early Spring/Winter the same year

It’s best to apply as soon as possible because of the dynamic nature of the company and its tendency to offer extended internship opportunities. This means that the same positions may not be offered in the Summer as in the Spring or Fall.

Getting an Interview

1. Ace the Application

The first step to getting an interview is to ace the application. Tesla takes all applications online and it’s a pretty straightforward process. 

You’ll upload your resume and include additional information requested via their online portal. Your resume is key here, so be sure to update it before submitting the application. Include relevant experience (this guide will tell you what to focus on) and ensure that it's the appropriate format.

2. Showcase Your Passion

Tesla's mission is important and the company is very passionate about it. They want to hire candidates who are dedicated and passionate as well. Throughout your application, highlight experiences that mean the most to you. It doesn't hurt if you had previous experience with cars or energy-- if you do, be sure to focus on them.

3. Using Networking and Campus Resources

It can also be helpful to use networking and campus resources in order to get an interview. Tesla does some recruiting from college campuses like the Ohio State University, so do some research to see if they attend any college fairs or expos near you. This is how one former intern got her initial interview with the company.

Tesla gets a ton of applications, so if you don’t hear back from them, you may not fit what they were looking for. If this happens but you met a recruiter at a fair, it could be helpful to follow up with them about your application. 

What Interviews Look Like

Tesla goes through two to three rounds of phone interviews, depending on the role. Interviews last for around 30 minutes to an hour. 

The first interview is typically with a recruiter and focuses on you, your experiences, and why you want to work at Tesla. One former intern said that you won’t be asked many technical questions, but you should be prepared to speak in-depth about the experiences on your resume. 

For following interviews, applicants typically speak with a manager or potential team members. This is a technical interview, so you’ll be asked more specific questions about your qualifications and relevant skill sets.

Be sure to answer questions thoroughly and show that you take ownership of your work. In addition to passion, Tesla wants to see your expertise and grit. 

Preparation is Key

Interviews can be a little nerve-wracking, especially if you go into it without much thought or preparation. Preparing yourself beforehand can calm your nerves, up your confidence and help you ace the interview.

The first round

Since the first interview is more focused on you and your experience, focus on how you’ll speak about your resume and answer behavioral questions. According to one CNBC article, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk likes to ask all potential employees this question: 

Another common question, according to a former Tesla recruiter, is:

The second round

The second interview focuses on specific roles and more technical questions, so being prepared for these is essential. The concepts you must know, of course, vary from role to role (i.e. a mechanical engineering and human resources applicant will have very different skill sets). In one article, a former intern who studied at Ohio State University said her second interview focused on key concepts in industrial engineering.

“A lot of the questions were based off of key concepts from Industrial Engineering. Many topics were pulled directly from ISE planning, process, and facility design course. Overall, I tried to remain clear and concise in my answers, asked for clarifications whenever stuck, and talked through my thought process. Ultimately, I think that strategy really helps the interviewee see one's chain of thoughts, progression of thoughts, and recognize where the holes are in their understanding. Oftentimes, when an interviewer asks tough technical questions, he/she is looking to understand your thoughts and see that you ask questions when you are uncertain.”

Lastly, you should be able to tell the interviewer what about Tesla makes you think you’d be a good fit. In order to answer this and other questions, you’ll want to know as much as possible about Tesla and why you want to work there. In the age of Google, it isn't difficult to learn about the ins-and-outs of the company, even before your first interview. You should learn about the specifics of the role and team you're applying for. It would also be helpful to know about the company's values and how they align with your own values. In addition, knowing about Tesla’s history and former or current projects is knowledge that will help inform your answers.

After the interview, you may be asked to write a final few paragraphs about why you would be a good fit at the company. Do your best work-- your answer will be sent to management, who is responsible for making the final hiring decision.

Receiving an Offer

When the interviews wrap up, the waiting game begins. Expect to hear back within a couple of weeks of your final round-- some candidates even hear back next day! Reach out to your recruiter if more than 2 weeks have passed. 

If you get an offer, expect a modest paycheck compared to giants like Google or Amazon. As one former intern points out, you won’t get rich from working at Tesla. According to a CNBC report, Tesla interns make a median monthly salary of $4,480, which is on the low-side compared to other bay area companies. However, many say the experience is worth the pay cut-- the work is exceedingly rewarding and everyone works on important problems.

In addition to a salary, Tesla may offer a relocation stipend to students whose academic institution is 50 miles or more from their work placement. The Gigafactor Nevada location even offers intern housing in some cases. 

What to Expect From the Program

If you made it this far, congratulations! Get ready to dive into an interesting and transformative experience. Interns aren't grabbing coffee or emptying waste bins, but are working on critical projects and getting hand-on experience that helps advance the company’s mission.

Unparalleled Experience

With their mission in mind, Tesla is revolutionizing the global automotive industry using an experimental approach, according to this Reuters article. This approach means launching technology that isn’t perfect (namely, electric cars), and then upgrading it, similarly to the way new smartphone technologies are updated and released.

Interns get familiar with this approach by working on projects that create tangible, influential results. One intern said

“Tesla still very much operates in a scrappy/start-uppy environment, which makes work exciting and ever-changing. There is no delay with ordering prototypes and getting them in. There is an underlying urgency to meet deadlines and exceed expectations in everything we do.”

Tobenna Wes, a former Design and Controls intern and co-op member at the Gigafactory 1, worked on two separate teams and many distinct projects. His first team worked on energy products and the second focused on the Model 3 battery Module, which in 2018 was said to be “most advanced large scale lithium battery ever produced. ”

Wes said he learned way more than expected in the first few weeks. He attributes this to the small projects his team assigned to him right off the bat. After successfully completing them, Wes started getting assigned to some solo projects.

“Through these projects, I did not only gain a lot of knowledge but more importantly, I also had a great chance to sharpen my skills in a professional working environment. I also trained and practiced by giving presentations, discussing with supervisors, experts in the field.”

Throughout their time at Tesla, interns also find mentors in their working groups, who often provide personal and professional guidance.

Big Commitments

With tons work to accomplish and expectations to meet, expect long hours. Many interns said it’s quite normal to work overtime; one former intern even estimated that 16-hour days are to be expected. The time is well worth it, however, as many interns come out of the experience with mostly positive and meaningful experiences. One intern said:

“You get to work on probably one of the coolest products in the world at the moment. You are constantly surrounded by hard workers who are smart and great problem solvers. You will be given responsibilities that will challenge and push you constantly. If you don't like to live in a state of challenge, Tesla is not for you.” 

This is no surprise, given Tesla's cultural emphasis on constant innovation and owning your work. Their values and work environment demand a strong commitment to the company. Read more about Tesla's culture here.