Internship Opportunities

Working in our office, students build an extensive professional portfolio and gain valuable hands-on work experience in communications, public relations, marketing, photography and film. Email us at publicity@csusm.edu to inquire about open positions.

Social Media Internships

Are you a master at writing interesting content and taking popular Instagram photos? Do you write, use Photoshop or use mobile apps like nobody's business? Do you love CSUSM and want to tell others about what makes it so amazing? If so, the University Communications office invites you to apply for a position as the social media student assistant.

Our student web & social media intern(s) will help to curate and compose stories and content about Cal State San Marcos across a variety of social media platforms to many different audiences. The student assistant will work with our editorial team to measure and evaluate analytics and monitor channels for compliance with policies and guidelines.

Social media student assistant responsibilities include

Develop content for posting on the main university social media channels, including, but not limited to: Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
Provide suggestions and ideas for new campaigns or communications to engage followers.
Effectively share news and information about the university in a way that encourages fans and followers to watch, click or read.
Keep up-to-date on emerging social media platforms and provide suggestions on university use.
Conduct competitive analyses of peer institutions and how they are interacting with their social media following.
Measure and record analytics on key social media channels weekly.
Support various events and activities with pre-planned posts and live coverage on social channels.
Participate in brainstorming and planning sessions to create a posting schedule and plan.
Other duties as assigned.

Desired skills: Self-motivated, enthusiastic and love talking to people; professional integrity, good judgment and a thick skin; knowledge of what your peers share on social media; your personal or professional social media posts regularly get shares, retweets and likes. Prior experience with journalistic writing, graphic design, video production, blogging or social media brand use for a brand is helpful.

Qualifications

Strong written communications skills; must be able to write professional, concise and effective copy.
Knowledgeable and enthusiastic about CSUSM’s mission, programs, departments and services.
Must be able to represent the university in a professional manner, which includes appropriate work attire, correct spelling and grammar, good judgment and accurate information.
Must have superior organizational and planning skills.
Must be a current CSUSM student and be in good academic standing.
Must have a personal account on at least one of the following platforms: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok.
Availability to work 10-20 hours per week.

Hours: 10-20 hours per week, flexible.

How to apply

Answer the following questions and attach to application:

What social media applications do you use regularly? Which one is your favorite and why?
Name one company or individual whose social media strategy you admire. What do you think makes them successful?
Submit two original photos of CSUSM along with captions and appropriate hashtags. Your audience is a new CSUSM student attending summer orientation.

Email your resume, cover letter and responses to the above questions (optional, a link to your portfolio) to:
publicity@csusm.edu.

Photography student assistants

Are you looking to grow your professional portfolio? Do you enjoy photography and want to challenge yourself as a photographe and see your images published?

We are seeking an energetic and reliable student photographer to join our team in a paid student assistant position. Using artistic, creative and photographic skills, our student assistants capture and produce images that reflect the full range of activities at CSUSM. Photographs are used for commercial and promotional use in university publications, on the web and on official social media sites. Photography assignments and photo shoots are largely photojournalistic in style (photography that tells a story), but will also include event photography, editorial photography, architectural and landscape photography, and portrait photography, among others.

Photography student assistant responsibilities include:

Photograph university events, people, programs and topics for promotional use
Assist with official university photo shoots
Engage and interact with photography subjects and provide direction
Process and utilize post-production software programs and select the best work
Ensure that all pictures are appropriate, processed, catalogued and ready in time to meet deadlines (typical assignment turnaround is 48-72 hours)
Plan and strategize photo shoots with our creative team
Meet regularly with our editorial team to discuss assignments and review work
Students will receive photo credit for all photos used in print and web production
Photography student assistants typically work 10-15 hours a week, not exceeding 20 hours

Desired skills: Working knowledge and experience with photography and use of a DSLR; strong communication skills; positive attitude and a passion for working across multiple disciplines; ability to work under tight deadlines; flexible schedule. Applicants will be asked to share their portfolio of photography (in a print or digital format).

Qualifications: Applicants must be a current CSUSM undergraduate or graduate student in good standing.

How to apply

Email your resume, cover letter and portfolio/social media to:
ebreier@csusm.edu

Videography student assistants

Are you a creative storyteller interested in a career in the film industry? Are you looking to grow your professional portfolio while getting paid? Working on story development with our videographer, our student assistant videographer creates lively short videos that share the unique stories of CSUSM. These videos are posted on the university’s website and social media channels, and can be shared with local media outlets.

Videographer responsibilities include:

Film, interview, edit and produce videos for the university website, emails and social media
Responsible for high-caliber video documentation of campus life, recording select events and leading the artistic methods used to capture marketing messages for CSUSM
Make technical decisions regarding such elements as appropriate lighting, shooting angle and recording of audio
Develop and deploy compelling videos, assuring the highest quality video by delivering consistency in exposure, focus, audio levels and composition
Meet regularly to discuss and review storyboard concepts, filming objectives and production timeline (videos typically have a 3-4 week production timeline from filming to submission of final product)
Students will receive closing credit in videos

Desired skills: Filming and video editing experience; strong and thorough understanding of all aspects of cinematography and photography including production planning, project leadership, lighting techniques, audio recording, video/still camera operation techniques and post production editing; strong communication skills; positive attitude and a passion for working across multiple disciplines; ability to work under very tight deadlines. Applicants will be asked to share samples of completed video work.

Qualifications: Applicants must be a current CSUSM undergraduate or graduate student in good standing.

How to apply

Email your resume and link to your portfolio to:

Blair Houk
Multimedia Productions Specialist
bhouk@csusm.edu

Writing student assistants

Are you a creative storyteller? Are you looking to grow your professional portfolio while getting paid? Email Eric Breier, interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs, at ebreier@csusm.edu for information about writing internship opportunities in University Communications.