What It’s Like to Intern for the LA Dodgers

Last night, the LA Dodgers clinched their second World Series Championship in five years, beating the New York Yankees four games to one in the best of seven series. Although winning the World Series certainly takes the talent of players like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts, it also takes an entire organization of off-the-diamond employees, including coaches and scouts as well as PR executives and communications professionals. And many of these professionals come up through the Dodgers organization through its internship programs. Which is why, in the aftermath of the Dodgers’ latest championship season, we thought we’d take a look at the Los Angeles Dodgers Emerging Talent Programs.

The Dodgers internship programs recently ranked among the top programs in Vault’s latest Internship Rankings. When it comes to securing hands-on experience in the sports industry, the Dodgers’ internship program is a grand slam for students looking to break into marketing, communications, PR, and other key sports, media, and entertainment roles. Today, we delve into what it’s really like to intern for one of baseball’s most storied franchises, featuring testimonials from past interns and insights into the specific roles and responsibilities across the organization. Let’s begin.

Spring Training and Summer League: Fellowships and Internships

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Emerging Talent Programs offer unparalleled dives into the sports industry, combining the team’s legacy with a learning-centric approach. The team offers 12-week internships during the summer as well as five-month fellowships from March to August. These programs allow students to work with front office and baseball operations teams, learning from top professionals in the field.

The programs are more than just resume boosters, providing interns with the opportunity to attend networking events, engage in team projects, and work alongside seasoned mentors as they immerse themselves in the dynamics of sports management. In addition to this, interns get the rare chance to build meaningful industry connections with one of the MLB’s most iconic franchises.

Dodgers interns can choose from several different paths, including Public Relations, Media, Customer Service, and Communications. Interns might find themselves editing video clips, compiling post-game notes, assisting in the production of Dodgers home games, researching statistics, or facilitating corporate contracts. Interns are paid competitive wages and enjoy a number of benefits, including housing stipends, flexible schedules, discounted tickets and merchandise, and game-day giveaway items (some interns, depending on role, are required to work during home games).

Inside Baseball: What It’s Like to Intern at One of Sports’ Top Franchises

Each year, to create our annual Internship Rankings, Vault surveys thousands of interns at hundreds of internship programs. This year, the LA Dodgers internships and fellowships was one of nearly 300 programs we surveyed. And in the course of the survey, what Dodgers interns told us overwhelmingly was that their internships were positive, engaging, supportive, exciting experiences that allowed them to gain hands-on experience while not burning out—they had a healthy work/life balance.

In terms of workplace culture, one Dodger intern told us, “Everything in terms of quality of life has been great. Everyone I’ve met has been super welcoming, and I feel like I can approach most people in the company if I ever have any questions.” Another intern cited the “good firm culture and work environment” as one of the best parts of their program. “Everyone was very communicative, and hours depended on whether it was a game day or not, but I had some flexibility if something came up.”

The Dodger’s Emerging Talent Programs also provide interns with opportunities for professional development and mentorship. One intern told us, “I felt engaged and challenged by my assignments and learned a lot of new technical skills in the field of video editing and motion graphics.” Another intern said, “I was always engaged with my work and never felt bored doing any of it.”

The organization places emphasis on networking, with an intern commenting, “I’ve been networking with the countless number of staff members, which has given me insight into other departments.” With regards to collaboration, an intern mentioned there were opportunities to work with multiple departments, saying, “I received an abundance of guidance from both people on my production team and those outside of my own department.”

Previous interns offered advice for those thinking of applying for the Dodgers’ Emerging Talent Programs: “Be willing to learn something new every day,” “don’t be afraid to ask questions,” “take advantage of the opportunity by going outside of your department,” and “be open-minded.” Those who’ve experienced the programs first-hand emphasized the accepting nature of the environment, saying that “incoming interns should know that they will be very much a part of the team during their time here.”

Getting Called Up: What It Takes to Land a Spot on the Team

The application deadline for both Internship and Fellowship programs is early January 2025. Those interested in applying should maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, and the Emerging Talent Programs accept applications from students currently enrolled in their first, second, or third years of college. Recent graduates, graduate students, and business school students may also apply. The Dodgers also accept international students and will provide a housing stipend to help lessen the burden of travel.

Previous interns have provided insight into the hiring process, explaining that there is typically “one phone screening, one group interview, and one final interview,” and that the hiring process took about two weeks. Those students and recent grads interested in applying should prepare for common interview questions such as those “related to experience, interest in the role, and outlook/goals in life.” Common interview questions include “Tell us about yourself,” “Tell us about a past project you've worked on that you're particularly proud of,” “Tell us about a time when you had to work under pressure,” “What are your passions outside of school?” “Why do you want to work in sports/baseball/for the Dodgers?” And “What is a word you would use to describe yourself?” (For more on how to answer many of these questions, you can check out our newly updated Vault Guide to Behavioral Interviews.)

Extra Innings: Further Research and Reading

In our 2025 Internship Rankings, the Dodgers Emerging Talents Programs ranked No. 20 for Best Internships for LGBTQ+ Diversity. It also ranked among the top 50 Best Internships for Overall Diversity. For additional information about the Emerging Talents Programs including intern testimonials, internship hiring contacts, locations of internship programs, and more, check out the Dodgers’ Internship Profile on our website.