1 Popular internship programs at IKEA
Whether you are contributing to sustainable product design, enhancing digital retail platforms, or helping streamline the global supply chain, IKEA internships are designed to immerse students in meaningful projects that align with the company’s mission of creating a better everyday life for the many people. Interns are not given routine support tasks but are trusted to take ownership, work closely with international teams, and develop solutions that impact one of the world’s most recognized home furnishing brands.
1.1 Summer Internship Program
IKEA’s summer internship program typically runs for 10 to 12 weeks between June and August. It is open to students from diverse academic backgrounds including design, business, supply chain, information technology, sustainability, human resources, and marketing. Interns are placed on projects that connect directly to IKEA’s customer experience and business priorities, whether it is optimizing e-commerce platforms, improving circularity in product lines, or contributing to local community initiatives. The program also includes mentorship, leadership development workshops, and exposure to IKEA’s global corporate culture.
1.2 Co-op and Extended Internship Program
For students from universities with cooperative education structures, IKEA offers extended internships lasting from 4 to 6 months. These co-ops give students the opportunity to work on long-term projects such as inventory forecasting, energy efficiency in store operations, or digital transformation initiatives. The longer duration allows interns to contribute measurable outcomes and gain deeper exposure to IKEA’s way of working.
1.3 Design and Innovation Internship
As a company rooted in functional, affordable, and sustainable design, IKEA provides specialized internships for design students. This program places interns in product development and design teams, where they collaborate on concept creation, prototyping, and testing. Interns gain insight into how design, engineering, and sustainability intersect at scale to produce products that are both affordable and environmentally responsible.
1.4 Business and Retail Internship
IKEA’s business and retail internship focuses on store operations, merchandising, and customer engagement. Interns in this program may rotate through multiple functions such as sales planning, visual merchandising, and customer insights. The program emphasizes hands-on learning within IKEA’s retail spaces, providing exposure to how global strategy is executed at the local level.
1.5 Global Trainee Program
For students nearing graduation or recent graduates, IKEA offers a competitive Global Trainee Program. Though technically an early-career pathway, it builds on internship experience and spans 18–24 months with rotations across different functions and geographies. Trainees gain exposure to sustainability initiatives, digital transformation, supply chain optimization, and leadership development, making it a stepping stone to full-time leadership roles.
2 Popular roles for interns at IKEA
1. Data Engineer Intern: Data Engineer interns at IKEA contribute to building and maintaining scalable data systems. They may work on data pipelines, ensure data quality, and support analytics platforms that drive decision-making across digital, supply chain, and customer operations.
2. Search Product Intern: Search Product interns focus on improving the digital shopping experience by optimizing product search and discovery features. Their work may involve analyzing search behavior, testing algorithms, and collaborating with product teams to refine user journeys on IKEA’s platforms.
3. Procurement Excellence Intern: Procurement interns support sourcing strategies and vendor management. They may assist in evaluating supplier performance, streamlining procurement processes, and contributing to initiatives aimed at increasing efficiency and sustainability in purchasing operations.
4. Accounting Intern: Accounting interns are involved in core finance activities such as reconciliations, journal entries, and compliance checks. They may also assist with audits, tax documentation, and reporting, giving them exposure to international financial processes within a large global retailer.
5. Product Team Intern (O2O): Product Team interns work on projects that integrate online and offline customer experiences. They may help design digital tools, analyze customer data, and test solutions that make IKEA’s retail journey more seamless and interconnected.
6. Data Business Analyst Intern: Business Analyst interns focus on interpreting and presenting data for strategic decisions. They may develop dashboards, run reports, and support projects in areas like inventory management, digital engagement, or operational performance.
7. Communication Intern: Communication interns assist in creating and delivering messaging across internal and external channels. They may draft newsletters, support campaigns, and contribute to brand storytelling that reflects IKEA’s values and global identity.
8. Supply Chain Intern (Protein Team): Supply chain interns work on logistics and category-specific sourcing initiatives. They may analyze supplier performance, monitor inventory flows, and contribute to projects that improve efficiency and sustainability across IKEA’s supply chain.
9. Market Relations Intern: Market Relations interns focus on building and managing partnerships with external stakeholders. They may assist in customer engagement campaigns, analyze competitor activity, or support business development strategies tailored to local market needs.
10. Facility Management Intern: Facility Management interns help ensure that IKEA’s physical spaces are safe, efficient, and sustainable. They may support energy efficiency initiatives, coordinate maintenance schedules, or analyze facility operations for cost and performance improvements.
11. Customer Relations Intern: Customer Relations interns focus on enhancing the in-store and digital customer experience. They may assist with service design, process improvements, and customer feedback analysis, ensuring that IKEA maintains strong engagement and loyalty.
12. Human Resources Intern (People & HR): HR interns support a wide range of people-focused initiatives. They may contribute to employee engagement, workforce planning, and absence management processes, gaining hands-on exposure to how HR supports both people and business needs.
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