At SAS, diversity and inclusion are in our DNA. We have a multidimensional culture that blends our different backgrounds, perspectives and ideas from employees in 59 countries around the world. We want all our employees to feel confident that they can be their authentic selves and know that they will be respected and valued for their unique contributions. For us it’s not about fitting in to the culture – it’s about adding to it.
DID YOU KNOW?
1/59
children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
85%
under or unemployed rate of individuals with autism
500,000
autistic adolescents will be aging into adulthood over the next 10 years
63%
of autistic individuals have an exceptional talent or ability, often technical
SAS Autism Spectrum Internship Program
Too often, people with autism have a difficult time making it through a neurotypical hiring process due to struggles with communication skills, sensory issues, executive functioning or lack of confidence. The Autism Spectrum Internship Program provides a unique interviewing process and training program to help address these challenges – and bridge the gap between academic and on-the-job learning to aid in obtaining meaningful employment.
Learn more details about the program
Career Readiness & Onboarding
February – April
The interns will meet on-site or virtually starting in the spring semester to prepare them for working in a corporate environment. This includes paid professional development training, meeting with their teams and manager, getting a glimpse of their workspace, and participating in a mini-orientation. The purpose is to ease the transition from the classroom to the workplace and help equip interns with the information, resources and skills needed for a successful experience at SAS.
Summer Internship Experience
May – August
Our 10-12 week summer internship program takes place at our global headquarters in Cary, NC, beginning early May and typically ending in August. During this time, the interns work full-time in technical roles, such as software development, software testing, advanced analytics or a similar role.
Supportive and Inclusive Work Environment
We pair the interns with a buddy or mentor throughout the summer who they meet with periodically at an agreed-upon frequency. Interns also have ongoing check-ins with their managers. Collectively, the interns meet every two to three weeks with the program manager to talk through their challenges, successes and questions in a safe and inclusive environment.
Who Qualifies for the Autism Spectrum Internship Program?
- Those who self-identify as people with autism, Asperger’s or ASD or on the autism spectrum.
- Students in a US-based accredited degree program with at least one full semester of school left after the summer.
- Students with programming experience or skills, including but not limited to C, C++, C#, Java, Python, HTML, Javascript, SAS, R or others.
Recruiting Process & Timeline
- Applications will be open August-October 2020 for the summer 2021 internship program.
- Video on-demand interview via HireVue (questions are provided in advance).
- Phone screen with a recruiter to align expectations and interests.
- Top candidates will have phone interviews with hiring managers.
- Hiring takes place by early to mid-November.
- Career readiness and onboarding starts in February 2021.
Hear from #ActuallyAutistic student interns
“I applied to SAS' internship program for the opportunity to be authentically autistic after years of hiding it in public. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime."
Chris Rackley • Design Intern • Western Governors University
“Having a go-to person outside of my team is really nice. I am very comfortable knowing that there is someone who can help me with any questions or concerns without judgment, and with whom I can talk and get suggestions on what to do in different situations.”
Ryan Catalfu • Software Testing Intern • NC State University
“Before SAS I felt stuck taking low-paying, unstimulating and simple jobs despite having a degree and working on a second ... The entire program was tailored to show my strengths and not highlight my weaknesses ... SAS has done incredible things to show my worth not only to others but to myself.”
Brandon Ryder • DevOps Intern • Wake Technical Community College
Businesses recognize the unique abilities of autistic employees
Express your interest to get notified when 2023 recruitment begins
Explore SAS career opportunities
SAS is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. SAS provides a barrier-free workplace and embraces all qualified applicants with varied perspectives and backgrounds. If you’re a US applicant with a qualified disability or a disabled veteran, you can request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use www.sas.com/careers. For assistance, please call +1-919-531-5441 or email CareersAccessibility@sas.com.