Last updated: October 2026
Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) hires interns the way it runs its business: one branch at a time. On 3 October 2026 CED's own applicant system showed 131 open intern requisitions in 34 states, from a branch "Intern" in Bozeman, Montana to a Solution Consultant Intern in Wichita, an IT intern at the Irving, Texas service center and the corporate Summer Internship Program in Houston and Anderson, South Carolina. Most describe a paid "10-12 week introductory course" that rotates you through warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, counter sales, purchasing and customer relations. CED says it has grown from two locations in 1957 to over 800 across the US and calls itself a debt-free, privately held company. Branch internships post all year (99 of the live reqs went up in August and September), so for summer 2027 the door is already open: apply to your nearest branch now.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | CED job listings (search "intern" and your city); no branch near you? Use the Employment Inquiry form on cedcareers.com/opportunities and tick Internships. |
| Application window (2027–28) | Open now and year-round. Live reqs were posted between April and October 2026; more summer 2027 branch reqs are expected through spring 2027. |
| Rolling? | Yes. Each req carries an automatic expiry 14 to 180 days after posting, which isn't a deadline; branches repost. |
| Eligibility | Age 18+, valid driver's license with an acceptable record, US work authorization without sponsorship. Summer Internship Program: pursuing a bachelor's; credit: juniors and seniors. |
| Duration | Most reqs: 10 to 12 weeks, many part-time; some branches allow summer, fall or spring. |
| Compensation | 48 of 131 reqs publish pay: $15–$25/hr, most often $20. Summer Internship Program $15–$20 (Houston, Anderson SC); credit $16–$20. |
| Return offers | Conversion rate not published. Full-time entry route: Sales and Business Leadership Trainee program. |
| Locations | 34 states; most in TX (18), LA (13), CA (11), MS (8), AL (8), AR (7), KY (6). Corporate programs in Irving and Houston TX and Anderson SC. |
| # Programs | Branch Intern (116 reqs), Summer Internship Program (5), Solution Consultant (5), credit (2), IT, High Tech and AIMM (1 each). |
CED posts intern reqs branch by branch all year, and 131 were open on 3 October 2026. There's no real deadline; the closing date on each posting is an automatic expiry, and branches repost.
Externships are short, remote projects where you finish real work for a real company, most running 8 weeks at 5 to 10 hours a week. The Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy & People Analytics Externship builds the warehouse and operations analysis CED branches run on, and the Consumer Behavior Insights Externship with Generous Brands trains the customer analysis behind a branch intern's special project. Explore all Externships.
What Is a Consolidated Electrical Distributors Internship?
A Consolidated Electrical Distributors internship is a paid, hands-on rotation through one of CED's electrical supply branches, where you learn the distribution business from the warehouse floor up. The standard branch req says the internship "is designed for candidates who are sales oriented and interested in sales or management" and mixes mentoring with on-the-job training across warehouse operations, counter sales, inside and outside sales, purchasing and customer relations, plus a special project such as market or customer analysis chosen with the branch manager. Because CED managers run their locations like their own businesses, each branch sets its own pay, schedule and headcount. Beyond the branch track, CED posts a corporate Summer Internship Program with rotations through logistics, inventory, purchasing, financial planning and sales; credit internships with its credit team; Solution Consultant internships in industrial automation; and Greentech Renewables solar roles.
When Do Consolidated Electrical Distributors Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
CED doesn't run one national application window. Branches post when they need an intern: of the 131 reqs live on 3 October 2026, 11 were posted in April, 8 in May, 6 in June, 5 in July, 42 in August, 57 in September and 2 in the first days of October. Lead time varies from about 1 to 9 months: April branch reqs were for that same summer, while the August and September batch sits 8 to 9 months ahead of summer 2027. Last cycle, a Louisville credit intern req for summer 2025 posted on 14 March 2025, so expect more summer-2027 reqs through spring 2027.
Applications are open right now: 131 intern reqs in 34 states, including a new IT intern role in Irving posted on 2 October. Two branch reqs name summer 2027 outright; most simply describe the 10 to 12 week course. Apply to the branch closest to you.
Branches interview and hire on their own schedules. CED also recruits at campus career fairs; a student in 2019 said the pitch was that you could one day run your own business, meaning a branch.
More summer-2027 branch and credit reqs expected, based on last cycle's March 2025 credit posting and spring 2026 branch postings. A CED IT intern candidate was still waiting on interview results in mid-April 2026.
Summer internships run 10 to 12 weeks, often part-time, on site at the branch. Some branches also offer fall or spring terms, and one Minneapolis branch mentions school-year work.
CED's full-time entry route is the Sales and Business Leadership Trainee program, listed at $45,000 to $70,000 on reqs that publish pay. CED doesn't publish an intern conversion rate.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
CED's internship is rolling and local, so speed matters more than a calendar. Every req shows a closing date, but on all of them it's simply the posting date plus a set number of days (180 on most), the kind of automatic expiry many job systems apply. It isn't the branch's deadline, and branches repost. The real limit is headcount: each branch hires for its own seats, and one regional batch of 30 identical reqs posted on 13 August 2026 across Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Iowa. Once your local branch fills its seat, the req comes down. If a branch near you is posted today, apply this week.
Which Consolidated Electrical Distributors Internship Programs Should You Target?
Seven intern titles were live on 3 October 2026. The branch Intern is by far the largest.
| Program | Focus | Duration | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branch Intern (116 reqs) | Warehouse, shipping and receiving, counter and outside sales, purchasing, customer relations | 10–12 weeks, mostly part-time | Every state CED operates in; sales or management interest |
| Summer Internship Program (5) | Rotations: logistics, inventory and quality, purchasing, financial planning, management, sales | Summer | Houston TX, Anderson SC, Irving TX; pursuing a bachelor's; $15–$20/hr; some travel |
| Solution Consultant Intern (5) | Industrial automation with CED's automation team; customer analysis | 10–12 weeks | Little Rock, Kansas City, Wichita and Omaha |
| Credit intern (2) | New-account research, credit reports, collections, lien notices | Semester project | Louisville KY and one more; juniors and seniors; finance or accounting; $16–$20/hr |
| IT, High Tech and AIMM (3) | IT documentation and projects; automation business development | Varies | Irving TX (IT); Santa Fe Springs CA ($24/hr, two full-time semesters completed) |
Search current openings on the CED job listings; credit internships are described on cedcredit.com.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Most branch reqs use the same template, with a few program-specific additions:
• Age and license: at least 18, with a current, valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record (all 131 reqs).
• Work authorization: authorization to work in the US without CED sponsorship now or in the future.
• Enrollment: the standard branch Intern template doesn't require it; the Summer Internship Program asks that you're pursuing a bachelor's, credit internships target juniors and seniors, and High Tech/AIMM need two full-time semesters completed.
• Physical: warehouse rotations involve lifting, sorting, standing and possible heat or cold.
• GPA: not stated on the reqs we read.
Do You Need to Be in College for a CED Internship?
Not always. The branch Intern template lists only age, a driver's license and work authorization, while the corporate and credit programs ask for college enrollment. In practice CED pitches the internship to sales- and management-minded students, so a short line on why you want to run a branch someday does more than your class year.
What Skills Does Consolidated Electrical Distributors Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
CED's reqs are consistent: communication and relationship building with electrical contractors, sales and negotiation, comfort with Microsoft Office, detail orientation and the drive to handle "a heavy volume of work". Credit roles add Excel and analysis; Solution Consultant roles want an interest in industrial automation. Because 88 of the 131 live reqs share one branch template word for word, we counted each distinct template once.
What Consolidated Electrical Distributors looks for in interns
Skills across 31 Consolidated Electrical Distributors intern & analyst job descriptions · distinct intern JD templates behind 131 live reqs, October 2026
Method: keyword match across the 31 distinct job-description texts behind CED's 131 live US intern reqs on 3 Oct 2026 (one branch template covers 88 reqs, so templates are counted once each to avoid that skew).
How Is Demand for Operations and Supply Chain Interns Moving Right Now?
Supply chain intern postings · Sep vs Aug 2026
vs 461 in August
Most of the market posted in September with a summer 2027 label, while CED posts branch by branch all year, so apply to your local branch now and treat other September postings as a parallel track.
Daily US job-posting counts, Sep 1–30 vs Aug 1–31, 2026. Covers under half of US postings; shows direction, not market size.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
Each skill below maps to a remote Externship you can complete before or during a branch internship.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse and operations analysis | Branch Intern: warehouse operations, shipping and receiving; Summer Internship Program: inventory control | Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy & People Analytics |
| Customer analysis | Branch special project: "market sales or customer analysis" | Consumer Behavior Insights with Generous Brands |
| Credit and financial analysis | Credit intern: credit reports, new accounts, collections | Attronica Financial Planning & Analysis |
| Running a location like a business | Branches run as profit centers; managers own their results | Corporate Strategy Externship mentored by Eric Ries |
A finished customer or operations analysis is exactly the kind of special project CED branch managers assign, so it's a strong talking point in a branch interview.
What Is the Consolidated Electrical Distributors Application and Interview Process Like?
CED's process is short and local:
1. Find your branch. Search the CED job listings for "intern" plus your city, or submit the Employment Inquiry form with the Internships box ticked.
2. Apply on CED's applicant system (mydistributorjobs.com). A resume is required.
3. Interview with the branch. CED doesn't publish its interview format; expect questions on why sales and distribution appeal to you, plus a check of your driving record.
4. Start when the branch schedules the course. The 10 to 12 week course runs on the branch's timetable; some branches take fall or spring interns.
What the Community Says
Reddit has little intern-specific CED discussion, so we pair the useful threads with intern reviews from Indeed.
A student who met CED at a career fair asked whether its "own your own business" pitch was a pyramid scheme. The reply: no, each CED location is a profit center run by a manager responsible for its results, which is what the pitch means.
In a thread about management trainee programs, a commenter ranked CED's among the best, saying trainees often have full profit-and-loss responsibility within about two years and end up managing a sales team.
Former CED interns on Indeed describe friendly branches willing to teach, good work-life balance and a summer where their opinions were valued. Older reviews also mention long days and managers who weren't always involved.
How Do You Stand Out for a CED Internship?
First, lead with sales interest. The branch template says the internship is for candidates interested in sales or management, so tell the branch manager you want to learn how a branch makes money. Second, pick the right track for your major: credit for finance and accounting, Solution Consultant or High Tech for engineering and automation, Greentech Renewables for solar, the corporate Summer Internship Program for general business. Third, show up ready for the warehouse. Every req mentions lifting and standing, and interns who treat the warehouse rotation seriously earn the counter and outside-sales time later. CED doesn't publish a return-offer rate; the full-time path after graduation is its Sales and Business Leadership Trainee program.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Other distributors run similar branch-based sales and operations internships.
- Graybaremployee-owned electrical distributor, the closest CED comparisonGuide →
- Wescoelectrical and industrial distribution at national scaleGuide →
- Fergusonplumbing and HVAC distribution with branch rotationsGuide →
- Graingerindustrial supply with corporate and branch tracksGuide →
- Fastenalbranch-based industrial distribution, also hires students part-timeGuide →
Our supply chain internships guide covers the wider distribution and logistics field.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a summer 2026 CED internship?
Summer 2026 is over, but CED hires interns all year, so the door is open now. On 3 October 2026 there were 131 open intern reqs in 34 states, many for summer 2027 and some for fall or spring terms. Apply to the branch nearest you rather than waiting.
When should I apply for a CED internship for summer 2027?
Now. CED posts intern reqs branch by branch through the year, and 99 of the live reqs went up in August and September 2026. More summer-2027 reqs usually follow through spring, but your local branch may fill its seat before then.
Is the closing date on a CED posting a deadline?
No. Each closing date is just the posting date plus a fixed number of days, usually 180, which is an automatic expiry in CED's system. Branches commonly repost. The real limit is when your local branch fills its intern seat, so apply while the req is up.
How much do CED interns make?
Of the 131 live reqs, 48 publish pay, ranging from $15 to $25 an hour and most often $20. The corporate Summer Internship Program in Houston and Anderson, South Carolina lists $15 to $20, credit internships $16 to $20, and Santa Fe Springs roles $24.
What do CED interns do?
Branch interns rotate through warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, counter sales, inside and outside sales, purchasing and customer relations over a paid 10 to 12 week course, then complete a special project such as a market or customer analysis with the branch manager.
Does CED sponsor visas for interns?
No. CED's reqs require authorization to work in the US without sponsorship by CED now or in the future. Every req also requires a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record, so international students on a visa should check both conditions before applying.
Are there CED internships outside sales?
Yes. CED posts credit internships for finance and accounting students, Solution Consultant internships in industrial automation, an IT internship in Irving, High Tech and AIMM roles in Santa Fe Springs, and Greentech Renewables solar internships in West Valley, Utah and Denver, Colorado.
Do CED interns get full-time offers?
CED doesn't publish a conversion rate. Its credit team features a division credit manager who started as an intern, and the main full-time entry route is the Sales and Business Leadership Trainee program, listed at $45,000 to $70,000 on reqs that show pay.
CED's branch internships are open now. Pair your application with a remote Externship so you walk into the branch interview with a finished operations or customer project.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
