Summer Internship - Human Resources

Sourcebooks • Internship • Hybrid in Naperville, Illinois, United States • $17 / hour • 4w ago

Fast Facts

Join Sourcebooks as a Summer Intern in Human Resources, gaining hands-on experience in talent acquisition, employee engagement, and compliance while working with a passionate team in the publishing industry.

Responsibilities: Assist with recruitment, employee onboarding, HR documentation, compliance, and administrative tasks while participating in employee engagement and culture-building initiatives.

Skills: Excellent organizational skills, strong communication abilities, attention to detail, proactive mindset, and interest in human resources.

Qualifications: Current college students (sophomores, juniors, seniors) or recent graduates with a focus on HR, talent development, or organizational culture.

Location: Naperville, IL - 2 days in-person, 1 day remote

Compensation: $17 - $17 / Hourly

Human Resources Summer Internship - Naperville, IL.

Ready to launch your career in book publishing? Join Sourcebooks, the fastest growing publisher in the U.S., and the home of an unparalleled number of bestselling books where creativity, innovation, and storytelling collide. We’re a team of passionate book lovers who bring extraordinary authors to readers in bold, data-driven, and entrepreneurial ways.

👉 This isn’t a coffee-run internship. You’ll contribute meaningfully to projects, collaborate with publishing professionals, and discover how your ideas can impact readers everywhere.

This internship is ideal for a current college student or recent graduate eager to dive into the world of book publishing — especially the side that connects books with media, events, and promotion with the readers. You’ll get hands-on experience working on real publicity campaigns, collaborating with passionate team members, and you’ll learn how publicity helps stories reach new audiences.

About the Program

When: June 9 – August 13, 2026
Where: Naperville, IL ($17.00/hourly)
Schedule: 24 hours/week (2 days in-person, 1 day remote)
Who: Current college sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent grads

As an HR Intern, you’ll support the team that keeps our workplace thriving and helps employees do their best work. You’ll gain hands-on experience across talent acquisition, training and development, employee engagement, compliance, and day-to-day HR operations.

The Summer Human Resources Intern will collaborate with Human Resources Team to learn the full lifecycle of HR support at a dynamic publishing company. This role is perfect for someone eager to learn how HR shapes employee experience, supports organizational goals, and builds a strong workplace culture. You’ll become a valuable part of a small but mighty team dedicated to supporting our employees — from recruitment to engagement to compliance — and you’ll get exposure to the HR function from multiple angles. What You’ll Do

Assist with recruitment tasks including interview scheduling and candidate communication
Support employee onboarding and training initiatives
Scan, organize, and maintain confidential HR files and documents
Help ensure compliance with internal processes and regulatory requirements
Participate in employee engagement activities and culture-building initiatives
Assist the Talent Acquisition, HR Generalist, and Sr. HR Director with ongoing projects
Provide general administrative support across the HR function

What We’re Looking For

Excellent organizational and time-management skills
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
High attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information responsibly
A proactive, collaborative, and people-first mindset
Interest in Human Resources, talent development, or organizational culture
Ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Your Cover Letter Matters — A Lot!

We want to know why you want to intern at Sourcebooks. Your cover letter is your chance to tell us:

Why publishing — and why Sourcebooks — excites you
What you hope to learn and contribute
How your creativity, curiosity, or love of books shines through

*Applications without a cover letter won’t be considered, so take the time to tell your story!

Why Sourcebooks?

Named #2 Most Loved Workplace by Newsweek (2024)
Recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies (2024)
Over 300 million lives changed through books — and counting
A culture built on creativity, innovation, and impact

Application Deadline: January 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT - Applications will be reviewed after the deadline.

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.