Current Recruitment Status: Summer 2013 internships are posted. Please click: Postings We will be hosting 15 to 20 internship during Summer 2013. The internships usually are within the City Manager’s Office, Public Works, Information Technology, Community Services, Library, Human Resources and Utilities departments.
Some internship opportunities are volunteer, while others may provide a small stipend. When specific opportunities are posted, this information will be provided.
General Information The City of Palo Alto offers an exciting range of summer internship opportunities that provide an insider’s view into management-level work within local government.
Over the course of the summer, interns have the opportunity to work on a significant project, to network with professionals in local government, and to observe first hand the efforts of the City to resolve complex issues of policy and governance.
Assignments Each summer our departments request internships through the City Manager’s Office. Typically 10 to 15 internships are offered in one of the following departments:
Orientation, Education Sessions, and Evaluation Orientation to the City is provided on the first day of the internship, which includes meeting with the City Manager and other department heads. The meeting will be followed with an introduction to the city organization. A team building session between interns and their supervisors will conclude the day. Throughout the summer weekly educational sessions will occur which are focused on career development, leadership, management and site tours. Additionally, a variety of on-the-job training opportunities are provided to the intern during the course of the summer.
Interns will evaluate the program and will also be evaluated by their supervisor. The evaluation will include verbal and written feedback from the supervisor.
Compensation Internships will either be volunteer, stipend, or paid. For stipend internships the range will be $500 to $2,500 for the duration of the summer. For paid internships the hourly rate will be $16 - $20 per hour.
Students seeking academic credit for their internship must check with their respective school for requirements. If credit is desired, the City will make a reasonable effort to assist you in meeting your school requirements.
Contact City of Palo Alto Summer Internship Program City Manager’s Office, Seventh Floor 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Testimonials "The City of Palo Alto's internship program was great! I had the opportunity to work in the City's green building department during the summer of '09, and learned all about a field related to my major. My supervisor was very helpful, my coworkers fun, and the other interns bright. I gained a lot from the program, and was sad when I had to leave and return to school! I would definitely recommended the program to anyone interested."
"It was an awesome opportunity to see how local government works and to meet public servants who have devoted their lives to working with and in the community."
"Interning with the City of Palo Alto gave me valuable insight into the life of a public servant, working towards the common goal of a community rather than the economic goals of a for-profit. Two years later, I am still working with local governments and enjoying the rich satisfaction of bringing much needed services to the people of those communities."
