A total of 111 college students representing 41 North Carolina counties are interning in state government this summer through the State of NC Internship Program. The 2018 class of interns includes current undergrad and grad students, as well as law students who will work at state agencies across North Carolina for a 10-week period. During their internship, participants will have the opportunity to do professional work that connects their classroom experiences and potential career choices. For instance, a pre-law major serving as a legislative intern for the Administrative Office of the Courts or a journalism major serving as a NC State Fair Public Relations Intern for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The State of North Carolina Internship Program is coordinated by the Department of Administration’s Council for Women and Youth Involvement Division.
“Quality internships strengthen our workforce by giving students an opportunity to try out careers and hone their skills,” said DOA Secretary Machelle Sanders. “Interns bring valuable energy and extra hands to the work of state government, and we also hope they will come away from their summer experience with an interest in future public service.”
During their internship, participants will gain hands-on experience in career fields ranging from genealogy researcher to summer travel counselor. Students in the program began their internship assignments Monday, May 21, following orientation. Since the program was established in 1969, more than 4,000 students have participated to get hands-on experience in state government and public service.
Participants are chosen through a competitive application process. This year, 1,051 students, representing 80 counties applied for the State of North Carolina Internship Program. Qualified students in a full range of academic majors are selected for internships in North Carolina state government agencies. Internship positions are based on project proposals submitted by agency personnel and are designed to provide substantive and career-relevant learning experiences. In addition to developing practical workplace skills in a variety of professional areas, interns get the opportunity to learn about career options in public service including state government.
For more information about the State of NC Internship Program, please see: https://ncadmin.nc.gov/advocacy/youth-involvement
The summer internship program kicked off Monday with an orientation event hosted by the Department of Administration (DOA) at the Museum of Natural Sciences’ William G. Ross, Jr. Environmental Conference Center in Raleigh. Secretary Sanders offered the welcoming remarks for this event where students had the opportunity to receive an overview of the program, network and hear from program alumni.
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