Public service work experience is an integral part of the internship program at the City of Carson. Internships offer students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world problems, build resumes and professional networks, refine career plans, and observe the behaviors that characterize successful professionals.
The city’s paid internship program has been developed to provide current and freshly graduated students with the opportunity to gain both academic and practical experience working in local government. Students have the opportunity to learn about the City of Carson and the exceptional services the City provides to the community. The Internship Program runs year-round.
“An internship with the City of Carson is a great way to gain knowledge about public service while acquiring valuable workplace experience,” said Carson’s Mayor Albert Robles. “In the City’s efforts to foster and cultivate the City’s diverse population, we have an understanding with Cal State Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) to receive referrals and give priority consideration for their students and alumni,” added Mayor Robles.
Internship opportunities are dependent on the needs of the various departments of the City and the area of specialization of interested applicants. Each intern works with a team of professional(s) and is a part of community-driven development initiatives directly benefiting Carson. People who participate in the City of Carson’s internship program typically apply to work within a department matching their education.
Kristina Chandler, a CSUDH alumnae with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and one of several interns currently working in the City recruited from CSUDH says that working for the City of Carson as an intern will be a pivotal stepping stone in her career’s journey.
Growing up in Oxnard, Kristina chose CSUDH over other universities. “I took a tour of the campus and I loved it,” said Kristina. “Carson is such a welcoming community, and the opportunities are endless. I felt like CSUDH and the community of Carson is the perfect place for me to grow professionally and academically.”
In just a short stint of Kristina’s internship in the City, she already feels that the City has provided her a platform to blend her educational and life experiences.
“My internship at the City of Carson is an awesome way to jumpstart my career. This is a great opportunity for career and personal growth and to put into practice every theoretical idea that I have learned at CSUDH,” said Kristina.
“Interning in the City of Carson provides a unique opportunity for someone who is eager to learn, to be engaged and who strives to influence development of programs from its grassroots. It is an exciting chance to positively influence sustainable development efforts from the ground up and be of service to the public to make lasting change in their communities,” said Mayor Robles.
To learn more about the City of Carson’s internship program, visit the City’s website at http://ci.carson.ca.us/department/humanresources/hrjobs.asp or call Human Resources at (310) 952-1736.