Interested in learning more about the internship process? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Check out our calendar below for our information sessions to Learn, Prepare, and Apply to internships!
Please Note: If you are applying to any of these internships as part of a fellowship program, send a draft resume to Fellowships Coordinator Christine Garmendiz (cgarmendiz@ccny.cuny.edu), along with the name of the internship(s) you wish to apply to.
If you are not part of a fellowship, send your resume to Internships Coordinator Dally Matos (dmatos1@ccny.cuny.edu), along with the name of the internship(s) you wish to apply to.
Internships are an excellent way to gain experience in a field of interest while simultaneously gaining valuable work skills. Interning provides college students with invaluable opportunities to learn about their career interests and develop professional networks. By taking advantage of these opportunities, students can increase their chances of landing jobs after graduation and begin building a foundation for future success.
According to statistics from SmallBizGenius, 70% of employers offer ongoing, full-time jobs to successful interns. Moreover, students who have successfully completed internships in the past receive 16% more job offers than those who didn’t, and start at a 6% higher rate..
Through a generous grant, the Colin Powell School is able to provide paid internship experiences to hundreds of students annually, up to 300 hours at $18. By eliminating the stressors and obstacles of an unpaid internship, students can have more opportunities to engage with their communities and learn valuable skills that will shape their future. The Public Service Career Hub has monthly virtual Paid Internship Program information sessions. Check out our calendar below to find out when the next one is!
The following are some examples of how internships can benefit college students:
College students have gained so much valuable knowledge and skills, yet don’t have many ways to practice them until they are in the workforce. An internship is a place where you can begin practicing what you are learning in the classroom AND have a learning curve. Internship sites both expect you to have some skills to bring to the table, and to have a lot to learn. Your supervisor will know to provide extra guidance and explanation not just about the work, but how the work gets done. All of this will help you overcome imposter syndrome and boost your confidence.
College classes, volunteer and non-career jobs like working in retail or the service industry can get you started on the skills and knowledge for a career job, but internships will immerse you in the world of career-pathway work. You will learn the dos and don’ts of office environments as well as gain an understanding of organizational structure and culture. Most employers in career-pathway jobs expect you to have some experience in an office setting, so they don’t have to train you from scratch.
An internship can give you the chance to meet people who share similar experiences and interests. These connections can lead to networking opportunities later in life. It can take time to build professional connections, especially for first-generation college students. An internship is one of the best first steps to build a network in your field of study, which can help you land a career job after graduation.
College students can often have lots of different career interests, but might be confused on which path to pursue. An internship gives you the opportunity to explore different career options and find out if you enjoy working in a particular field
Being a college student is expensive! An internship can allow you to earn money while learning about your career interests.
An internship is similar to a job in a professional organization, with responsibilities to complete projects toward fulfilling its goals or mission. Organizations that host interns are willing to provide on-the-job training for their projects, and dedicate a supervisor to support your learning. Internship opportunities are shared out just like jobs, and you would apply to and interview for them the same way you would a job. The primary differences between a job and an internship is that organizations understand that interns are not bringing full expertise to the project and provide training and guidance in order to complete it, and that interns are paid a “stipend” instead of a salary usually in one or two lump sums.
Applying to internships is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Step 1: Learn! Come learn all about the offerings of the Public Service Career Hub. Sessions are held every Monday on Zoom at 2 PM.
Step 2: Prepare: Fine tune your resumes and cover letters with our Coaching Assistant. Sessions are held every Wednesday on Zoom at 1 PM.
Step 3: Apply! Meet with our Internships Coordinator to learn about the Paid Internship Program, the benefits of internships, and how to apply to our internships. Sessions are held every on Zoom Friday at 11 AM.
Please check out the Events Calendar at the top of the website for Zoom Information and Event Descriptions!
Our internships have a large range of availability, so students can work as much or as little as they can! The Paid Internship Program does not have a hour minimum, but does have a maximum of 300 hours. There is no requirement to reach 300 hours in an internship.
All internships are available for a one-time renewal of an additional 300 hours. In total, students have the opportunity to potentially work up to 600 hours at one internship, or two different 300-hour internships.
Visit our Internships Database at the top of the page to see all of our active positions with over 130 partner organizations.
Additionally, you can also visit the CPDI website to view other available opportunities.
If you don’t feel ready for an internship but want to get started, volunteering is actually a great first step.
Learn more here: Ways to Volunteer for Gaining Experience
Nope! All internships have their own time requirements, but most understand that students are in school and have other life commitments and won’t require more than 20 hours a week. We have a range of micro to macro internships with many different levels of commitment!
Students can get paid via stipend. The stipends are typically distributed in two batches; the first stipend arrives in the midpoint of the internship and the second stipend at the end of the internship. The students will receive a physical check that they must pick up unless alternate arrangements are made.
We typically allow students to participate in two separate internships while receiving pay during their time at the Colin Powell School OR one internship with the possibility of one renewal (site dependent).
In addition to having an internship, students are required to attend 50% of the semester’s Internship Insider workshop series, and check in with the Internships Coordinator once a month to discuss goals and progress. That’s it!
Yes! The Public Service Career Hub welcomes all new partnerships from many different internship sites. Students can submit their internship agency, and if they qualify, can receive payment for the internship.
While some of our internships have set start and end dates, most of our internships are flexible with how long they are, and when students can start and end! We do not set mandatory minimums or length times; it all depends on the intern and the internship site.
No! The Public Service Career Hub offers a variety of services and programing, such as our Internship Insider workshop series, resume and cover letter coaching, career development and job searching assistance!
For more information on internships and our professional development workshops, please contact Dally Matos at dmatos1@ccny.cuny.edu.
There are two differences between volunteering and interning with an organization:
Here is an example: Volunteer Vince is helping out at a food pantry. He unboxes cans of food and puts them on a shelf. Intern Iris is at the same food pantry. Their major is communications, and they are working with the Marketing Director to draw up a social media communication schedule and conducting research on best practices for graphics. Both students are helping this organization reach its goal to feed hungry people, but one is a career development opportunity, and one is not.
See the difference?
If you don’t feel ready for an internship but want to get started, volunteering is actually a great first step. Sometimes, students begin volunteering and then convert it into an internship.
Learn more by reaching out to our Internships Coordinator at dmatos1@ccny.cuny.edu
“This resource allowed me to successfully complete my internship as an alcohol and substance abuse counselor at Argus Community without having to worry about how I would pay for food or transportation. I was able to focus all my time and energy into gaining as much experience and knowledge as possible from my internship and left with an even greater excitement to continue serving the substance abusing population.
Summer 2022 Intern
This paid internship was an immense push towards my dreams and goals. As a person from a low-income immigrant background, this opportunity gave me a much-needed break from my part-time work in the hospitality industry and gave me time and finance to pursue my true dream of working at a non-profit contributing to community development. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity.
Summer 2022 Intern
I gained valuable experience that will help me to build the life that I want (while I help others do the same), I have a double major (in Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in theater), and most importantly, I am excited for what the future holds for me.
Summer 2022 Intern
Given my background as a low-income first-generation college student, I learned over time that my shot at someday working for a think tank was very slim. My participation in the Climate Policy fellowship and your financial support put this opportunity within reach.
If you are volunteering for a non-profit, we may be able to convert it to a paid internship.
If you have an unpaid internship, we may be able to cover a stipend of $18/hour for up to 300 hours.
For more information, contact Maya Gutierrez or book a meeting!
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Melodie Perez
Summer 2022 Intern