Long Beach Internships: A Launchpad for Student Careers

Internships in Long Beach provide students with invaluable opportunities to gain practical experience, explore potential career paths, and contribute to the local community. These programs, offered by the City of Long Beach and its partners, cater to a diverse range of interests and skill sets, from local government and sustainability to public safety and utilities.

Hands-on Experience in Local Government

Internships with the City of Long Beach offer a valuable glimpse into the diverse career paths within local government. The City Manager's Paid Internship Program is specifically designed to provide college, university, and graduate students with both academic and practical experience in this sector. Participants have the chance to learn about the City of Long Beach and the exceptional services it provides to the community. The City of Long Beach values the contributions made by students from various and diverse backgrounds and is seeking innovative, results-oriented individuals to join our Paid Internship Program.

Youth Internships: Career Exploration for Under 18s

For those under 18, youth internships offer valuable career exploration experiences. These opportunities can be accessed through longbeach.gov/youthservices or by visiting the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network Youth Career Services Center.

Specialized Internship Programs

Beyond general government internships, Long Beach offers specialized programs tailored to specific fields:

Long Beach Police Department: In partnership with California State University, Long Beach's Department of Criminal Justice, the Long Beach Police Department offers a limited number of internships each year.
Sustainability Internships: Interns gain insight into how local government implements model sustainability programs while sharpening their writing, presentation, analysis, and critical thinking skills under the supervision of leaders in the sustainability field. One internship will be offered each semester.
Long Beach Water Department: In partnership with Pacific Gateway, the Long Beach Water Department provides paid internship opportunities to college students within the water industry. Internships have been available in Engineering, Finance, Water Quality, Warehouse, Water Operations, Emergency Preparedness/Security, Facilities Maintenance and Fleet Services departments at Long Beach Water.
Goods Movement Industry: Internships are a great way to learn more about the goods movement industry while acquiring valuable workplace skills.

Informal Internship Opportunities

Other City departments may sometimes be open to informal internships from students looking to get some experience. Students are encouraged to contact the department directly to inquire about these opportunities. Before you make the contact, however, you should do some research on what that department does and what you can learn from working in that department. Once you identify a potential department or an area in that department, you should tailor your cover letter and resume to express why you want to intern with the department (your area of interest), what you hope to learn and what you have to offer. Specify if you are looking for a paid or unpaid internship (don't specify an hourly rate), how many hours you can commit to each week and how long you can commit (typically six to eight weeks). Make sure you specify a date range and that your resume highlights your education in the area you are interested in.

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Eligibility Requirements and Application Process

To qualify for an internship with the City of Long Beach, candidates typically must be 18 years old, currently enrolled in a college, university, or graduate program, or a recent college graduate within the past year, with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. They should also be interested in learning about careers in local government while obtaining related work experience. Candidates must also meet any course requirements for the specific internship program, as outlined in the internship announcement.

The City is currently using the “Administrative Intern-NC” title for all interns. Salary ranges vary according to the intern’s education and current school enrollment. Administrative Interns - (Administrative Intern-NC H41) students currently enrolled in an Associate of Arts program or Bachelor’s program. Freshman - Refers to a first-year undergraduate student. At the California State University, freshman refer to students who have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours. Sophomore - At the California State University, student level sophomore refers to students who have completed 30 to fewer than 60 semester or 45 to fewer than 90 quarter credit hours. Junior - At the California State University, student level junior refers to students who have completed 60 to fewer than 90 semester or 90 to fewer than 135 quarter credit hours. Recent Graduates - Student must have graduated within 1 year of submitting their application. Technology Educational Program - A technology related bootcamp or certificate program with a minimum duration of 12 weeks.

The City of Long Beach is committed to providing enriching internship opportunities through a fair and transparent recruitment and selection process. Interested candidates should carefully review posted internship descriptions and submit a completed application, including academic transcripts and other required documents specified in the corresponding job bulletin, by the stated deadline. Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in interviews, which may include panel interviews or skill-based assessments, designed to evaluate their qualifications and alignment with the specific internship role. Selection decisions are based on merit, considering academic achievement, relevant experience, and demonstrated skills. The City values diversity and strives to create an inclusive selection process.

Internship Conditions and Benefits

Interns are considered part-time employees and are not eligible for medical or dental benefits or paid leave such as vacation, personal leave, or holidays. Effective January 1, 2024, in accordance with California law, part-time and nonpermanent full-time employees will be eligible to accrue up to 48 hours or 6 days of sick leave in each year of employment of which 40 hours or 5 days of sick leave can be used in each year of employment (effective 90 days after employment) (AB 1522).

Interns that are not eligible for enrollment into the CalPERS retirement plan will be enrolled in the City of Long Beach Alternate Retirement System (ARS), which is a defined benefit plan administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS). These positions are unclassified part-time at-will assignments and are not subject to the rules and regulations of Civil Service employment. Interns are typically limited to work an average of 20 hours or less per week (at the hiring manager’s discretion) but must not work more than 1,600 hours in a year (from their hire date) (Per Civil Service Rules & Regulations Section 49 and Civil Service Policy Section 2.32). Please note once interns reach the 1,000 hours threshold in any CalPERS fiscal year (July 1st - June 30th), the intern must be enrolled into CalPERS.

All internships are at-will assignments and may be terminated at any time and have no appeal rights. Interns are limited to a 3-year internship with the City of Long Beach.

If an intern works more than 40 hours in any workweek, they will be paid overtime (hourly rate of one time and a half). Interns may attend City-sponsored training with the approval of the assigned department. For training opportunities that have a waiting list, full-time employees have first priority and interns will be considered for any remaining spots. The Department of Human Resources organizes regular Intern Network Meetings. The aim is to give interns the opportunity to learn more about careers in local government.

Long Beach Community Internship Program (LBCIP)

The Long Beach Community Internship Program is another avenue for students to gain experience. While the Spring 2026 student interns and host organizations have already been selected, those interested in future opportunities can submit an interest form to receive notifications when applications open.

Internship Essay Contest

Students who participated in an internship in Fall 2024 or Spring/Summer 2025 were invited to participate in the 2025 Career Development Center (CDC) Internship Essay Contest. One lucky winner was chosen from each of the seven colleges to receive a $1,000 scholarship, and one of the seven winners was then chosen to win an additional award of $1,000. The winning essays were also submitted to the California Internship and Work Experience Association (CIWEA) Bernard L.

The Value of Internships: A Student Perspective

Malinalxochitl Vo, the 2025 Internship Essay Contest Winner from CSULB College of the Arts, highlighted the transformative impact of her internship at the International City Theatre in Long Beach. She noted that her "greatest accomplishment during the internship was the success of our social media expansion, but my personal growth was just as significant. I developed a deep understanding of how non-profits operate, the challenges they face, and the strategies required to overcome them. My internship at ICT was more than just a professional stepping stone. It showed me the kind of work that brings me fulfillment-work that is purposeful, community-oriented, and driven by passion."

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Preparing for Your Internship Search

When seeking an internship, especially an informal one, preparation is key. Before contacting a City department, research its functions and potential learning opportunities. Tailor your cover letter and resume to express your interest in the department, what you hope to learn, and what you have to offer. Specify whether you are seeking a paid or unpaid internship, the number of hours you can commit each week, and the duration of your availability (typically six to eight weeks). Include a specific date range and highlight relevant education on your resume.

Overcoming Barriers to Unpaid Internships

It's important to acknowledge that for students who need part-time jobs and financial aid to pay for college, unpaid internships are sometimes impossible to complete. While internships open doors for student job placement, financial constraints can limit access to these opportunities.

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