Exploring Internship Opportunities in the State of Florida

The State of Florida provides a diverse range of internship opportunities for both students and recent graduates, encompassing various fields and skill sets. These internships, available in both paid and unpaid formats, offer invaluable practical workplace experience, allowing participants to apply their knowledge, develop skills, explore career paths, build professional networks, and gain a competitive edge.

Benefits of Internships in Florida

Internships in Florida offer numerous advantages:

Skill Development: Interns can hone existing skills and acquire new ones in a real-world setting.
Practical Experience: Internships provide hands-on experience, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and workplace demands.
Career Exploration: Internships allow students and recent graduates to explore different career paths and industries.
Networking: Interns can build valuable professional connections with industry professionals.
Competitive Advantage: Internship experience enhances resumes and increases employability in a competitive job market.

Opportunities within State Agencies

Florida’s 35 state agencies offer diverse internship opportunities, reflecting the wide range of activities within state government. These opportunities span various fields, including:

Cybersecurity
Human Resources
Legal
Communications
Information Technology
Management Information Systems
Desktop Support
Network Engineering

These internships offer real-world experience and contribute to student growth within the framework of Florida's state agencies.

Specific Internship Programs

Office of the Attorney General Law Student Internship Program

The Office of the Attorney General offers an internship program specifically for law students enrolled in an accredited ABA law school. These internships are unpaid and can be pursued for academic credit or through participation in law school-sponsored programs such as Pro Bono Programs, Law School sponsored clinics, and Law School Paid Stipend programs.

Requirements:

Students must be able to intern a minimum of 20 hours per week, or for a period as prescribed by their college or school.
Interested students must complete and submit the appropriate application packet prior to the deadline.

The Attorney General serves as the attorney for the State of Florida and as a member of the Florida Cabinet, providing interns with a unique insight into the state's legal framework.

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) Intern Program

The intern program at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute provides an opportunity for college students and postgraduates to obtain hands-on experience in fish and wildlife sciences and related fields.

Key Features:

Intern positions are unpaid.
The required hours and commitment length vary per listing.
Prior to the termination of the internship, the student will be expected to present a 15- to 20-minute seminar to FWRI staff describing some aspect of the student's intern experience.

FWRI also offers a program that provides paid internship opportunities to enable a diverse body of students to consider careers in fisheries or wildlife science. The program is open to all recent high school graduates or new college students (years 1-2) of all genders from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

An internship opportunity may involve assisting the Terrestrial Mammal Research Subsection with various projects on Florida’s land mammals across the state.

Information Technology Internships

The State of Florida is seeking motivated individuals to join its workforce in the field of Information Technology. Excellent internship opportunities exist within the areas of Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Desktop Support, Network Engineering, and other related fields. Applications are accepted year-round. Applicants must be currently enrolled or graduated within the last twelve months from an accredited college or university degree program.

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These internships provide hands-on experience in creating and maintaining the digital infrastructure that keeps state government running.

Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program

In addition to internships, Florida offers the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program for full-time undergraduate (juniors and seniors), graduate students, and immediate-graduate students. This non-partisan program immerses students from public and private universities in key areas of state government.

Program Highlights:

Nine-month tenure in Tallahassee
Advanced on-the-job training
Interaction with the state’s top leaders
Roles of critical responsibility

As Fellows, participants fulfill roles of critical responsibility, interact closely with the state’s top leaders and employ their skills and abilities in a highly rewarding environment.

Application Process and Requirements

The application process for internships in the State of Florida may vary depending on the specific agency or program. However, some general requirements and steps include:

Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled or recently graduated from an accredited college or university.
Application Submission: Interested students are directed to complete and submit the appropriate application packet prior to the deadline. By submitting your application package, you agree that all information provided is correct and that you created all written content.
Review and Referral: The Internship Coordinator will review the application and refer potential applicants to bureau offices throughout the Division.
Interview: All applicants must be interviewed in person. Following a successful interview, qualified candidates will be selected to enter the finalist phase where the Internship Coordinator and Human Resources will initiate a background test and drug screening (these will not be of any cost to applicants).
Background Check and Drug Screening: Qualified candidates may be subject to a background check and drug screening.
Matching Interests and Expertise: Efforts are made to match the interests and expertise of each selected intern with a corresponding project.
Reasonable Accommodation: Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735).

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. The State of Florida is seeking motivated individuals to join our workforce. Are you hungry for innovation and passionate about technology and problem solving? IT professionals within each state agency help create and maintain the digital path to keep state government running.

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