Today is National Intern Day! The City of Philadelphia is celebrating the students who bring fresh ideas, curiosity, and new energy to public service each year. Across departments, interns are helping improve City services, supporting important projects, and gaining firsthand experience in the work that keeps Philadelphia running.
We believe investing in interns is also an investment in the future. As Philadelphia continues to build a strong, innovative, and representative workforce, internship and career pathway programs help introduce the next generation to careers in public service while creating a pipeline for future City employees.
Why Public Service Internships Matter
From engineers and planners to communications professionals, accountants, data analysts, mechanics, librarians, and public health specialists, City government offers hundreds of career paths many students don’t realize exist.
Internships are great for building a resume, but they are also a chance to explore careers, develop professional skills, build meaningful relationships, and discover how local government makes a difference for residents every day. Rather than simply observing, interns contribute to real projects that support City operations and improve services for Philadelphians. Along the way, they build technical skills, strengthen professional networks, and gain confidence.
Paid internship opportunities also help make public service careers more accessible, ensuring students from a variety of backgrounds can participate and gain valuable experience without sacrificing income or other responsibilities.
Building Pathways into Public Service
The City of Philadelphia offers a variety of internship and workforce development programs designed to meet people at different stages of their educational and professional journey.
Mayor’s Internship Program
Since 2019 the Mayor’s Internship Program (MIP) has connected over 300 talented college students with meaningful opportunities across City government.
Each summer, 50 interns are placed in departments throughout the City, where they contribute to projects while gaining valuable professional experience. In addition to their day-to-day work, MIP participants engage in professional development workshops, leadership programming, networking opportunities, and career exploration designed to help prepare them for future success.
Whether supporting communications campaigns, analyzing data, assisting with community engagement, or helping deliver essential City services, interns leave the program with a deeper understanding of how government works and how they can make an impact.
Career Pathways Beyond the Summer
The City’s commitment to developing future public servants extends beyond traditional internships.
Programs like the City College for Municipal Employment (CCME) create additional opportunities for high school and college students, recent graduates, and job seekers to explore careers in local government, develop professional skills, and prepare for employment with the city. They have also created the CCME Civic Entrepreneur Internship, placing Community College of Philadelphia students in City departments to explore careers in public service.
Other departments host interns and fellows throughout the year in partnership with local universities, including:
Together, these programs reflect the City’s commitment to building a talented, diverse workforce equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Looking Ahead
As the City of Philadelphia continues to invest in workforce development, internships remain an important part of building the next generation of public servants.
By providing meaningful work experience, mentorship, and opportunities for professional growth, these programs help students and young professionals discover careers they may never have imagined while strengthening the City’s ability to serve residents for years to come.
This National Intern Day, we celebrate every intern who has chosen to learn, contribute, and serve alongside us. Your ideas, energy, and commitment are helping shape the future of Philadelphia—and we can’t wait to see where your journey leads next!
Interested in learning more?
Whether you’re exploring your first internship, considering a career in public service, or looking for new professional opportunities, the City of Philadelphia offers a variety of programs designed to help you grow.
