Internships / Volunteering / Summer Jobs
The internship program at PVCC offers work experience in business, industry, government, nonprofits or professional associations while you are enrolled as a student at PVCC. Practical work experience coupled with your academic studies can help you achieve your career goals and educational objectives.
Internships may be paid or unpaid. You also may use your current employer as an internship site, provided the work you perform is related to your program of study and includes new learning experiences and objectives. Internship opportunities are offered through the following programs of study:
- Accounting
- Advanced Criminal Justice
- Administrative Support
- Business Management
- Computer and Network Support
- Electronics Technician
- Police Science
- Culinary Arts / Professional Cooking
- Graphic & Media Arts
- Industrial Electronics Technology
- Industrial Electronics Technology - Electronics Engineering Specialization
- Industrial Electronics Technology - Mechanical Engineering Specialization
How do I get started with an internship-for-course credit?
- Review the Student Information Packet.
- Research internship opportunities (see below). Consider internship opportunities available through your professional network.
- Email careers@pvcc.edu for an appointment to review internship requirements / expectations.
The appointment with Career Services will answer all of your internship questions. Including:
- How an internship can help you get a job
- How to find an internship
- The internship course registration process
- How many hours a week you will work to earn credits (if applicable)
- Other academic requirements you will be expected to complete during the semester
- How to make a lasting positive impression at your internship
- How to update your resume to showcase your academic & non-academic accomplishments
- How to find housing related to a non-local internship (check InternhousingHub.com, AirBnb, Universities/colleges who offer housing, friends and family)
How do I find local / virtual internships?
Research employers / opportunities
- Start with PVCC Job listing resources - College Central Network and Facebook
- Check out PVCC spreadsheet of local employers by program of study
- Parker Dewey paid micro-internships/projects
- Central Virginia Hub - Jobs, Internships & Gigs
- Chamber of Commerce List of Members
- Center for Non-profit Excellence Member Directory
- United Way Volunteer Center
- ReImagine Central VA Organizations seeking Volunteers
- CatchaFire Virtual Volunteering
- Fast Forward Accelerated Good Volunteering & Internships (includes remote positions)
- The Forage Virtual Internships
- Points of Light Virtual Volunteering
- Internships.com (includes remote opportunities as well)
- Intern From Home
- CovIntern
- Utilize LinkedIn to find people connections to local organizations
- Utilize VirginiaWorks to search for employers by industry area and region.
- Check out Apprenticeships if seeking to get paid while you learn a skilled trade; check out CATEC's program as well.
Check out previously posted opportunities:
Multiple Areas of Study
- Amazon has paid internships worldwide (with some in No.Va. by clicking on the Herndon, Virginia USA location) in Information Technology, Business Management, Marketing, Data Science and Administrative Support.
- Apex Clean Energy has paid internships ($15/hour) in many areas: Information Technology, Project Management, Human Resources, Marketing & Communications, Public Engagement, Land Management and more! They have a spring 2023 semester HR internship with a 1/31/23 deadline to apply.
- Charlottesville Community Attention Youth Internship Program (CAYIP) places Charlottesville City residents ages 14-21 in local internships that pay a stipend of up to $10/hour (not to exceed $1200/session).
- Dominion Energy seeks paid Summer Interns (in Mineral or Richmond) in a number of areas: Engineering, Business/Finance/Marketing/Communications and Environmental/Construction/Land.
- The Executive Office of the President (EOP) has launched a paid Internship program that will provide a $6000 stipend to work in DC for the summer which is affiliated with 14 different government entities including the Office of Science & Technology, Office of National Cyber Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy and more! The application period is open between 1/17/23-2/17/23 for the summer; apply in June for the fall term internship.
- Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) seeks students from many program areas (accounting, IT, STEM, foreign languages, visual arts, marketing, etc.) for their paid (GS4 for undergraduate students) summer internships. Apply in the early part of the Fall semester.
- Mind & Life Institute seeks paid interns ($12/hour) in the following areas: digital content & media, programs & events, and advancement.
- NASA offers a number of paid internships and apprenticeships for many majors including Engineering, Electronics, Manufacturing, Accounting, Information Technology, Business and the Sciences. Apply by the end of May for the fall semester, by mid-October for the spring semester and by March 1 for the summer session. Check out the information session that they hosted at PVCC on April 24, 2023.
- Northrop Grumman (No.Va.) has paid summer internships in Engineering, Project Management, Business & Cyber. The majority of their hiring is done in the fall for their summer internships.
- Student Action with Farmworkers "Into the Fields" program has 10-week paid internship placements ($4250) in both NC and SC that can involve health clinics, legal aid offices, migrant education state programs, and community organizations that provide direct services to farmworkers. Housing is provided! Apply by 2/6/23.
- The Boar's Head Resort offers internships in multiple areas: Culinary, Hospitality Management, Marketing and more.
- The Borgen Project, an innovative campaign to improve global poverty seeks interns/volunteers who can telecommute. Areas include PR/marketing, Journalism, Writing/Editing, Human Resources, and Political Affairs.
- Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello) seeks Summer Interns (some paid; some unpaid) and Volunteers in a number of areas: Curatorial, Education, Development, Gardens, Horticulture, Human Resources, Marketing, Restoration, Videography, and Special Events.
- U.S. Department of State Student Programs - These are paid internships in DC and embassies around the world. Also check out their Pathways Program for paid positions. Learn more about their opportunities from a PVCC alumnus.
- U.S. Department of Transportation - Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups. Must be a sophomore to apply. $4000 stipend. Housing provided. Deadline: 1/31/23.
- U.S. Forest Service / Environment for the Americas has a number of different opportunities with the Youth Conservation Corps, Resource Assistants Program, Job Corps or Pathways Internships.
- U.S. Government has a Virtual Student Federal Service program (these are remote internships in multiple government organizations). Apply during the month of July. Learn more about this program from a PVCC alumnae.
- U.S. Government - Students & Recent Graduates Pathways Program or visit USAJobs.gov to quickly search for opportunities
- Virginia Department of Forestry has paid summer internships ($15/hour) for students interested in natural resources/forestry science, conservation, education and program administration. Apply by 3/21/23.
- Virginia Government Internship site links to multiple departments across the state.
- Wolf Trap Summer Opportunities (NoVa/DC) offers paid summer internships in Graphic Design, Information Technology, HR, Public Relations & Communications, Fundraising, Education Administration, Special Events, Ticket Services and Information Technology (apply by 3/15) and paid summer opera apprenticeships (apply by 3/15) in Artistic Administration, Costuming, Stage Management, Lighting, Make-up, Communications and Technical Theater.
STEM / Computer / Electronics
- Big Data Science Internships (at bottom), Resources and Tips
- Biological Data Science Summer Research program for Community College Students at JMU. $6000 stipend; housing and travel support provided. Apply by 3/15/23.
- Chemistry Summer Research program for Community College Students at ODU. $6000 stipend, housing provided. Apply by 2/15/23.
- Cville BioHub has a paid Summer 2023 CHIP Internship program that matches local candidates with local biotech companies.
- Coding it Forward has a summer Fellowship in four areas: software engineering, data, design and product. Apply by mid January.
- Computers4Kids seeks Volunteer Mentors.
- Forge (formerly HackCville) has a Launch Internship placement program that is open to students from all colleges/universities. There is a fee for the training but the summer internship is paid that covers the cost (and adds to your funds). The second round of applications for Summer 2023 opens December 1.
- Generation 180, an alternative energy advocacy group, frequently offers semester-based paid internships.
- iDTech is hiring for summer tech camp staff where internship credit hours can be awarded as well. Choose from 150 locations (UVA is one of them).
- Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratories (in Maryland) seeks Summer STEM Interns (both college and high school levels)
- National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) Office of STEM Engagement seeks interns for summer (apply by early March), fall (apply by early July) and spring (apply by 11/1). Click here for NASA's main internship site.
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory Summer Research Program. Apply by 2/1; offers made on 3/1.
- Novetta/Accenture Federal Services has cybersecurity/IT/engineering internships (and jobs) across the state/country, including Charlottesville.
- Science Museum of Virginia (in Richmond) seeks paid summer Interns in a number of areas: communications & curiosity, marketing, STEM makerspace, Exhibition, Astronomy, Planet Shark and Community Science. They also have jobs: Guest Services, Gallery Education, Retail, Forge Facilitator, MiX Mentor and Summer Camp Counselor. $14/hour for internships; $15/hour for jobs. Apply by 3/1/23 on the VA State Website for both.
- STEAM Discovery Academy seeks summer and year-long educators paying $550/week with a two week minimum commitment.
- The U.S. Department of Defense has a SMART (Science, Math & Research for Transformation) Scholarship / Stipend / Internship at NGIC for a number of different majors. There pays full-tuition and a cash award of $25-38,000/year. Must be a U.S. Citizen. Apply between August 1-December 1.
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has both internships and entry-level Cybersecurity positions.
- U.S. Dept. of Energy / Office of Science seeks paid semester-based STEM Interns from both the Community College System and 4-year colleges. More than 100 internships are sponsored annually. Apply by 5/25 for Fall 2023.
- U.S. State Department has a Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship which pays up to $43,000 in academic funding for tuition, room, books, travel and more PLUS a paid internship each summer over the two years. This would be good for those intending to pursue a 4-year computer science degree. Apply by 2/3/2023.
- VA-NC Alliance / LSAMP offers a paid ($4200 + housing - if needed) Summer STEM Research Program at UVA in different research tracks: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science and Learning Design & Technology. Apply by 2/15/23. Visit their "current opportunities" list to find other opportunities.
- VirginiaBio's STEM2VA Summer Program is an 8-week, full-time opportunity that currently has nine employers in Charlottesville participating (and others around the state). Apply by 3/10/23.
- Virginia Commonwealth STEM Industry Internship Program (VA CSIIP): features paid internships in IT, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Physical Science & Financial majors. Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) specifically seeks community college students for paid - $5000 - Summer NASA Research positions at either Langley Research Center or Wallops Flight Facility. Apply by 3/11/23. Check out the information session they hosted for PVCC students plus they were a part of a general NASA information session in April 2023. There is also a $2000 community college scholarship - apply by 3/10/23.
- Virginia Tech's Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program offers Summer Research Internships. $3000 stipend and free on-campus room & board. Apply by 2/20/23.
Business / Financial / Office Administration / Accounting
- Charlottesville Tom Sox seeks promotions, game operations, marketing, social media and mascot interns. Applications for the summer season are due by May. They also seek volunteers.
- Community Investment Collaborative (CIC) seeks a Summer Finance & Operations Analyst interested in supporting under-resourced micro-enterprises with both financing and operations. They are paying $15/hour for 15-20 hours/week. Apply by emailing Hannah Deal - hannah@cicville.org.
- Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) seeks paid Interns (plus they have programs for recent graduates). Applications taken on a rolling basis. Virtual training. Must have a 2.9 GPA.
- Hantzmon Wiebel consistently hires paid Accounting Interns from PVCC (fall or spring is better than summer for them).
- Hunter Wyant / State Farm Insurance & Financial Services consistently seeks Interns paying $10-20/hour.
Marketing / Editing / Graphic Design / Arts
- Ivy Life & Style Media seeks unpaid Editorial & Marketing Interns. Send resume, cover letter & 3 work samples to editor@IvyLifeandStyleMedia.com.
- Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection (on Pantops) seeks volunteers.
- National Museum of African American History has a paid Summer Internship in a number of locations. $850/week. Apply by 2/15/23.
- New City Arts seeks a paid ($3000 stipend) Arts Administration intern for spring 2023; apply by 11/19/22.
- The Arts Center in Orange seeks both volunteers and interns. They have a Social Media/Marketing and an Audio/Visual internship for the Summer of 2023 (16 hours/week requirement).
- Virginia Festival of the Book seeks volunteers.
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (in Richmond) has mostly unpaid Internships BUT they're working to provide more paid opportunities. Apply by 2/15 for summer, 7/1 for fall and 11/15 for spring.
- WNRN seeks volunteer interns to help with station promotions and on-air contests; website management experience required. On-air announcing is not required but available to interns.
- WTJU has a paid ($15/hour) summer Internship program that is open to current PVCC students who have a 3.4 GPA. Apply by 2/14/23 (early decision) or 3/31 (for regular decision).
Education / Human Services / Recreation
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank seeks volunteers at all times of the year.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia seeks volunteers and has paid positions supporting area youth.
- Brooks Family YMCA hires for a number of positions: summer Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Swim Instructors and more!
- Camp Holiday Trails seeks volunteers and summer employees as camp counselors, kitchen staff and even a horse director for 2023.
- Camp LIGHT (Waynesboro) seeks summer volunteers to work with special needs and at-risk youth.
- Charlottesville Parks & Rec consistently seeks Sports Officials/Umpires ($25/game) and Customer Service Attendants (II=$16.50/hour; I=$15/hour)
- Hospice of the Piedmont seeks volunteers in a number of program areas - direct services to patients and families, special events including camps for kids, educational programs, health fairs, clerical services and more.
- Innisfree Village seeks Residential Volunteers for a one-year commitment to support their lifesharing community for adults with disabilities located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Room and board, health insurance and a modest stipend are provided. Application deadlines are 3/1, 7/1 and 11/1 for start dates of 5/15, 9/15, 1/15.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC) seeks part-time Interns and full-time Americorps members to support their mission of helping refugees and immigrants resettle in the local area. They also seek Volunteers to assist in a number of areas including youth mentor, transportation, reception, orientation, housing, ESL class assistant or tutor and more!
- Jefferson Area Board of Aging (JABA) seeks volunteers to help as School-based Mentors, Insurance Counselors, Long-term Care Ombudsmen, Activity Leaders, Administrative Support and more!
- Kings Dominion (near Richmond) has lots of summer jobs.
- Literacy Volunteers seeks ESL Tutors. Due to the training involved, they prefer tutors who can volunteer for a year.
- Living Earth School, a nature connection school hires instructors, interns, kitchen staff and more for their summer program. Apply by 3/15 (most of their hiring is done by the end of March).
- Love No Ego is a non-profit which supports youth ages 10-24 years in four areas: spirituality, exercise, education and community. They seek volunteers and mentors.
- Monticello's Education & Visitors Programs Dept. seeks Volunteers and paid Interns (apply by 1/30/23).
- The Nelson Community Wellness Alliance (in Nelson Co.) seeks Volunteers to become Community Connection Experts to help local residents connect with community support resources.
- Operation HomePort seeks paid Interns to work for four months in Child Development Centers on U.S. Navy bases around the country and in select locations overseas, such as Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea and more. $15+/hour; travel and housing is paid for! Prior experience not necessary.
- Operation Hope seeks volunteer Financial Advisors to help low-income people achieve self-sufficiency.
- STEAM Discovery Academy seeks summer and year-long educators paying $550/week with a two week minimum commitment.
- Transformation Freedom seeks Volunteers to help with the prevention of human trafficking.
- Virginia Discovery Museum seeks volunteers to help with the front desk, the gallery, events and maintenance (you get free parking, free museum passes and fun!).
- The Women's Initiative seeks volunteers to help with their front desk, child care and event management.
- Twice is Nice resale boutique that supports senior seeks Volunteers to help with daily operations, including furniture pickups. For every hour you volunteer, you earn in-store credit.
- WorldStrides' Envision Experience program offers free housing / meals / travel plus an hourly wage (starts at $15/hour) to educate K-12 students about a number of different topics (business, healthcare, STEM, civil service + more!) with programs being offered in different states (the nearest being Washington DC/Maryland). Apply by 5/31.
Non-profit / Politics / Public Service / Criminal Justice
- Amy Laufer for 55th District House of Delegates seeks volunteers / interns to help 1-4 hours/week with her campaign. You could be involved with research, canvassing, emailing, social media management, writing or brainstorming. To apply, email dan@amylaufer.com.
- CATO Institute in DC seeks paid ($16.10/hour) Interns interested in public policy geared toward free markets / limited government. Apply by mid-February for Summer; November 1 for Spring and late June for Fall.
- The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment program is a 6-week program affiliated with the U.S. State Dept. It covers the costs for tuition, travel, housing and two meals/day PLUS a $3300 stipend. Must be a sophomore-senior college student, a U.S. citizen and have a 3.2+ GPA. Apply between 10/25/22-2/7/23.
- The Center for Civic Innovation has an annual Fellowship program that pays a $1000 stipend. This is a great opportunity to develop a community-centered entrepreneurial project.
- Computers4Kids seeks volunteer mentors.
- The Community Climate Collaborative seeks volunteers to help reduce emissions and advocate for our climate.
- Federal Diversity Internship Initiative. Stipend helps to cover living expenses and transportation; housing provided if needed.
- FBI's Summer internship program accepts applications between 8/24-10/14.
- Habitat for Humanity in Charlottesville seeks Volunteers for their retail store, construction projects, administrative office, youth & special events and homebuyer support.
- The Human Rights Campaign (in DC) has remote, hybrid and in-person paid internships (full-time receive a $5000 stipend; part-time receive a $2500 stipend).
- Kings Dominion (near Richmond) has both Security internships and lots of summer jobs in general.
- National Museum of African-American History & Culture paid Summer Internships in DC, NC, FL, PA, AL, IL, NY and LA. Apply by 2/15/23.
- The National Security Policy Center at UVA's Batten School seeks full-time 10-week (May 30-August 4) summer Interns paying $15/hour to research a project about the U.S. Military and democracy. Apply by Friday, February 24 by emailing Claire Oto a resume and a brief writing sample to wcv9qx@virginia.edu.
- Progressive Pipeline seeks the Next Generation of Leaders to support progressive campaigns and organizations as field organizers or data analysts. The fellowship stipend will be $4000-6000.
- The Presidential Precinct seeks a paid ($2500 for 8 weeks) Summer Program Associate to support their mission of engaging and inspiring emerging leaders to address the most pressing challenges in their countries. Apply by 3/15/23.
- The White House has a semester-based internships in DC.
- The Town of Scottsville seeks volunteers to assist with website design, town beautification, events & tourism, government policy, grant writing and more! Email volunteer@scottsville.org.
- Virginia Defenders Indigent Defense Commission (based in Richmond) has unpaid Internships for undergraduates interested in pursuing the field of law.
- Voter Empowerment Project seeks both summer, fall or spring Interns ($16/hour) and Volunteers for a number of different areas including research, graphic design, photo editing, web design, social media, copy editing and more!
- Washington DC Metropolitan Police Dept. seeks part-time or full-time interns who have 36+ credits (sophomore and above).
- Waynesboro Heritage Foundation seeks Volunteers to help with research, publication, carpentry, facility maintenance, and welcoming visitors to their museums.
Healthcare or Animal Care
- Volunteering at local health care facilities can add to your resume - Charlottesville Free Clinic, Sentara/Martha Jefferson Hospital, Virginia Dept. of Health or UVA Hospital
- American Red Cross seeks volunteers / interns in a number of areas. They have a particular need for help with their Disaster Action Team and being a Blood Donor Ambassador. Email laine.hodges@redcross.org with questions.
- CVS offers internships in both pharmacy and business. Or consider becoming a Pharmacy Technician while you're in school.
- EduMed's Healthcare Internships Guide has good information about the differences between internships, externships and clinicals, tips for finding these experiences and links to good internship sites at the bottom.
- Premier Nursing Academy created a Volunteering Guide for Students - the Benefits of Giving Back.
- Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary has a paid ($10/hour) Summer Internship which also provides housing. Apply by 2/17/23.
- University of Virginia Medical School Summer Research Internship Program. Apply by 2/1.
- The Wildlife Center of Virginia (in Waynesboro) seeks volunteers in a number of areas: outreach, veterinary dept. and transport/rescue.
Hospitality / Culinary
- Glacier National Park (in Montana) has summer (and year-long) opportunities in either culinary arts, guest services, retail, transportation, raft/fishing guides or food & beverage positions. Complimentary housing. $500-$1000 bonus for culinary positions!
- Keswick Hall & Golf Club seeks a Cook Intern ($11/hour). Email resume to jhoffman@keswick.com.
- The Greenbrier Sporting Club (in WV) seeks Interns in a number of areas to include culinary, accounting, marketing, property development, fitness, etc.
- Wintergreen (in Nelson Co.) seeks culinary interns - particularly during the winter season. Email Dennys Medrano for more information - dmedrano@WintergreenResort.com.
Outdoor / Horticulture / Skilled Trades
- Appalachian Conservation Corps (Harrisonburg) has paid Crew Member positions in a number of areas: Adult Conservation, Youth Conservation and Leadership Development
- Blue Ridge PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) seeks Volunteers
- Charlottesville Moving Solutions offers both Summer Crew positions (usually pay $5K-8K; leaders can earn up to $11K) and a Year-Off program if students want to take a break from school.
- The Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps places young adults (ages 18-25) with nonprofit organizations or government agencies to work full-time in the environmental field for a one-year term of paid service. Apply by March 9, 2023.
- Cultivate Charlottesville seeks volunteers in a number of areas (city schoolyard garden, food justice network and urban agriculture collective.
- Integrative Health & Horsemanship at Galleywinter Farm (in Afton) seeks Volunteers & Interns to help with the horses, gardening and even creative projects for marketing purposes.
- Ivy Creek Foundation has a number of volunteer possibilities at Ivy Creek Natural Area and historic River View Farm: Public Work Days (9-11am 1xmonth), Farm Docents (April-November, 10am-12pm 1xmonth), School Tour Guides, Little Naturalist Program, and Internships based on student's need.
- Lee Construction Group offers a 4-year Apprenticeship program to learn skills in Concrete, Carpentry, Metal Framing and Drywall.
- Shenandoah National Park offers Education & Interpretation internships in a number of different visitor centers.
- Southern Landscape Group (near Lynchburg) has a paid Summer Internship program. $14/hour + $500 housing allowance. Apply by 2/1/23.
- The Nature Conservancy seeks volunteers to help with their many projects.
- The Piedmont Chapter of the Sierra Club seeks a couple of students for a paid Summer 2023 internship to engage in commumity outreach in the Charlottesville area. This will be 8 hours/week (mostly on weekends) for eight weeks in June and July. $15/hour (stipend will be paid to PVCC's bursar's office to cover college expenses). Email jcruickshank4@gmail.com.
- U.Va.'s Apprenticeship program is a nationally recognized program to gain on-the-job training in the skilled trades. Min. starting salary of $15.07/hour. Apply by 4/29/22.
- The USDA Forest Service is hosting a PAID ($16.48/hour) Recruitment Camp, June 5-9, 2023 at Augusta Interagency Hotshot Crew Base. Apply by April 1, 2023. It will feature a foundational courses, daily physical training and coaching on the federal job application process.
- Virginia Dept of Wildlife Resources has both internships and volunteering opportunities.
- Virginia Free Farm @ Spotted Pig Holler (in Louisa) seeks volunteers. Consider supporting this non-profit who provides free nutritious meals to neighbors.
- Virginia Service & Conservation Corps (an Americorps program) offers free housing (depending on availability at the service site) and a living stipend ($12,000) to work in one of Virginia's 40 State Parks. Apply by 12/16/22 for their full-time 1200 hour program that runs from the end of January through September. You are awarded an education award of ~$5,000 at the completion of your service. They also have a 450 hour Interpretation/Trails Program Summer Opportunity (May 17-August 18) that offers a $4500 living allowance and an educational award at the end. Apply by 4/30/23.
- Wild Virginia seeks volunteers to help with monitoring water, leading hikes, photography, fundraising, website maintenance, education events and more!