San Rafael, CA – Recruitment is underway through May 31 for eight-week summer paid internships with various departments at the County of Marin. But this is not just any internship. A key objective of the Career Explorer Youth Program is to provide opportunities to young people ages 16 to 22 who reside in communities and/or have experienced circumstances that traditionally present barriers to employment.
This is the fifth year of Career Explorers, designed from the start with a strong motivation to fostering
equity and fair opportunity while giving interns real-life work experience and vocational skills. Participants earn between $11.93 and $14.51 per hour if selected, plus a stipend during training.
Online applications are now posted in English and Spanish.
The Marin County Probation Department collaborates with the County’s Department of Human Resources and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer the program. Internships are available in those three departments plus others such as Marin County Parks, the Marin County Free Library, the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, the Public Defender’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the Community Development Agency, and the Board of Supervisors’ Office.
“The Explorer’s program is truly unique – offering young people real world, first-hand experience and insight into potential career paths,” said Board of Supervisors President Katie Rice. “We see kids come out of this experience thinking about what’s next, empowered to see themselves and their future in a different, hopeful, and more expansive light.”
Luis Luciano, an Employment Development Counselor with the Probation Department, said the program received more than 120 applications for 29 summer 2019 positions.
“Just the value of going through the application and interview process will be well worth the effort,” Luciano said. “Since it’s competitive, the applicants get a chance to market themselves and get a close-up look at a possible career.”
One of the most valuable facets of the program is introductory employment training such as resume writing, interview preparation, public speaking, and best practices for completing job applications. The young people learn about cultural competency, bias, generational differences in the workplace, conflict resolution, and financial literacy. Luciano said several past interns have continued contributing for the County in part-time paid capacities.
Interns generally work weekdays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., excluding holidays, and start with an orientation period. All participants receive $100 per week during the two-week orientation. Host departments then welcome selected interns and get them involved with projects that work well with their existing interests and skills.
In the past, the majority of Career Explorers have some form of barrier to potential employment. That may include personal experiences with the juvenile justice system, family members with experience in either the juvenile or adult justice systems, or residence in neighborhoods often impacted by crime.
The program was borne from the County’s 5 Year Business Plan, which includes the focus areas of “diversity and inclusion” and “growth and development.” The Career Explorer program creates a diverse, skilled, and local candidate pool for employment opportunities in a manner that promotes growth and development. Those who complete the internships are recognized in a graduation ceremony in the Board of Supervisors’ chamber at the Marin County Civic Center.
The Probation Department uses funds from a state grant to cover the costs of stipends, work uniforms, food, transportation and supervision for the interns. Departments that employ the interns also contribute to the cost of the program.
To learn more about the program or to obtain a printed application, contact Development Counselor Luis Luciano.