The City of Boston Summer Internship Program offers a unique opportunity for motivated, service-minded individuals to:

• Gain firsthand experience in policy development, program management, community engagement, and administrative processes;
• Interact and work closely with city officials, departmental staff, and community members;
• Enhance your professional skills and explore various career paths within municipal government; and
• Make a difference in the communities where we work, live, and play.

This program will provide internship positions across various City departments for students who are interested in exploring careers in the public sector. The program will run for 10 weeks from June 1 to August 14. This is a full-time, paid internship. Interns work 35 hours per week at $20.00 per hour and are not eligible for employee benefits. While there are no degree requirements, all interns must provide proof of Boston residency by their first day of employment.

Here are just a few of the ways Summer Interns contribute to our City of Boston teams:

• Creating presentations and reports.
• Designing content for social and digital media channels.
• Compiling research and analyzing data.
• Providing direct assistance to constituents in need.
• Supporting and participating in special events and community meetings.
• Designing marketing and promotional materials for print and digital use.
• Supporting the department’s administrative functions.

Interns will be asked to perform other duties as assigned based on their department placement, which is determined after the class has been hired.

In order for an application to be considered, all candidates must:

1. Include a cover letter with their resume. Please read the instructions below carefully to ensure your application is complete.

• In lieu of a traditional cover letter, please provide a concise yet thorough response to this question in 100-200 words: "What motivates you to pursue public service, and how does this internship align with your career aspirations?" 
• The cover letter should be saved in the same file as your resume and uploaded to the Candidate Details section of your application profile.
• For those who prefer to express themselves verbally, we also welcome video responses. If you choose to include a link to a video, please state your full name at the beginning, and keep your response to no more than one (1) minute.

2. Be a resident of the City of Boston by May 29, 2026.

• In accordance with the City’s Municipal Code, all individuals employed by the City must be residents of the City by their first day of work. Learn more about residency requirements for City workers here and review the map of Boston neighborhoods here.
• If you are selected for the summer internship program, you will be required to provide proof of residency within the City limits by May 29. 2026.
• We encourage all prospective interns to consider this requirement seriously before completing this application, as we understand that many college students and other internship applicants have conditional living situations, especially during the summer months.
• In order to acknowledge your understanding and ability to comply with this requirement, be sure to answer Yes to this screening question in your application: "Will you be a resident of the City of Boston on your first day of employment?"

Additionally, ideal candidates will:

• Currently be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or have two to four (2-4) years of post-secondary school work experience.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Possess an ability to collaborate with individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
• Be able to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Showcase a demonstrated interest in serving the community and a willingness to learn and take initiative.