Most Weber State University students graduate having completed an internship. In fact, many majors require one. However, WSU students also work and often have families outside of school. Getting an internship can put extra stress on a student. Luckily, the Government Career Fair hosts several businesses looking for paid interns.
Every year, Weber State University holds career fairs, so students can apply for jobs and talk to recruiters about positions outside of university employment. The Government Career Fair, of course, focuses on government jobs.
Many jobs in government require applicants to complete internships. However, most of the time, the internship turns into a job.
The Local Government Division of the Office of the State Auditor contributed to the career fair a paid internship as an opportunity for students interested in local government, especially for those interested in careers.
The internship entails working with local government team members on a rotating basis to gain a comprehensive look at each Local Government Division initiative. Interns select a core project that aligns with their individual interests and work to complete it as well as performing ongoing, general tasks, such as monitoring local news outlets for government articles and contacting local government agencies to gather and distribute information.
“There is a lot of work involved to do a job like this, but it really pays off. It’s very rewarding,” said Jeremy A. Walker, CPA and local government manager who works for the Office of the State Auditor.
Hill Air Force Base also came to advertise intern positions. Home of the Air Force Materiel Command’s Ogden Air Logistics Complex, HAFB employs more than 23,000 civilian employees, military personnel and contractors and is the largest employer in the state of Utah.
Their internship, tailored to scientists and engineers, provides worldwide engineering management for cutting-edge weapons systems.
Internships at HAFB are paid, but a limited number are available.They request students be a minimum of a sophomore. The internship lasts until students graduate, and after they are finished, they are guaranteed a job.
The Peace Corps are looking for students who have already received a bachelor’s degree. The Peace Corps is a 27-month-long humanitarian trip. Participants spend the first three months learning the language of the country they are going to and helping others in that country for the remaining 24 months. Housing and clothes are paid for, and after the trip, participants receive $8,000.
After participating in the Peace Corps, many scholarship opportunities open up, and depending on circumstance, the Peace Corps can pay for graduate school.
Melinda Deighton, who served in Georgia, was recruited by the Peace Corps. She described the experience as one of the most rewarding in her life.
“I helped teach English to elementary school students,” Deighton said. “I loved being able to help people everyday.”
Every WSU Career Fair hopes to arm students with contacts and positions, but the Government Career Fair has a special focus on working outside of school and turning internships into paid positions.
