UNPAID STUDENT INTERNSHIP – Citywide Intern Pool

Turn your education into meaningful public service experience.

Are you a college student or recent graduate interested in helping people, developing professional skills, and learning how local government serves its community?

The City of Redlands is seeking motivated individuals for an unpaid Community & Cemetery Services Internship. This opportunity provides hands-on exposure to municipal operations while helping support one of the City's most important community services. Cemetery Services is about much more than maintaining records and coordinating services. Our team works directly with community members who may be navigating the loss of a loved one and need someone who can provide clear information, compassion, patience, professionalism, and dependable assistance.

Interns will receive appropriate training and supervision and will not be expected to independently manage sensitive situations without staff support.

Internship duration and weekly hours will be established at the time of placement. Depending upon the needs of the City, the intern's availability, educational objectives, and continued progress in the program, internship participation may continue for an extended period, up to one year where appropriate.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN

This internship is designed as a learning and professional development opportunity. Depending upon assignment, interests, and demonstrated proficiency, interns may gain experience in:

• Local government and public-sector operations;
• Providing compassionate and professional customer service;
• Communicating with individuals and families experiencing difficult or significant life events;
• Administrative processes, documentation, and records management;
• Professional telephone, email, and in-person communication;
• Coordinating services and responding to public inquiries;
• Researching records and helping community members locate information;
• Maintaining confidential or sensitive information appropriately;
• Organizing files, databases, forms, correspondence, and other records;
• Working collaboratively with City staff and outside service providers;
• Managing competing priorities in a professional office environment; and
• Understanding how municipal services are delivered to the community.

As knowledge and proficiency develop, interns may receive progressively more complex assignments and opportunities to learn about other aspects of City operations.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

We are interested in candidates who want to learn, serve their community, and develop professional experience. This opportunity may be especially valuable for current students or recent graduates studying:

Social Work • Sociology • Psychology • Human Services • Public Administration • Business Administration • Communications • Public Relations • Behavioral Sciences • Organizational Leadership • or related fields

Students exploring a career in local government or public service are also strongly encouraged to apply, regardless of major.

WHY CEMETERY SERVICES?

Some of the most important public service happens during moments when people need patience, compassion, organization, and clear guidance. Interns will have an opportunity to observe and develop the professional skills necessary to assist community members while learning how the City coordinates services, maintains important public records, communicates with families and service providers, and manages sensitive administrative processes.

The experience can help develop transferable skills in:

EXAMPLES OF INTERNSHIP ASSIGNMENTS

Under the direction and supervision of City staff, assignments may include:

• Greeting and assisting members of the public;

• Responding to routine telephone, email, and in-person inquiries;

• Assisting customers with information regarding available cemetery services and City processes;

• Helping research cemetery and interment records;

• Entering, reviewing, organizing, and verifying information in City records and databases;

• Preparing correspondence, forms, informational materials, spreadsheets, and other documents;

• Assisting with scheduling and coordination of cemetery-related services;

• Supporting records digitization and organization projects;

• Assisting with community outreach or informational projects;

• Observing and learning how City staff coordinate with families, funeral homes, vendors, and other service providers; and

• Completing special projects designed to provide broader exposure to local government operations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:

• Current enrollment in, or recent graduation from, an accredited college or university.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA):

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required. Applicants must provide their most recent unofficial or official transcript showing their cumulative GPA at the time of application.

Experience:

• No previous local government or cemetery experience is required.
• Applicants should demonstrate an interest in public service, community service, administrative operations, human services, or a related professional field.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO ...

• Has an interest in public service and helping people;
• Demonstrates empathy, patience, maturity, and good judgement;
• Communicates professionally and respectfully;
• Is comfortable interacting with people from different backgrounds and circumstances;
• Understands that cemetery services may involve individuals experiencing grief or emotional situations;
• Is dependable, organized, and willing to learn;
• Can appropriately handle sensitive or confidential information;
• Has basic computer skills and the ability to learn new systems;
• Can follow established procedures while asking questions when guidance is needed; and
• Wants to build meaningful professional experience.

The City may work with a student's college or university when the student is seeking academic or internship credit, subject to applicable City requirements. Participation in the internship does not guarantee or create entitlement to future paid employment with the City of Redlands.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate through their application material that they meet the minimum qualifications of the position. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Examinations for the positions may consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate the applicant's skills, training, and experience for the position. 

The internship application must be completed and submitted online.  Applicants must list current and past work experience.  Do not indicate “See Resume”. 

Proof of education such as but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees must be submitted online with your application.  Applicants are responsible for attaching proof of education, certification, and/or license to each position for which they apply.  

Please note, the City of Redlands’ preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a background check (to include a conviction record) and pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination (which may include a drug/alcohol screening depending upon intern assignment).

For questions regarding this internship program, please contact Sophia Diaz at [email protected] or Julie Maher at [email protected]