Intern Opportunities
with Fairfax County Park Authority

THE INTERN PROGRAM

The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud of its ability and opportunity to provide a variety of intern programs for individuals seeking on-the-job experience in all aspects of Park Authority operations. The agency intern program boasts a well-established history dating back to the 1960's. The program has changed throughout the years, growing and adapting to meet the ever-changing needs of the park and recreation profession.

The Park Authority offers internships in a sincere effort to provide a quality, diversified program in which students from a wide variety of educational disciplines have the opportunity to apply traditional academic classroom learning to actual work experience within the Park Authority, in order to develop personal and professional skills for future career development and placement.

The Park Authority offers four categories of internships within most of its five divisions of operation. The categories of internships are as follows:

An internship which is required by a university or college to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree in a chosen field.

In order to qualify for this type of internship, you must:

1. Hold a junior or senior standing in a four year degree program, be enrolled in the last semester of a two year degree program, or be enrolled in the second half of a graduate program.
2. Have a major grade point average of at least 2.0 (3.0 graduate GPA).
3. Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills.
4. Have strong initiative and the ability to work independently.
5. Follow FCPA outlined application process.
6. Meet division specified qualifications.

Educational training, leading to certification in a specific technical service.

In order to qualify for this type of internship, you must meet the division specified qualifications.

Educational training in a specific trade or skill.

In order to qualify for this type of internship, you must meet the division specified qualifications.

An internship for individuals seeking hands-on experience in a field related to their academic training, and/or re-entering the field after a period of absence. Included may be those university/college students wishing an internship for experience, but which is not required to obtain a degree. This type of internship request is usually considered on a case-by-case basis, and is not offered in every division. Undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students are eligible.

In order to qualify for this type of internship, you must:

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

FCPA CONTACT PERSON

The FCPA contact person is the Training Coordinator, Janet Tetley.

SUPERVISION

Following initial contact with the agency, the Training Coordinator will refer you to the division of your choice. You will be referred to the Division Intern Coordinator who will be responsible for your interview, hire, placement, training, assignment, and evaluation.

LENGTH OF INTERNSHIPS

Depending on the type of internship and the division in which it is being held, most internships run 10 weeks or 400 hours.

PAY

Internships may be paid or unpaid depending on agency budgetary constraints.

HOUSING

Housing is available in the Park Authority intern residence, free of charge to the out-of-town student.

TRANSPORTATION

You are required to have your own means of transportation in order to get to and from work. Intern assignments occasionally require varying work schedules throughout the County. You may be required to utilize your personal vehicle to conduct agency business. If so, you will be reimbursed for your mileage at $.375 per mile.

ORIENTATION

A structured orientation program will be provided to interns during their first few weeks on the job. A meeting with senior managers and the Park Authority Board will be scheduled.

PROJECTS/REPORTS/EVALUATION

Depending on your type of internship, you will most likely be required to complete a special project, weekly reports, and a final exit briefing or presentation. You will be provided with a written and verbal evaluation of your performance by your immediate supervisor.

The Park Authority intern program affords each intern opportunities for both career enhancement and personal growth. These benefits include:

Resume Prestige: In the open job market you will be searching for that extra edge that separates your resume from the rest of the pack and gets you noticed. An intern experience with FCPA can do just that. You will have the benefit of having worked for an award winning organization with a nationally known and respected reputation.

Results Oriented Work Experience: You do not have to worry about ending up opening the mail and running the copy machine here. Our interns work on real projects. Our program is structured to provide each student with a visible end product and a sense of pride and accomplishment, as well as an important building block for your resume.

Job Contacts: The old adage, "It's who you know and not what you know", has a certain ring of truth. A positive work experience with us may result in a key reference that launches your career or may even give you the inside track on an internal job opening. It is no coincidence that many of our current employees began their careers as FCPA interns.

Exposure to a Variety of Career Paths: Interning with an organization as large and varied as FCPA allows you to investigate a variety of career path options. You may develop an interest in a specialty you never even thought of before.

After-Hours Fun: We recognize that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". That is why we feel out-of-state students who are pondering their internship options should consider the leisure opportunities available in the Washington metro area. Federal, State, and local parks cover more than 10% of Fairfax County's total land area--that is 25,000 acres! The cultural and night life opportunities of the Metro area are unparalleled.

We believe an intern program should be mutually beneficial to both the student and the Park Authority. Our intention is to provide you with an experience that fosters both professional growth and self expression. In return, we expect you to have good core work habits--strong communication skills, a demonstrated ability to effectively complete assignments and a knowledge in your degree area which is commensurate with class standing and which is sufficient to adequately carry out and complete your internship project. We can benefit from your enthusiasm and project support which allows us to accomplish tasks that may not otherwise receive timely completion. In addition, the agency benefits by having the opportunity to preview your performance for possible full time recruitment following your internship, thus allowing us to hire someone already trained, groomed for a particular position, and knowledgeable of agency operations.