Job Number: 0404\-Intern\-2026
Description JOB ANNOUNCEMENT City of Chicago College Student Internship Opportunity
Salary: $16\.60/hour Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 04/06/2026
The City of Chicago’s College Student Intern Program is designed for college students who are seeking to gain knowledge and valuable work experience in the public sector. Work hours are flexible to meet the needs of students and city departments. This is a temporary position. Internships are limited to one year in any City Department.
Come learn and work amongst diverse and talented professionals who are committed to making Chicago the City that works. City departments are grouped into 4 main categories, Infrastructure, Community Services, Regulatory, and Public Safety.
Infrastructure departments are essential to keeping our city moving. They build, repair, and maintain our streets, sidewalks, bridges; maintain our sewage systems and residential recycling and waste programs; purify our city’s water supply; and operate the City’s two international airports. These departments include the Department of Aviation, Department of Fleet and Facilities Management, Department of Streets and Sanitation, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Water Management.
Community Services departments support Chicago’s families and neighborhoods. Services include health care clinics; immunizations, home\-delivered meals for seniors; emergency shelters for the homeless and displaced; crisis intervention assistance; referral services for people with disabilities; access to arts, cultural, and special events, festivals, and programs; and learning/recreational opportunities through citywide public libraries. These departments include the Chicago Public Libraries, Department of Cultural Affairs \& Special Events, Department of Family and Support Services, Department of Housing, Department of Planning \& Development, Department of Public Health, and Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
Regulatory departments work on behalf of the interests of consumers and workers through the enforcement of City ordinances and compliance with local, state, and federal laws; mitigate the threats of climate change; respond to resident and business complaints; and coordinate the overall government operations by managing city finances, human resources, legal, and other important functions. Regulatory departments include Board of Elections, Board of Ethics, Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control, Department of Administrative Hearing, Department of Buildings, Department of Environment, Department of Finance, Department of Human Resources, Department of Lay, Department of Procurement Services, Department of Technology and Innovation, License Appeal Commission, Office of Budget Management and Office of the Inspector General.
Public Safety departments work together to keep Chicago’s neighborhoods, families, and properties safe. The critical services that these departments provide save lives and protect homes, businesses, and the rights of all Chicagoans through law enforcement, fire suppression and prevention, and emergency response operations. These departments include the Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Police Department, Civilian Office of Police Accountability, Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Office of Public Safety Administration, and the Police Board.
Current internship opportunities are available at the following departments (other departments may participate based on budget availability):
Chicago Treasurer’s Office (CTO)
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Department of Administrative Hearings (DOAH)
Department of Procurement Services (DPS)
Department of Human Resources (DHR)
Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
The number of available positions varies by department.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Performing various functions to support departmental activities and the operating needs of the department.
- Compile, tabulate, analyze statistical data, research, and collect information for inclusion in studies and reports.
- Use various software packages to type documents, create spreadsheets and maintain databases.
- Provide general information regarding programs and services to the public.
- Review and process applications for programs and services; Explain program requirements to applicants.
- Maintain records and prepare work reports.
- Participate in the organization, set\-up, and administration of special events and program activities.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- Must be a student enrolled in an accredited college, university, law, business, or data processing/information technology school.
- Must have knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications \-Word, Excel and Power Point.
- must click the " Submit" button at the end of the online application to complete the application process. Unsubmitted or Incomplete applications will not be considered. If selected, at the time of on\-boarding, *you must provide a current letter of enrollment verification from the school's registrar/dean confirming enrollment in the upcoming semester
- (or National Student Clearinghouse Proof of Enrollment Certificate) to be deemed qualified.
Additional duties may be required for this position Location:Varies by departmentDays: Varies by departmentHours: Varies by department THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
(Disclaimer \- "Accredited" means any nationally or regionally accredited college, university, or law school where the applicant is enrolled in an AA, BA, MA, or JD degree program.)
NOTE: Applicants must complete each required section of the online application, submit a resume, *AND
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates will indicate their area of interest/department grouping. Departments will reach out to the Department of Human Resources to request a list of candidates. If more candidates are interested in the area/grouping than the number of vacancies, the candidate list will be randomized, and departments will contact candidates in lottery order. Candidates will work with the hiring department to be on\-boarded. Please note, depending on the volume of candidates who apply, and the number of positions departments have budgeted for, it is possible not all candidates will be selected for an internship.
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT. The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
Job Posting: Mar 23, 2026, 12:00:00 AM \| Closing Date (Period for Applying) \- External: Apr 6, 2026, 11:59:00 PMBU: N/A \| Salary: $16\.60/hour Pay Basis:Yearly