Purpose

The purpose of the Thurston County Internship Program is to create long-term benefits for the participating departments and the interns. The departments receive the opportunity to show students how they serve the community which helps them recruit for future positions. For the interns, this program offers hands-on experience with practical applications which educate them on the various aspects of county administration. In addition, the interns develop a better understanding of county government and how to work in a professional environment, giving them entry-level skills and a step-up for their post-college career.

Goal: to create long-term benefits for the participating departments and the interns.

Deliverable: learn how county government operates and develop an understanding of the roles of departments and offices. 

Why Intern with Thurston County?

OUR MISSION: To create a community that promotes health, commerce, and environmental protection with transparency and accountability.

OUR VISION: Thurston County is a vibrant community ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of generations to live, work and play.

We recognize the importance of customer service in government and are interested in students with a similar commitment to the provision of excellent service. High ethical standards are a requisite for any employee at any level of the organization.

Interns work no more than 20 hours a week and receive $20 per hour. If you are interested in doing an internship with an agency that values employees and customers, and operates at the highest ethical level, we encourage you to apply for our Internship Program today.

Applicant Information

Student Eligibility

• Students must be currently enrolled as a Junior/Senior in a four-year degree program or be enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited university or college.
• Students must have at least a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent.
• Students must have the necessary experience or education in a field related to the work that is to be performed.

Application Requirements

All students must submit the following to be considered for the internship:

• Completed application.
• College transcripts (unofficial transcripts may be accepted for initial consideration).
• A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or past employer.
• A professional resume.
• Letter of interest.

Please send a formal resume, completed application, and letter of interest to: 
Thurston County Board of County Commissioners 
Katelyn.johnson@co.thurston.wa.us 
3000 Pacific Ave SE Suite 200, 2nd Floor 
Olympia, WA 98501 
Attn: Internship Program
 

Application Deadline and Internship Duration

To be considered for the upcoming Spring Session, application packets must be submitted by October 30, 2023. Spring Session starts on the second Monday in January and ends on the last day in April.

To be considered for the upcoming Fall Session, application packets must be submitted by June 15, 2023. Fall Session starts on the last Monday in August and ends on the second Friday in December. Applicants have the possibility to extend internship into Spring semester, if interested.

For further information or questions, please reach out to Executive Assistant, Katey Johnson at katelyn.johnson@co.thurston.wa.us