Mayor Fulop Announces Opening of Application Process for Competitive 2020 Jersey City Summer Internships
Since 2014, over 400 Jersey City Students have participated in the Paid Internship Program with Placements in Leading Corporations and Nonprofits
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today the opening of the online application for the competitive Jersey City Summer Internship Program (JCSI). Now in its seventh year, JCSI is a distinguished program that places eligible public high school students in paid work-based learning opportunities at the City’s leading corporations and nonprofit organizations.
The program includes an orientation session and weekly professional development workshops where students takeaway lessons applicable to their internships. Students earn academic credit through the Hudson County and Jersey City School Districts. To date, JCSI has provided 406 Jersey City public school students with high quality summer internships. This is the first time the program will be run out of the new Department of Recreation and Youth Development as part of the Department’s expansion efforts to better address the overall goal of ensuring Jersey City’s youth has access to skills training and mentorship to promote positive development into adulthood.
“These internships provide invaluable experience with professional networking and on-the-job training to help Jersey City public school students develop their skillset and pave the way towards future careers,” said Mayor Fulop. “These quality internships have a strong record of success, placing students within a wide range of Jersey City’s private sector companies and nonprofit institutions who share a deep commitment to engaging the community and helping our youth reach their full potential.”
Developed by the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC), in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office and the Jersey City Public Schools, JCSI is part of the city’s broader Jersey City Youth Works initiative, a comprehensive, multi-program youth employment and enrichment initiative that has provided summer employment for more than 4,500 young people in city departments and agencies, corporations and nonprofits since the initiative began in 2014.
JCSI exposes rising high school seniors to industry leaders across a diverse range of sectors including finance, manufacturing, health care, and hospitality. The program enables participants to gain firsthand experience in professions driving Jersey City’s economic expansion and development. Students accepted into the program are placed in six-week internships where they spend four days a week in an office and participate in weekly career training seminars every Friday that enable them to successfully navigate their work environments.
“This was one of the first programs we implemented where none previously existed, and every year I’m encourage to see so many participants gain professional experience that no classroom can provide. It’s opportunities like these that help encourage young people to network and will open many doors in the future,” concluded Fulop.
Admission to JCSI begins with the online application, which requires students to submit, among other information, a transcript, report card, letter of recommendation, résumé, and three essays by March 1, 2020. Students who submit completed applications are then interviewed by representatives of participating organizations. Applicants will be notified whether they have been accepted to the program in May and June 2020.
JCSI continues to garner praise from students and participating companies and institutions. In 2019, 90 percent of responding supervisors reported that they would definitely like to serve as a JCSI program supervisor again in the future. Participating companies include: Connell Foley, Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Dixon Advisory USA, Fidelity Investments, Garden State Episcopal CDC, Goya Foods, Inc., Hyatt Regency – Jersey City, Investors Bank, Jersey City Medical Center, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Liberty Science Center, New Jersey City University, North Hudson Community Action Corporation, NPower, Saint Peter’s University, Sims Metal Management, Société Générale, SUEZ Water, The Waterfront Project, United Way, WomenRising, Inc., and York Street Project. Additional financial support is also provided by JPMorgan Chase & Co., BCB Bank, Goldman Sachs, Newmark Holdings, Oritani Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Silverman Properties, Vijaya Chellapilla and Family, McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC as well as individual supporters. This year, JCSI seeks to serve even more students and to welcome new businesses to the program.
All Jersey City residents who are enrolled in their junior year at a public high school in Jersey City or Hudson County Schools of Technology (County Prep and High Tech) are encouraged to apply.
Organizations who are interested in hosting interns, please contact the JCSI team at [email protected] or visit our website at www.jerseycityyouthworks.org to learn more about the program.