COVA Internship Connection

Virginia Department of Human Resource Management

Connecting Interns to Public Service in Virginia State Government
DHRM logo

Drag

0:00 / 0:00

In 2023, a workgroup was formed between the State Council of Higher Education and the Department of Human Resource Management to develop a program to provide centralized support and programming for Virginia state agencies and interns. After months of work, the group launched the COVA Internship Connection Pilot in May 2023 for all Commonwealth of Virginia state agencies.

Our Mission

Strengthening public service talent through internships.

Empowering Virginia State Government Agencies in internship program development.

Fostering state government awareness and supporting intern success.

Why Intern With State Government?

An internship in state government provides an impactful opportunity for interns to learn about state government, understand the many services state government provides, explore the many occupations represented in state government, and grow professionally!

Internship Opportunities

Learn More

Virginia Department of Health

The VDH Internship Academy is a structured program that allows current or recent students to explore what it is like to work at VDH. You’ll work directly within a program area or at a local health department on projects where you’ll be immersed as part of the team.

Learn More

James Yorktown Foundation

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation offers internships for undergraduate and graduate students who are seeking job experience and continued education.

Learn More

Department of Environmental Quality

Are you a college sophomore or junior passionate about protecting Virginia’s air, land, and water? If so, our paid summer internship program offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and deepen your understanding of how the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) safeguards the environment.

Learn More

Science Museum of Virginia

Are you curious, passionate about science, and eager to make a meaningful impact in your community? The Science Museum of Virginia offers paid summer internship opportunities designed to empower individuals from all backgrounds to explore exciting careers in STEM and museum fields

Learn More

Virginia Economic Development Partnership

The VEDP Summer Intern Program is a 10-week opportunity for students to explore government employment and develop skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, and industry-specific areas. Interns will gain professional mentorship and hands-on learning. Full-time undergraduate or graduate students are encouraged to apply. Questions? Email internship@vedp.org

Past Intern Events

A group of people standing in front of a statue

Explore the Commonwealth
Interns have the unique opportunity to explore the Commonwealth through engaging site visits and direct interactions with state leadership. Previous interns have had the chance to participate in guided tours of the Capitol and General Assembly, as well as insightful Q&A sessions with state secretaries.

Professional Development
Interns have access to a variety of professional development opportunities, both in-person and virtual. Past topics include virtual sessions on workplace conflict management and inclusivity, along with an in-person resume workshop. In this workshop, interns learned best practices for resume development and received personalized one-on-one feedback from HR professionals.

Connect
The COVA Internship Connection aims to connect interns across the Commonwealth, fostering a cohort-like experience. For Summer 2023, all state agency interns and supervisors were invited to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to celebrate Virginia Intern Day.

A group of people standing in front the building

Intern Resources

Articles and Videos

Training

The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership Training Modules

Opportunities

Internship Opportunities

Your experience does not have to end with your summer internship! Here are pathways to state government employment...

The Virginia Management Fellows Program

The VMF is a great opportunity for interns interested in pursuing a career within the Commonwealth's state agencies. During this two-year program, the VMF deploys people, knowledge, skills, and experiences to develop Fellows for future opportunities within state government.

For more information, visit https://vmf.spia.vt.edu/.

"Taking part in the COVA Internship Connection program enabled me to learn more about Virginia's state government and develop professional skills, elevating my internship experience. Also it was refreshing to meet other interns across Capitol Square and share what we learned."

Benjamin
Former SCHEV Intern
Current VMF Fellow

Employment with the State

Some interns take advantage of their connections and go on to become full time employees with their hosting agency. Click the video to learn more about VITA's Internship Program and their interns' experiences. Click below to see available positions within the state.

For more information, click here.

Agency Support

"When it comes to developing effective workforce development programming for the Virginia Department of Education, learning from others is vitally important. The mentoring and career conversations through the COVA Internship Connection have played an important role in informing the opportunities my agency is creating."

Adria F. Merritt
Director, Workforce and Employee Engagement
Virginia Department of Education

Supervisor Lunch & Learn

computer screen showing people in virtual meeting

The COVA Internship Connection hosted a virtual workshop for state agency HR professionals. The session provided guidance and best practices for creating or improving their agency's internship program.

The COVA Internship Connection hosted a supervisor lunch and learn to support intern supervisors, ensuring they felt prepared to host Summer 2023 interns. The session focused on guiding intern supervisors on how to best manage assigned interns during designated internships.

HR Workshop

"I was so glad to see and participate in the COVA Internship Connection outreach activities this past summer. The VITA team sent our summer interns to the helpful session that covered resumes, cover letters, and interviews and it was very informative. Our group shared valuable takeaways from the session, and greatly appreciated the ability to connect with interns from other state agencies."

Jason Brown
Chief Administrative Officer
Virginia IT Agency (VITA)

Agency Resources

Agency Spotlight

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

group of students standing on steps of the Capitol

This spring, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) launched its inaugural Summer Internship Academy. The 12-week paid internship targeted students majoring in healthcare policy, public policy, psychology, social work, human resources, communications, IT, healthcare finance, business analysis, and other relevant fields. We sought students eager for hands-on, work-based learning experiences. The first cohort was a success, and we look forward to launching the second cohort in Summer 2025.