COVA Internship Connection

Virginia Department of Human Resource Management

Connecting Interns to Public Service in Virginia State Government
DHRM logo

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 for 2025

Virginia Department of Health

Dive into hands-on projects, network with experts in prevention and promotion, HR, tech, and health communications, all while earning $18.25/hour. The program features a 2-day kickoff event, weekly virtual sessions, and a 2-day closing ceremony—all designed to build skills and connections for a future in public health!

Application: Now Open
Closing Date: January 31, 2025

Click here to apply:

Auditor of Public Accounts

The Auditor of Public Accounts (APA) is looking for Summer 2025 Interns who are eager to learn real-world auditing skills and motivated to grow professionally with a Richmond Top Workplace employer. The APA's 12-week internship provides weekly cohort collaboration opportunities, relevant training sessions, and hands-on auditing experience in a governmental environment.

Application: Now Open
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Click here to apply:

Virginia Department of Corrections

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is offering paid spring and summer internships for those seeking work experience and exploring career paths. Interns will assist with entry-level tasks across various fields, including Administration, Health Services, Policy, Communications, IT, HR, Probation, Law Enforcement, and more.

Application: Now Open
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Click here to apply:

Virginia Economic Development Partnership

VEDP is excited to announce our 10-week Summer Internship Program! This program offers college students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in state-level economic development and tourism while developing valuable professional skills. Undergraduate and graduate students looking to advance their careers are encouraged to apply! The program begins June 2, 2025, and ends August 14, 2025.

Application Open: 1/17/2025
Closing Date: 2/14/2025

Click here to apply

Past Intern Events

Virginia Capitol Tour

A group of people standing in front of a statue

The COVA Internship Connection Program hosted a Virginia Capitol Tour to expose interns to the legislative branch of state government. During these tours, interns learned about the Capitol, Virginia's legislative history, and the legislative process.

Intern Lunch and Learn

The COVA Internship Connection Program facilitated two professional development sessions for state interns. During the first session, Career Readiness Competencies, interns explored how to recognize, develop, and use the National Association of Colleges and Employers Career Readiness Competencies in both their internships and throughout their professional careers. The second session, Resume, Cover Letters, and Interview Preparation, provided guidance for writing a professional resume and cover letter and preparing for an interview. During this event, Secretary of Administration, Lyn McDermid, Secretary of Labor, Bryan Slater, and Deputy Secretary of Administration, Joyce Reed joined interns to answer questions and discuss their experiences working in state government.

A group of people standing and talking around a table

Virginia Intern Day

A group of people standing in front the building

For the culminating event, the COVA Internship Connection invited all state agency interns and supervisors to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Guest enjoyed light refreshments and a free tour of the museum.

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

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.