Valley Water’s Summer Internship Program is celebrating its twelfth anniversary in 2023. The program is very popular (we usually have around 1,000 applicants each year) and recognized as an industry leader. It’s an amazing opportunity to gain relevant work experience in the public sector and make an impact on the organization and local community while enhancing academic learning.
Summer 2023 will be a hybrid internship with some days in the office and others from home. Each intern will have a mentor and will be provided professional development training, participate in networking events, meetings, and prepare a Capstone presentation at the end of the program. Some positions will require the intern to be in the lab, office, or field 100% of their internship and will be clearly labeled as such on the job postings.
Intern compensation is $26.31 per hour.
Get to Know Us Better
Valley Water is run by a Board of Directors, which includes seven elected members representing equally-divided districts. Interns will have the highly valuable opportunity to attend Board meetings during the program.
Valley Water’s new CEO, Rick Callender, was appointed to the role in July 2020 after 24 years of employment with the organization, serving most recently as the Chief of External Affairs (CEA). He is the first African-American to serve in the role in Valley Water’s 90-year history. CEO Rick Callender leads the Executive Management Team, comprised of nine executives.
Read about Valley Water’s Mission, Vision, and Values to learn about who we are, what we believe in, and where we want to go.
Valley Water deeply values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and offers 11 Employee Resource Groups (which are very similar to college clubs). The CEO of Valley Water, Rick Callender, created a new office of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) in the organization and also serves as the President of the California Hawaii State Conference National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Eligibility
- Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate (Junior or above as listed on your transcript for Fall 2023) or graduate-level community college or college/university program in Fall 2023
- Proof of enrollment will be required prior to start of assignment
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Only applicants who have not previously held a Valley Water Summer Internship Program previously will be considered
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COVID-19 vaccination requirement: to protect our most valuable assets, our employees, as well as the communities we serve, Valley Water requires all newly hired Valley Water personnel to be fully vaccinated (for COVID -19) or to be formally excused from the requirement through the **reasonable accommodation process (for details in job posting). Interns will be required to submit their state digital vaccination record before their start date.
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Valley Water requires interns to work within 150 miles of the Valley Water office they are to report to by their start date. The intern must perform their work in the State of California not more than 150 miles from Valley Water’s office (5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA or 1121 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento CA ) for the duration of their internship.
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Selected candidates must pass a pre-employment screening process to include reference and background/criminal checks
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Applicants must be able to work full-time (40 hours/week) during the Summer Internship Program
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May 30 – August 11 for semester students
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June 20 – September 8 for quarter students
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Program Schedule |
Mandatory Orientation |
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(12 weeks) |
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Intern Information Sessions
Join us for our very own Intern Information Sessions to help set you up for the best success on your summer internship applications! We will be discussing important deadlines, tips for your resumes, and past internship experiences. Join us to learn what Valley Water is all about!
- Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 5th (10:30AM-11:30AM).
- Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 11th (3PM-4PM).
- Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 17th (11:30AM-12:30PM).
- Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 23rd (2PM-3PM).
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84010320278?pwd=WC8rTEFLTlVUeSthS0g2SnJ2TmFFUT09
Meeting ID: 840 1032 0278
Application Process
Apply online February 1 - February 19, 2023
Complete the required online Employment Application
- Resume (recommended)
- Provide detailed responses to the Supplemental Questions listed in the online application
Please note: In the work experience section of the online application, school projects, volunteer and extracurricular activities may be included in lieu of work experience.
The schedule above may be subject to change
Timeline
February: Supplemental questions are reviewed by a diverse team.
March: Mentors review top applications and select interview candidates.
March-April: Interviews are conducted via Zoom.
April: Offers extended to the top candidate and background checks processed.
May: All students will be notified via a phone call if they are selected, so make sure you have your voicemail set up.
Come Meet Us!
Come meet the Valley Water recruitment team and learn more about the summer internship opportunities we are offering.
Career Fairs
SJSU MEP Resume Blast on September 23rd (10-1PM).
Santa Clara University Fall Virtual Career Fair BASH on September 28th (1-5PM).
Santa Clara University Virtual STEM Career Fair on October 12th (1-4PM).
2022 SJSU Fall ASCE Networking Day on October 14th (10-3pm).
SVCTE College & Career Fair on November 18th (Session 1: 7:45-10:15AM, Session 2: 1-3:30PM).
Evergreen Valley College Career Exploration Fair on December 7th (10-3PM).
2023 Santa Clara University Virtual Winter Career Fair BASH on January 25th (1-4PM). Register for an individual 1:1 session in Handshake.
Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 5th (10:30AM-11:30AM). (https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84010320278?pwd=WC8rTEFLTlVUeSthS0g2SnJ2TmFFUT09)
Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 11th (3PM-4PM). (https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84010320278?pwd=WC8rTEFLTlVUeSthS0g2SnJ2TmFFUT09)
Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 17th (11:30AM-12:30PM). (https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84010320278?pwd=WC8rTEFLTlVUeSthS0g2SnJ2TmFFUT09)
Valley Water Intern Information Session on January 23th (2PM-3PM). (https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84010320278?pwd=WC8rTEFLTlVUeSthS0g2SnJ2TmFFUT09)
Additional Information
- Participation in the Summer Internship Program does not automatically guarantee full-time employment.
- Valley Water does not provide medical benefits, vacation pay, or holiday pay as part of the intern program.
FAQ
Can I apply for more than one internship position?
Yes, you are welcome to apply for more than one position. Application and supplemental question responses should be tailored to each position applied for accordingly.
I am a Sophomore. Can I apply for the summer internship program?
Our summer internship program is for Juniors and above based on your college transcript for Fall of that year. A current sophomore could apply for our summer internship program as long as they would be a junior on their Fall transcript. We do check transcripts during your background check so make sure you have one handy.
Do you offer year-round college internships?
Yes, year-round part-time internships are offered at Valley Water for local students. Please send your resume to [email protected] (Subject: Year-Round Internship).
Do you offer high school internships?
Yes, we offer summer high school internships through our partnership with Silicon Valley Career Technical Education, an amazing technical school located in San Jose.
Valley Water also offers a civic leadership opportunity for high school students called Youth Commission.
Are interns hired directly by Valley Water?
No, interns are hired by our third-party temporary agency, Tryfacta. Tryfacta is the intern’s employer. They will provide W-2s and verify employment.
Do you sponsor international students?
Valley Water’s third-party temporary agency will only hire individuals who are authorized to be lawfully employed in the United States. They do not sponsor international students.
I already have a vacation planned for this summer. Is that allowed?
Maybe, it will depend on the date, length of your vacation and the projects you are working on. We suggest you apply to the internship, and if you are selected, you can discuss the vacation with your mentor when they make you an offer.
Could my internship turn into a full-time position?
Yes, each year we have a handful of interns who are successfully hired as full-time employees. Interns interested in full-time positions need to apply and compete for the full-time positions along with other external candidates.
What is Valley Water’s position on Black Lives Matter/Diversity?
Valley Water is committed to creating an inclusive work environment which supports the diversity of our community and enriches our perspectives. A workforce that finds strength and creativity in its diversity is critical to delivering quality products and services. In solidarity of the Black Lives Matter movement, Valley Water Chair Nai Hsueh made a public statement on racial injustice and inequality in June 2020 that reflects Valley Water's Value Statement "All individuals are unique and important, and will be treated with fairness, dignity and respect."
One of the first actions our recently appointed CEO Rick Callender took was to create a new Office of Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI). Valley Water's Board passed the "Resolution on Addressing Systematic Racism and Promoting Equity" on September 22, 2020 with link here. The REDI office will champion efforts on racial equity, diversity and inclusion, driving Valley Water's response to individual and systematic racism internally and promoting equity and environmental justice externally to all communities Valley Water serves.
Do you provide housing or relocation expenses?
Valley Water doesn’t provide housing or relocation. Our summer interns often sublet from San Jose State University or Santa Clara University Students. Please note interns must perform their work in the state of California not more than 150 miles from Valley Water office (5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA for San Jose office or 1121 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA for Sacramento office) for the duration of their internship.
What is the best piece of advice you can offer to intern applicants?
Take your time to complete your application. It should take about an hour to complete. Spend extra time on the supplemental questions (mini essay questions at the end of the application) as they are reviewed first. Make sure you show your passion for your major and concisely answer the question asked. We love to hear about school projects, volunteering, and extracurricular activities.
What is the best piece of advice you can offer to an applicant selected for an interview?
Before your interview, make sure your practice your interview skills. Here is a great list of interview questions to practice with. Make sure you take time to learn about Valley Water - look at our website, Google search, or follow us on social media. In addition, prepare a list of questions you have for your mentor. If there is enough time at the end of your interview, we encourage you to ask questions.
What is the best piece of advice you can offer to a selected summer intern?
Treat your summer internship like a 3-month job interview. Our mentors are used to giving references for grad schools or future employment, so make sure you are ready to impress them. Also, make sure you build your professional network, come prepared to learn, step outside your comfort zone and make a difference in your community!
Questions?
For more information, please contact our Recruitment team via email at [email protected] (Subject: Summer Internship).