City of Atlanta Internships: How to Find Opportunities With the City Government

Interning with the City of Atlanta is a practical way to gain experience, build a network in local government, and learn how the city operates from the inside. Whether you’re a college student, recent graduate, or career-changer living in or near Atlanta, there are structured programs and office-specific opportunities you can explore.

This guide focuses on internships offered by the City of Atlanta government and related public agencies, not private companies, so you know exactly where to start and how the process usually works locally.

How City of Atlanta Internships Typically Work

Most City of Atlanta internships are:

• Part-time or full-time during the summer; some offices also offer fall and spring placements.
• Designed for college students, graduate students, or recent graduates; a few may consider advanced high school students.
• Department-based, meaning you apply directly to the office that needs an intern.
• Usually paid or stipend-based, though some may be unpaid or arranged for academic credit.

Expect to:

• Complete an online application through the City’s jobs portal or a department-specific form.
• Submit a resume and often a cover letter.
• Possibly go through a background check, especially if working with sensitive information or public-facing programs.
• Work on real city projects, not just administrative tasks.

Main Types of City of Atlanta Internships

1. Mayor’s Office & Executive-Level Internships

Many students are interested in working directly with city leadership. Internships in or connected to the Mayor’s Office give you exposure to high-level policy, communications, and community programs.

Common placement areas include:

• Policy and research
• Communications and public information
• Constituent services
• Community outreach and engagement
• Special initiatives (equity, sustainability, youth programs, etc.)

These internships often:

• Follow semester cycles (fall, spring, summer).
• Prefer undergraduate juniors/seniors and graduate students, especially in public policy, political science, communications, or related fields.
• Expect strong writing, research, and professional communication skills.

You’ll typically apply through the City of Atlanta employment portal or a form linked from the Mayor’s Office or Office of Communications webpage. When searching, use terms like “intern,” “internship,” “student,” or “fellow” in job filters.

2. City Council Internships

The Atlanta City Council also hosts interns who help support legislative and community work.

Typical intern tasks:

• Researching policy issues and city ordinances
• Drafting briefs, memos, and summaries
• Assisting staff with constituent inquiries
• Helping organize or observe committee meetings and public hearings

Potential placements:

• Individual Council District offices
• Council President’s office
• Legislative or research staff units

If you’re interested in government, law, or public policy, this is a strong option.

Where to get started in person:

• Atlanta City Council offices are located at:
  Atlanta City Hall
  55 Trinity Ave SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main City Hall line: (404) 330-6000
  (You can ask to be directed to the City Council or a specific district office to inquire about current internship availability.)

Many council offices list internship or student opportunities online during peak recruitment periods, so checking the City Council section of the city’s website and calling an office directly can both be useful.

3. Department-Specific Internships Across the City

Beyond the Mayor’s Office and City Council, many individual departments in Atlanta city government host interns. These placements can align closely with your major or career path.

Below is a simplified overview of common areas:

You’ll usually find these positions:

• Listed as “intern” or “student assistant” on the City’s jobs portal.
• Announced on department pages, especially around late winter/early spring for summer internships.
• Occasionally coordinated with local colleges and universities (such as Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, or area HBCUs).

If you’re unsure where to start, you can contact the main City Hall line and ask to be connected to a specific department’s administrative office to ask if they host interns and when they recruit.

4. Legal Internships: Law Department & Municipal Court

If you’re in law school or considering a legal career, the City of Atlanta has opportunities connected to its legal functions.

City of Atlanta Law Department
Potential roles involve:

• Legal research and writing
• Reviewing contracts and ordinances
• Supporting city attorneys on litigation and advisory work

Atlanta Municipal Court
Interns may:

• Observe court proceedings
• Assist with case file organization
• Help staff with administrative and outreach work related to court services

Common requirements:

• Enrollment in law school for legal-focused internships
• Strong interest in municipal or public interest law
• Comfortable working with confidential information

To explore these options, you can look for positions in the jobs portal under “Law Department” or “Municipal Court”, or call the main Municipal Court office in downtown Atlanta to ask about student opportunities and application windows.

5. Public Safety & Emergency Services Internships

Some internships are available with public safety-related agencies. These can be particularly appealing for students interested in criminal justice, homeland security, emergency management, or public administration.

Examples of potential placements include:

• Atlanta Police Department (APD) – community relations, crime analysis support, administrative projects
• Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) – community outreach, fire safety education, program support
• Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management or related offices – emergency planning support, communications, public preparedness campaigns

Because of the nature of these roles, expect:

• A background check
• Possibly stricter eligibility rules
• Clear professionalism expectations and confidentiality

Current opportunities are often listed on the City’s portal, on each department’s site, or through direct contact with their administrative or community relations offices.

Who Is Eligible for City of Atlanta Internships?

Eligibility varies by department, but common patterns include:

• Education level

  • Many positions prefer current college or graduate students.
  • Some accept recent graduates within a certain time window.
  • Occasionally, advanced high school students can apply for youth-focused or summer programs.

• Academic major or focus

  • Public policy, political science, communications, business, finance, planning, environmental science, engineering, IT, and criminal justice are often good fits.
  • Some internships are open to any major with strong interest and skills.

• Residency

  • Some opportunities prefer or prioritize Atlanta or metro Atlanta residents, but not all require city residency.
  • If residency matters, it is typically stated in the internship description.

• Work authorization

  • Interns usually need to be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Always review the individual posting carefully; the department’s criteria will control.

How to Find City of Atlanta Internship Listings

Here’s a practical approach if you’re searching from Atlanta right now:

1. Check the City’s official job portal

   • Use search terms like “intern,” “internship,” “student,” “fellow,” or “seasonal”.
   • Filter by “City of Atlanta” as the employer and look for postings that clearly mention intern or student roles.

2. Look at specific department pages

   • Departments such as City Planning, Parks & Recreation, Watershed Management, and the Mayor’s Office sometimes post details about their programs and application windows.
   • Watch especially around January–April for summer openings.

3. Contact departments directly

   • If you have a target area (for example, sustainability or urban planning), call the department’s main number (available through City Hall’s central line) and ask:
     • If they host interns
     • When they usually recruit
     • Whether you should apply through the central portal or send a resume directly

4. Use your Atlanta-area college or university

   • Career centers at Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and other local schools often hear about City of Atlanta internships.
   • They may have internship listings or existing contacts within city departments.

5. Watch for specialized programs

   • Some years, the City or Mayor’s Office may run named programs (for example, youth councils or summer fellows) that have their own application forms and deadlines.

When to Apply: Typical Timelines in Atlanta

While each department sets its own schedule, you’ll often see:

• Summer internships

  • Postings appear: January–April
  • Interviews: February–May
  • Work period: roughly May–August

• Fall internships

  • Postings: late spring to mid-summer
  • Work period: roughly August–December

• Spring internships

  • Postings: fall
  • Work period: roughly January–April/May

Because these are city government positions, some postings remain open longer or appear closer to the start date than private-sector roles, but applying early is still recommended.

What City of Atlanta Interns Typically Do Day to Day

Your specific duties depend on the office and supervisor, but common tasks for Atlanta city interns include:

• Research & analysis

  • Looking up best practices from other cities
  • Reviewing local data (for example, traffic counts, zoning history, budget items)
  • Helping summarize findings for staff or leadership

• Administrative support

  • Drafting emails, memos, and meeting notes
  • Organizing files and preparing materials for meetings
  • Helping with event logistics

• Community engagement

  • Assisting at public meetings, neighborhood events, and community workshops
  • Helping staff interact with residents, answer questions, and gather feedback
  • Supporting social media or communications content (depending on office policies)

• Project-based work

  • Supporting a specific project, like a park improvement plan, a youth program, or a sustainability initiative
  • Helping track timelines and deliverables

Interns are usually supervised by a staff member or team lead and may have the chance to attend internal meetings, city council sessions, or public hearings for learning purposes.

Tips to Strengthen Your Application in Atlanta

Here are practical steps to stand out when applying for City of Atlanta internships:

1. Tailor your resume to public service

   • Highlight any volunteering, student government, community work, or nonprofit experience in Atlanta or your local community.
   • Emphasize skills such as writing, research, data analysis, public speaking, and bilingual abilities.

2. Write a focused cover letter

   • Explain why you want to work specifically for the City of Atlanta (not just “any government”).
   • Connect your interests to local issues such as transportation, housing, equity, parks, economic development, or public safety.

3. Show familiarity with local context

   • Briefly demonstrate you understand or are interested in topics like:
     • Growth and development in neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, Southwest Atlanta, or the Westside
     • Transit and mobility issues in the Atlanta region
     • Community engagement and neighborhood planning

4. Use local references and networks

   • If a professor, advisor, or supervisor in Atlanta is willing to serve as a reference, that can help.
   • Mention any city programs you’ve participated in, such as neighborhood planning meetings or youth leadership initiatives.

5. Be prepared for background checks

   • Ensure you can provide any requested documentation promptly.
   • Answer questions clearly and honestly if interviews touch on this process.

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships With the City

City of Atlanta internships may be:

• Paid hourly
• Stipend-based
• Unpaid but eligible for academic credit

Details are usually included in the job posting. If compensation is not clearly listed:

• It is reasonable to ask during the application or interview stage.
• Some departments coordinate with college internship-for-credit programs, especially in Atlanta-area schools.

Because these are public positions, pay rates are usually standardized and not negotiable, but they can differ from one department or role to another.

Where to Go or Call for General City Internship Questions

If you’re not sure where to start or need help navigating the system, you can use City Hall as a central entry point:

Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main phone: (404) 330-6000

You can ask to be connected to:

• A specific department (for example, City Planning, Parks & Recreation, Watershed Management)
• The Mayor’s Office or Office of Communications
• The Human Resources or Talent Acquisition office, to ask:
  • How to search for internships on the City’s portal
  • Whether there is a current list of student and intern positions
  • When departments typically recruit

If you’re a student at an Atlanta-area college, your campus career services office is also a practical partner; they often know who at the City of Atlanta to contact about internships.

By focusing on the City’s official job listings, targeting the departments that match your interests, and tying your application to Atlanta’s real local issues, you can put yourself in a strong position to secure a City of Atlanta internship and get hands-on experience in how the city is run.