Monterey County launches paid social-media internship program for young adults; businesses invited to host interns

Monterey County Works described a paid social-media internship program that places trained young adults with local businesses to build digital-marketing skills and workplace experience.

Laura Kersner, business services specialist, said the Cadre Technology Program trains interns aged 18 to 24 for up to 40 hours in digital marketing and social media, then places them with host businesses as stipended interns. "It is a stipended position," Kersner said, emphasizing the role is intended as learning and mentorship rather than unskilled labor.

Michael Archellejo, job placement coordinator, described the work-experience component and pay: "The work experience program will be 280 hours of paid work experience. $18 an hour is the wage right now." He added that the county covers the $18-per-hour wage for participating businesses and that interns will produce an exit strategy for hosts (a posting calendar and content plan) so businesses can continue their social media after the internship.

Applications for both young adult applicants and host businesses are available at montereycountyworks.com on the Young Adult Job Seekers page, presenters said. Hosts must assign social-media–related tasks and set clear parameters for the internship; organizers said the program is not for general labor duties such as maintenance or trash pickup.

Presenters said the program has placed interns who later gained full-time employment and encouraged local businesses to participate, saying the internships provide mentorship and practical experience for young adults who often lack job histories. The briefing closed with organizers urging businesses to register on the county site and noting county staff will share more details as cohorts are scheduled.