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Bakersfield interns say city program helped clarify career plans and build workplace skills
Summary
Two City of Bakersfield interns described how a paid internship exposed them to government work, helped them build communication and professional connections, and influenced career thinking.
Sofia Passimbal, an intern for the City of Bakersfield, said the internship helped her ‘‘consider that this could be a really good career path’’ after learning how local government operates and what working for the city entails.
Passimbal said the experience boosted her communication skills and expanded professional contacts she ‘‘wouldn't have otherwise made.’’ She told the session that seeing ‘‘all the different factors that really go into just working for the government’’ increased her appreciation for municipal work and helped reduce uncertainty about her future.
Alexander Murillo, a recent Liberty High School graduate and fellow city intern, said his placement in the finance department gave him exposure to multiple divisions, including treasury, payroll, purchasing and financial investigation. ‘‘The 1st benefit about this program is it pays,’’ Murillo said, adding that being paid while gaining experience is an important draw for high school participants.
Murillo also emphasized that the internship ‘‘exposes you to the local government,’’ noting that many people focus on state and federal government while local government is ‘‘the closest to you’’ and affects daily life.
Both interns said they would recommend the program to other students. Passimbal urged peers who are ‘‘maybe unsure about where they wanna branch to, but they're willing to put in the time and dedication’’ to consider applying.
The remarks came during a brief panel of city interns sharing their experiences; no formal actions or votes were recorded during the session.
