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Student Opportunities
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) offers students a number of ways to interact with the Agency and learn from our seasoned professionals.
We offer internships, college aide positions, and numerous academic programs for students interested in various career tracks like architecture, engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical), construction inspection, sustainability, public policy, human resources, facilities management, and government administration.
Take a look at your programs and contact us at YouthEngagement@buildings.nyc.gov with any inquiries. We look forward to hearing from you!
| Program |
Time Commitment |
When does the program run? |
Is it paid? |
|
Part-time |
Year-round |
Yes |
|
|
Part-time |
Year-round |
Yes |
|
|
Once a week |
Spring only |
No |
|
|
Part-time |
Summer only |
Yes |
|
|
Part-time |
Year-round |
Yes |
|
|
Full-time |
Summer only |
Yes |
|
|
Once every other week |
Spring only |
No |
Programs
Career and Technical Education Internships (CTE)
DOB currently provides internship placements for students in CTE high schools. We have worked with students from Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design, Energy Tech High School, and City Polytechnic High School of Engineering Architecture and Technology, among others. If you are a CTE high school student interested in working with us, reach out to your school’s Work-Based Learning coordinator, or contact us at YouthEngagement@buildings.nyc.gov directly for more information.
College Aides
College aide positions offer students a flexible, engaging way to gain paid experience over the course of their academic careers.
DOB offers college aide positions across a wide range of units, and a college aide’s responsibilities change depending on the unique mission of a given unit. We have mechanical engineering college aides in our Boilers unit, and Cranes & Derricks unit, architectural college aides working in Manhattan Plan Examination unit, and inspectorial college aides in our Special Enforcement Inspections unit.
New college aide postings for specific units open up regularly, and you can also apply to our non-specific college aide posting that is open year-round. For new college aide postings, check the City’s job search website at www.nyc.gov/jobs/search, and select Buildings from the agency drop-down menu. Additionally, you can contact us at YouthEngagement@buildings.nyc.gov directly for information on available positions.
DOB Scholars Program
The DOB Scholars Program is an in-depth curriculum and career development program for CUNY students interested in engineering, architecture, sustainability and energy management, construction management, construction trades, inspection, law enforcement, public policy, government administration, and public safety. This unique academic partnership between CUNY and DOB is housed at City Tech, but open to all matriculated CUNY students.
The program consists of 10 seminars over the course of the spring semester. Each week, DOB architects, engineers, sustainability experts, construction inspectors, and Borough Commissioners present on the work of their individual units/departments and seek to create a dialogue with CUNY’s burgeoning construction industry professionals.
Students that participated in the Spring 2019 cohort went on to become interns, college aides, and full-time hires. We recently accepted the members for our Spring 2020 cohort.
For any student seeking a future career in any of the above-mentioned career paths, the DOB Scholars Program works to expand your professional network, knowledge of relevant areas of study within your given major, and your knowledge of the professional and academic qualifications for jobs within these fields. Contact us at YouthEngagement@buildings.nyc.gov
Ladders for Leaders
DOB proudly continues its partnership with the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development’s (DYCD) Ladders for Leaders program. The program offers paid internship placements to college and high school students. To apply for the program, contact DYCD.
Public Service Corps
DOB offers internship placements through the Public Service Corps (PSC) program. The program provides undergraduate and graduate students with paid opportunities to serve their communities. Contact PSC to learn more about the eligibility and application process:
Summer Internship Program
DOB’s largest number of paid internship opportunities opens up in the summer. Summer session internship postings will be uploaded to the City’s job search website at www.nyc.gov/jobs/search. Select Buildings from the agency drop-down menu when searching for our open positions.
Youth Leadership Council for Sustainability & Construction Safety
In 2020, DOB launched its inaugural Youth Leadership Council for Sustainability & Construction Safety. For eleven sessions, over the course of a semester, students from Career and Technical Education high schools receive in-depth curriculum developed by our professionals. Our DOB mentors work with students to create outreach presentations based on the provided sustainability and construction safety curriculum. Upon completion, the students deliver their presentations to their schools and to representatives from a number of other City agencies.
For more information about the program or to apply for the next cycle, please contact us at YouthEngagement@buildings.nyc.gov directly.