STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

High School Cooperative Education Intern

Recruitment #241022-3232VR-001

Introduction


Are you a high school student looking to prepare for a career in the skilled trades, working to improve the critical transportation systems and infrastructure of the State of Connecticut?  Do you enjoy learning and performing highly skilled tasks?  If so, come make an impact by serving your state!  Read below & apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (DOT), is seeking knowledgeable high school students who are interested in gaining valuable experience as High School Cooperative Education Interns the areas of Vehicle/Equipment Repair, Sign Shop Design, and Machine Operation.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company - 'Forbes': State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees
  • Join an award winning agency! CTDOT has been recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) and named the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) CT Employer of the Year for 2024!


POSITION REQUIREMENTS

  • Incumbents are a junior or senior high school student, who is at least 16 years of age, and is enrolled in a formal internship program of a recognized and/or accredited high school.
  • Selected candidates must possess and maintain adequate physical flexibility, strength and stamina to perform the duties (including work outside in inclement weather, work outside for extended periods), and work well with other staff and members of the public.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

  • Monday - Friday
  • On-Site
  • First shift
  • Positions available at multiple locations throughout the State:  Colchester, East Granby, Putnam, Rocky Hill, Waterbury, and Willington
  • Will work part time schedules up to a maximum of 520 hours in accordance with Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs of Connecticut High Schools.
  • *Compensation for a second intern program within the same agency may be granted additional compensation of $.50 per hour.

Selection Plan

  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

To Apply:

  • In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the Talent Acquisition Professional listed on this job posting.
  • All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

  • Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.
Important Information After You Apply:

  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
  • Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
  • Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
  • Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Frank DeCusati at frank.decusati@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is established as a structured internship program designed to prepare high school students for careers in administration, managerial, technical or other occupations through practical work experience in their chosen discipline.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Repair interns will be assigned basic tasks in accordance with standard automotive and mechanical equipment trade practices. This includes:
    • Performing or assisting in basic diagnostics, mechanics, and repairs to the Bureau of Highway Operations fleet and equipment;
    • Assisting in performing essential preventative maintenance on vehicles and equipment and codes;
    • May diagnose failure in all types of automotive and equipment;
    • May assist in servicing, dismantling, overhauling, and reassembling front ends, engines, standard and automatic transmissions, rear ends, hydraulic systems, and automotive electrical systems;
    • Assists with determining, obtaining, or repairing needed parts or materials;
    • May perform or assist with basic welding tasks;
    • May be assigned to paint, wash, or clean vehicles.
  • Sign Shop Interns:
    • Utilize sign printing equipment, graphic design concepts, and computer software tools to design highway, roadway, public transit, and various other types of transportation/traffic related signs;
    • Utilize tools, equipment, and machinery to assist in fabricating signage;
    • Assist staff with the silk-screening process including screen substrates, screen making, and screen washing;
    • Assist with Seal 62 ProS Laminator sign preparation;
    • Assist with pulling, reading, and understanding sign blueprints;
    • Review and assist with sign orders and design to ensure they are designed and fabricated in accordance with Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards.
  • Machine Shop Interns will perform basic tasks in accordance with standard machine shop trade practices and codes. This includes:
    • Assisting with the setup and operation of lathes, shapers, planers, slotters, power saws, milling machines, drill presses and similar metal working power equipment working to close tolerances;
    • Using taps, reamers, files, and other hand tools;
    • Gauges work using micrometers, calipers, and other precision type measuring instruments;
    • Assisting with fashioning machine parts, shafts, bearings, gears, and a variety of other items of specialized machinery and equipment;
    • Assisting with dismantling equipment, locating source of inadequate performance, and making necessary repairs;
    • May operate, assemble, or test equipment;
    • Assisting in repairs of tools and other metal;
    • Assisting with welding and metal fabrication tasks;
    • May perform cleaning of work area and painting of parts/equipment.
  • Performs other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Knowledge of
    • acceptable work ethic; 
    • principles, theories and concepts of chosen discipline; 
  • Skills
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Ability to utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Junior or senior high school students enrolled in a formal internship program with high school study experience related to the designated agency and/or a functional area of the internship assignment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Repair positions:
  • Diesel engine, gas engine, or equipment repair coursework or experience
  • Diagnostic equipment coursework or experience
  • Autobody, welding, or metal fabrication coursework or experience
  • Enrollment in a high school Heavy Duty Diesel, Autobody, Auto Repair, or Auto Technology Program
Sign Shop positions:
  • Coursework or experience working as a sign designer or installer
  • Coursework or experience with printing production software
  • Enrollment in a high school Graphic Design Program
Machine Shop positions:
  • Coursework or experience working in a machine shop
  • Welding or metal fabrication coursework or experience
  • Enrollment in a high school Precision Machining Technology, or Welding and Metal Fabrication Program

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.