Primary Objective

2026 Bloom in Bloomington Internship Program Application

The Bloom in Bloomington Internship program connects young people who face barriers to employment with paid, hands-on work experience. Interns are matched with a summer internship and participate in career development programming to gain skills through resume and LinkedIn building, public speaking, and other professional development workshops. The program also aims to build a strong and sustainable local workforce pipeline for Bloomington employers. Young Bloomington residents or students seeking a local career exploration internship should apply. Previous work experience is not required. Applicants will be considered for a variety of internships with City of Bloomington departments as well as Bloomington-based businesses and organizations, providing exposure to different industries and professional environments.

Mission: Bloom in Bloomington strives to support and grow a more diverse and accessible workplace for our community by matching young people with employers in local government, nonprofit, and private sectors.

Vision: Bloom in Bloomington dreams of a world where employment disparities are eliminated, our workforce reflects the diversity of the community, and young people of all identities feel seen by their government and empowered to reach their full potential.

Core Values: We draw on the insights and perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds to inform our work and strengthen our impact. We actively seek partnerships with employers who align with our mission and vision, while centering the lives and voices of young people in shaping Bloom in Bloomington. Serving as a catalyst for change, we work to eliminate employment disparities in our community, guided by an urgency to achieve meaningful results and create a better future for the young people we serve.

Examples of Duties

Program Structure & Requirements

This program requires a 24 to 40-hour workweek commitment from participants, including a 4-hour leadership institute every other Friday. The Bloom in Bloomington program offers two internships:

• Young Adult Internship
• A 12-week program: May 25, 2026 - August 14, 2026
• This 12-week paid internship is designed for young people aged 18 – 24 who are not in high school but live in the City of Bloomington and/or attend college in the City of Bloomington.
• Orientation sessions will be held prior to the start of the internship on the week of May 11th.
• The internship includes a required 4-hour Leadership Institute session every other week that provides personal and professional development.
• Pay rate: $20.01/hr
• High School Internship
• An 8-week program: June 22, 2026 - August 14, 2026
• This 8-week internship is designed for young people aged 16+ enrolled in a high school in the City of Bloomington.
• Orientation sessions will be held prior to the start of the internship on the week of June 8th.
• The internship includes a required 4-hour Leadership Institute session every other week that provides personal and professional development.
• Pay rate: $15.50/hr

Ongoing Part-Time employees who are employed for more than 6 months will make contributions to the pension program (PERA) through payroll deductions unless they qualify for one of the exemptions. In addition, Part-Time may receive Paid-time Off (PTO) at rate outlined in employee handbook and eligable for paid parental leave after 6 months of employment.

Temporary/Seasonal employees do not receive benefits outside of Paid-time Off (PTO) at rate outlined in employee handbook.

01

The City of Bloomington (City) is asking you to supply information (data) as part of your application for employment with the City. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) classifies this data as private data about you. The law does not require you to provide the data and there is no legal consequence for refusing to provide the data. However, if you do not provide the requested data, the City may not have enough information to consider your application and you may not move forward in the selection process. If you do provide the data, City employees and its agents may have access to your private data if their work assignments reasonably require access. The hiring manager or supervisor, human resources employees, and members of an interview panel, which may include non-City employees, will have access to some of your private data during the application and selection process. State or federal law or a court order may allow others to have access to your data also. The City will not disclose any of your private data to any member of the general public without your permission. The MGDPA classifies the following information as public data about applicants: veteran status, relevant test scores, rank on eligible list, job history, education and training, and work availability. If you are a finalist for the position, your name is also public. A "finalist" is a person the City selects for an interview. Do you agree to supply the data the City is requesting as part of your application for employment?

• Yes
• No

02

Please note that you are required to complete a Get Ready Training to be considered for an interview in the Bloom in Bloomington Internship Program. You can complete the Get Ready Training through one of the following options: o Complete a self-paced online curriculum,

• Yes

03

Intern Applicant Contact Information. Please include your full legal name, email address, phone number, and school with grade/year (if applicable).

04

Parent/Guardian/Adult Contact information (if applicable). Please include contact name, contact email address, contact phone number, and relationship to applicant.

05

Will you be between the ages of 16 and 24 on June 1, 2026?

• Yes
• No

06

Is your permanent address in Bloomington?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you currently enrolled in school in Bloomington?

• Yes
• No

08

What school do you currently attend (if enrolled in school)?

• Not currently enrolled in school
• John F. Kennedy High School
• Thomas Jefferson High School
• Bloomington Transitional Center (BTC)
• Normandale Community College
• Northwestern Health Sciences University
• Hennepin Technical College
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Other

09

If you selected "Other" for what school you attend, please write the school's full name. If not applicable, write "N/A"

10

If applicable, please select the academic discipline you are currently studying in college/university?

• Arts and Humanities (Examples: English Literature, History, Philosophy, Foreign Languages, Fine Arts (music, theater, art))
• Business: (Examples: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, Economics)
• Education (Examples: Elementary Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Health Education)
• Engineering (Examples: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering)
• Health and Medical Fields (Examples: Nursing, Public Health, Nutrition, Kinesiology, Pre-Medicine Studies).
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Examples: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science)
• Social Sciences (Examples: Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Geography).
• Communications and Journalism (Examples: Mass Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, Media Studies).
• Agriculture and Natural Resources (Examples: Animal Sciences, Environmental Science, Forestry, Horticulture).
• Public and Social Services (Examples: Criminal Justice, Social Work, Public Policy, Homeland Security).
• Not applicable (currently in high school or not enrolled in school)
• Other

11

If applicable, please specify your current major, concentration, or degree focus area (for example: if you selected “public and social services” as your academic discipline for the question above, please specify if you are a political science, criminal justice, or social work major). If you are not currently enrolled in college or university, write “N/A.”

12

If not in school, are you involved in any career-related programs? Please describe the program. If not applicable, write "N/A"

13

Please check boxes that match your professional interests. You can check as many boxes as interest you.

• Agriculture
• Construction
• Education Services
• Engineering
• Entertainment & Leisure
• Finance and Insurance
• Government
• Health Care
• Hospitality
• Information Technology
• Legal Services
• Manufacturing
• Mass Media/Communications
• Professional and Business Services
• Transportation

14

Is there a particular career area you are hoping to explore? We cannot guarantee an internship in a specific field, but will try to accommodate preferences when possible.

15

What work environments are you comfortable in? Check all that apply:

• Office
• Manufacturing facility or lab
• Field work (extensive work outside the office)
• Working with people
• Working independently

16

Please indicate your level of experience (Note: Applicants do not need to have any previous career experience):

• No Experience: You have never held a professional or career-oriented job. You might be willing to explore the various career options that this program offers.
• Some work experience: You have had at least 1 internship or done some sort of professional or trade specific work before. You are open to career exploration opportunity but also feel comfortable in an internship that advances your career pathway.
• Experienced: You've had multiple internships or had several career-oriented work experiences. You are strictly looking to advance your career and explore opportunities in your chosen sector.

17

Have you applied to Bloom in Bloomington before?

• Yes
• No

18

Have you participated in Bloom in Bloomington before?

• Yes
• No

19

How did you hear about the Bloom in Bloomington Program?

• Presentation or tabling by City staff
• Saw an advertisement/flyer
• Social media post
• Received an email
• Participated in Bloom previously
• Heard about it from a friend/family member
• Heard about it from a teacher/counselor
• City Website
• Other

20

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

21

Are you able to commit to the full Bloom in Bloomington schedule (8 weeks for high schoolers, 12 weeks for young adults)?

• Yes
• No

22

Are you able to work for the stated wage ($15.50 per hour for high school students, $20.01 per hour for young adults)?

• Yes
• No

23

Are you available to work a 24 to 40-hour work week?

• Yes
• No

24

Do you have a preference as to how many hours a week you intern? Internships may be posted at a minimum of 24 hours per week and maximum 40 hours per week. There may be rare opportunities for overtime or additional hours, based on needs of the employer.

25

What shifts are you available to work?

• Early Mornings
• Evenings
• Weekends
• Any of the Above

26

How do you plan to get to your internship (Note: this will not impact your selection into the program)?

• I will drive
• I will walk/bike
• I will be dropped off
• I will take public transportation
• I will take an Uber
• I do not have access to or cannot afford any of the transportation options listed above

27

Do you have any barriers to employment (check all that apply). The City of Bloomington has “eliminating barriers to employment” as a priority and the Bloom in Bloomington Internship Program aims to do that by increasing access to opportunity for the youth of Bloomington. Additionally, completing this section of the application is voluntary and failure to respond will not result in a disqualification.

• I dropped out of high school and have not earned my diploma or GED.
• I am or will be the first person in my immediate family to receive a high school diploma.
• I am or will be the first person in my immediate family to attend college.
• I expect a family contribution of “$0” towards my college expenses.
• I have experienced homelessness.
• I prefer not to say
• None of the above apply

28

I face other barriers in obtaining employment beyond those listed in the previous question:

Required Question