At Central San, we take pride in our work. To share careers in wastewater, we host an annual Externship Program for students and recent graduates from schools all over the country. Our cohort-style learning experience is designed as an insider look at multiple career paths in local government and the water/wastewater industry and an opportunity to make connections, not only with established staff at Central San but also with fellow externs. 

The hybrid program is free, convenient and customizable; it can include a range of Central San’s careers as well as any specific careers or departments the externs might be interested in. We accept high school students, college students (including vocational schools and postgraduate students), teachers, and recent graduates into the program.

We start our program with a half-day on-site tour (livestreamed for virtual participants) at our Martinez, CA campus. The program continues with two fully virtual sessions held over Microsoft Teams (externs can join the meetings via any internet browser and don’t need to download any apps or programs). 

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

For updates on the program, including when we announce our next session (likely in spring 2025), please fill out this form to be added to our e-mailing subscription list.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An extern must be currently enrolled in an accredited school, college, university, vocational or technical school. All academic standings and majors are welcome. Students who are not currently enrolled may also qualify to be an extern if they have graduated from college within the last year. Interested high school students may also register.
• Externs are considered “at-will,” short-term, non-continuous visitors with no grievance rights, benefits, or guarantees of regular employment with the District.
• Students under the age of 18 may register and attend the in-person tour with a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian. Please note in your application if you are under 18 so we may send you the form to be signed.
• Teachers are also welcome to register.

COMPENSATION

This externship is an unpaid position. Students are responsible for all expenses related to the externship, including travel, accommodations (if any), meals where not specified, etc. 

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US

A career in local government or water/wastewater is a rewarding and challenging path that not everyone may consider. We offer jobs for a range of majors and fields of study. Check us out and see if there might be a place you’ll fit in – whether at Central San or somewhere else in the industry!

When we launched the program in 2021, we welcomed 45 externs from colleges all over the country. Here are some of the comments they shared with us on their experience:

• What inspired me was seeing how well maintained the grounds are and how happy everybody seemed. Also the fact that there is hardly any turnover and there is so much opportunity for growth. I love all of things central san does for the environment and the community and it all inspired me to not give up and to keep trying to go after my goal to work at a water treatment facility.
• I came to this program motivated to enter the water sector, and I appreciate the opportunity to have more conversations with professionals in the field. Starting my study during the pandemic has left me very aware of the gap between my dining room table and an active plant processing millions of gallons every day, and I feel the most important thing for my own development and to engage and support potential workers is face time, shadowing, and applied experiences. I’m grateful that Contra Costa has allowed any student to have an inside look at a thriving and forward-thinking community of professionals.
• The program is a really great way to develop an understanding of the wastewater treatment industry from the service provider perspective. There certainly was a lot of information presented that is not communicated in academic coursework.
• Thank you for the great experience. The externship has inspired me to enroll into the Ken Kerri wastewater course through Sac State. I’m excited to take these courses and begin my journey into the wastewater industry. 

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?

The program kicks off with a half day of in-person tours (lunch provided) at our Martinez, CA campus. This will be livestreamed via Teams for virtual participants. 

The program continues with two virtual sessions, where you’ll hear from wastewater professionals representing every division at Central San and be able to ask them questions.

QUESTIONS?

Not sure if there’s a nexus between your field of study and what we’ll be covering in the program? Not sure if you qualify? Have any other questions? Don’t hesitate to contact externships@centralsan.org.