Just the ticket for your graduate?

It is graduation season. My niece graduates from college on Saturday. Naturally the family is proud and supportive in every way.

There are families across America who also have high school and college graduations at this time of the year.

As happy as we all are, there is always the worry about what comes next. What job will start the college graduate on their way?

I was fortunate to be able to find work in numismatics. I have been like a kid in a candy store the entire time I have been at Krause Publications.

There are other opportunities in numismatics.

One news item that has come my way has the details.

Applications are being accepted by the Professional Numismatists Guild from young adults who would like to be considered for the PNG dealer mentoring program.

Those selected as finalists will receive education and mentoring internships at four of the country’s most prominent dealerships, auction houses and grading services,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman in the press release.

I expect PNG will have numerous candidates as it is hard to miss what a great opportunity this is.

It is a chance for a rewarding career.

“Although participants are asked to make a year-long commitment to the rotating internships, individual interns could potentially receive full-time job offers at any time during the rotation,” Brueggeman said.

Arrangements will be made to provide transportation, housing and salaries for each selected intern candidate to work three months at a time at different companies.

Participating dealerships include: Stack’s Bowers Galleries in Irvine, Calif.; Numismatic Guaranty Corporation in Sarasota, Fla; Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas; Dillon Gage in Addison, Texas; and Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. in Chicago, Ill.

“Four interns started our first internship rotation earlier this year. One of them was hired full-time after only a few weeks at one company, and that created an opening for another qualified candidate who currently is our fifth intern in the program,” said Carol Raia, PNG Internship Program Administrator.

Internship candidates must be 21 to 32 years of age. Specific information about the program and an application are available online at www.PNGdealers.org under the “Internship Program” navigation link near the top of PNG’s home page, www.PNGdealers.org.

“A $250 fee to pay for a background security investigation will be required from each candidate with the submission of their enrollment application. The internship requirements are selective, and the education and training part of this exceptional program is extensive,” Raia said.

“The goal of this ambitious mentoring program is to train the next generation of coin dealers. The potential rewards for successful interns can be great for building and enhancing their careers as professional numismatists,” said PNG President Terry Hanlon.

I almost want to apply myself, but I am long past the appropriate age range.

Do you know someone who would benefit from this opportunity? I hope so.

Opportunity knocks.

Time to answer.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper is winner of the 2013 Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."