How hard is it to get internships on Capitol Hill?

[Anonymous]

My college junior is interested in politics, and we are wondering whether she has any chance of getting her foot in the door on Capitol Hill.

[Anonymous]

It helps enormously to know someone already working on the Hill. Do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It helps enormously to know someone already working on the Hill. Do you?

+1 It is about who you know unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

If you don't know someone, do you at least max out your personal contributions to your senator and congressman?

[Anonymous]

Have to have senior connections. All my kids have all had internships and I am a moderate donor that has relationships with members of Congress. Have lobbyist friends that were on the Hill. Not the only way but the easiest certainly. They will take some from their state's schools or if you are a resident of the State. Where we didn't have connections--my kids were all rejected. Politics is all about connections.

[Anonymous]

Teach for America is an avenue for those without contacts.

[Anonymous]

Ok, seriously, it’s not that hard and I am a long time hill staffer who works for a senior member. If you’re looking to work for a NOVA/MD home town member it can be competitive. If that avenue doesn’t work, look for members who share a common internet. Does your child like trade? Tax? Environmental policy? Find a member who sits on a committee of interest. Many Midwest and west coast/ mountain states don’t have as many applicants. Write a professional and well written email to the intern coordinator. If there isn’t one listed, call the office, another intern will answer and tell you who to email.

Then email about their application process. Be upfront that while you’re not a constituent you have followed their work on tax/trade and would like to intern.

I have worked for popular members and still we had slots to fill for interns.

It’s a slow process and not uniform throughout the offices. However, there is always a need - especially if you want to work during the school year. I’ve hired probably 75+ interns over my career and only one pops out as his dad being a big donor and CEO of a large Fortune 100 company in our district.

[Anonymous]

Apply to your home Member of Congress and follow up via calls. It will be easier to get an internship on the House side. It’s not hard to get internships.

People use connections but plenty don’t. That said, if you live in this area you must know someone who knows someone who can flag your kid’s app.

It’s way easier now that many people use LinkedIn.

[Anonymous]

Consider applying to committees for internships not just with Senators/Representatives. My kid is currently interning with a senator (yes, we did have a connection and it was not in any way based on donations) but many of the other interns he works with were hired by the various committees (Small Business, Foreign Relations, HELP) not by the members' office. I'd actually recommend this if you student has a particular area of interest and doesn't want to spend most of their time answer constituent mail. It can be a lot of grunt work but also a very good experience. Apply broadly and know that each committee may have their own deadline.

[Anonymous]

My rising sophomore got an internship in the district office with our US rep. No connections at all but a good school and a 4.0 gpa. In his interview, they said it was harder to find district staff so that could be an avenue to try. While not as glamorous, he is learning a lot and making connections so hopefully next years internship will be even better.

[Anonymous]

Not hard at all. I worked on the Hill. Each Member has a link on their respective website to apply for internships. Apply to those in your political party. Most have paid stipends now which is better than unpaid. Make sure your child has a Linkedin profile and have them connect first with Hill Staffers from their university. Also, see if the college has connections. Good luck! Feel free to ask more questions if you want.

[Anonymous]

Is she a rising junior or a rising senior? Assume you mean for next year, not this summer? If she's a rising senior she should be looking for full time jobs on the Hill, which aren't that hard to find (but pay is super low). If she is looking for an internship for next summer it definitely helps to have some connections. Her college career office should also be able to help.

Both my kids did Hill internships, as did I back in the day. DH did an internship and later worked on the Hill (which is how one of my kids got a Hill internship in high school). I did mine for a Senator from the state where my college was located. I also did it in the fall, which was much easier than getting a summer internship, so it helps to have some flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't know someone, do you at least max out your personal contributions to your senator and congressman?

Nothing like maintaining corruption in the halls of power.

We see how you get by in this world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, seriously, it’s not that hard and I am a long time hill staffer who works for a senior member. If you’re looking to work for a NOVA/MD home town member it can be competitive. If that avenue doesn’t work, look for members who share a common internet. Does your child like trade? Tax? Environmental policy? Find a member who sits on a committee of interest. Many Midwest and west coast/ mountain states don’t have as many applicants. Write a professional and well written email to the intern coordinator. If there isn’t one listed, call the office, another intern will answer and tell you who to email.

Then email about their application process. Be upfront that while you’re not a constituent you have followed their work on tax/trade and would like to intern.

I have worked for popular members and still we had slots to fill for interns.

It’s a slow process and not uniform throughout the offices. However, there is always a need - especially if you want to work during the school year. I’ve hired probably 75+ interns over my career and only one pops out as his dad being a big donor and CEO of a large Fortune 100 company in our district.

+1

Unless you're dead set on working for the Speaker or a well-known Congressmen and no one else, randomly applying everywhere will lead to a few offers.

[Anonymous]

So for school-year positions, you can only apply after you graduate, right?