Whats It Like to Be a Congressional Intern
The U.S. Senate Youth Program encourages motivated and loftier-achieving young leaders to be directly involved in our participatory commonwealth. Countless delegates get out Washington Week wanting to get a deeper view into the workings of the legislative co-operative – either by returning to D.C. or working in their senator's or representative'due south country offices. We caught upward with a few recent USSYP alumni who interned on Capitol Colina following their Washington Week experiences. Read on to get tips on how to notice an internship and what life is like once you do!
Many cheers to:
Ethan Cartwright (MS – 2013), intern for Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Monica Marciano (VA – 2016), intern for Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Maria Mendoza (NJ – 2015), intern for Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Samuel Miller (KY – 2015), intern for Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY-3rd District)
How did yous secure your internship?
Maria: I applied to be an intern in Senator Cory Booker's New Jersey role for the summer following freshman yr. I began the process through his website with an application that included personal information, a writing sample, a brief essay, a copy of my resume, and references. The process wasn't besides arduous, and the senator'south staff was incredibly helpful whenever I called in for a clarification. A few weeks subsequently, I was interviewed by the staff and later notified that I received the internship. A major concern of mine was funding, particularly because my university requires a student contribution for tuition regardless of aid status. I was able to notice a stipend opportunity at my academy's Institute of Politics and get the affair sorted before starting my internship. I highly recommend potential public service interns wait into similar opportunities at their respective campuses!
Samuel: I was interested in interning during the summer following my freshman year. The application process involved contacting my Congressman John Yarmuth'due south part for the required forms, sending in a resume and comprehend letter, and conducting a phone interview with the one of the congressman's staff members. Efforts to reach out are important, but I tried to strike a balance between showing involvement and overloading the office with emails. For me, it took four months from first contacting the office in November to receiving a decision in February. Even after I was accepted, I fabricated sure to respond promptly to any inquiries from the part leading up to the start engagement. For the interview, I tried to predict the questions in accelerate so that I would be better prepared. During the interview, I highlighted why my district was special to me, my past feel with leadership positions, and why public service motivates me.
What was a typical mean solar day similar for you?
Ethan: Serving every bit an intern for Senator Wicker during my bound semester of inferior year, I had a wide range of responsibilities. Equally the intern assigned to the senator's executive assistant and scheduler, my typical responsibilities consisted of assisting in fielding meeting requests from constituents and lobbyists, arranging the senator'due south calendar, booking (and often troubleshooting) his travel and maintaining his records. Still, no two days on the task were e'er alike. Since the senator's time is a premium article, scheduling staff must always remain flexible and should learn to wait that things will not go according to programme!
Maria: I was based in Senator Booker's New Jersey office working within the constituency. My responsibilities included 3 cardinal types of work: (1) organizing the "clips", or newspaper clips pertaining to the senator's activities or major policy matters in the state for the staff's viewing every day, (2) inputting constituent inquiries into the senator'southward constituent services database, and (3) writing memos and other types of briefs for key outcome areas. Although the clips were just completed first thing in the forenoon every day, the other tasks would only be given based on when staff members needed assistance. Interns would also take rotating shifts answering calls at the forepart desk-bound, which I was assigned to twice a week. Additionally, I got to attend multiple events every bit part of the senator'southward role, such as press conferences with the senator on topics such as the Transportation Security Administration and gun control, a Hillary Clinton rally and visits to the New Jersey State House and Articulation Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
Monica: As a summer intern for Senator Kaine, I attended committee hearings and meetings with constituents, and I assisted staff members with special projects and press clips. In addition, I was responsible for recording vocalism mails from constituents, giving tours of the Capitol, and delivering correspondence between offices. Occasionally we had the opportunity to have lunch with Senator Kaine, Main of Staff Mike Henry and other staff members.
Did you have the opportunity to spend much fourth dimension with the senator? In what chapters?
Ethan: As an intern for the executive assistant, I interacted with Senator Wicker on a daily basis. This often involved providing him advance information before meetings and appearances and even driving him to certain engagements. What surprised me well-nigh about Senator Wicker's role was how interested the senator was in his staff. Senator and Mrs. Wicker took personal interest in the well-being of staffers and interns.
Maria: I definitely spent more time with Senator Booker than I was expecting, particularly considering I was interning in my state and not in D.C. Even so, he kept a strong presence in New Jersey throughout the summer and I spoke to him several times at his events and at the office. The senator is incredibly down-to-globe and makes the effort to go to know his interns. Unfortunately, I was traveling and could not attend, but at the finish of the summertime, the senator hosted a motion-picture show night with all of his summer interns to get to know them improve and treat them to a meal. All of my experiences reflected his genuine interest in our success.
What advice would you requite to others on how to take a successful experience every bit an intern?
Maria: I would advise others to act as if every day on the task is another interview, and to bring the same energy and enthusiasm to all assignments. Oft, interns aren't given the almost interesting work. Many don't think of their ideal job entailing receptionist piece of work or the organization of filing cabinets, but the fact of the thing is that if it has been assigned to y'all, it will probably make someone else'due south twenty-four hour period a fleck easier, and that person won't forget it. Once you brand that kind of impression, y'all starting time being entrusted to practice the piece of work that you really want to.
Monica: Take advantage of all the resources that are bachelor to you. When else will you exist able to roam the halls of the Capitol, talk to specialists in five different policy areas, and attend a speaker serial with politicians all in 1 24-hour interval? During the Congressional breaks (when the Senate was in recess), I had the unique opportunity to go lunch with several staff members, who gave me advice on everything from constabulary school to networking. I likewise fabricated sure to nourish as many committee meetings equally I possibly could, and I believe that these briefings have given me a deeper agreement of issues Congress is working on, including combatting the Zika virus and the implementation of the Every Child Achieves Act. I would also recommend using your beau interns as resources. As one of the youngest interns in the part, I was able to larn so much from the older students nearly higher, the chore search process, and politics.
Samuel: Accept advantage of your time in D.C. and on Capitol Loma to create a network. Most people in D.C. are very ambitious and accept high expectations for themselves, and yous should embrace the opportunity to connect and share your own goals. Don't be shy, especially within the first couple of weeks. Brand friends with the other interns and staffers in your function, but stop and say hello to those in nearby offices too. Go along in impact with interns y'all meet at intern lecture series events. Make a D.C. saucepan list with your friends of things to do. There are and then many free activities and museums to check out in D.C. For example, your intern ID card gets y'all into the Library of Congress main reading room, which is the most beautiful room I have ever experienced. When speaking on the telephone with constituents, be kind and considerate. Many of those who call are non in the best mood, merely they just desire to have someone who volition listen to their concerns and opinions.
Was there a particular event or moment during your summertime that stands out as a highlight?
Ethan: One of my favorite memories was when USSYP Program Director Rayne Guilford came to the role to talk with the staff almost the possibility of Senator Wicker serving as a Co-Chair for the 2017 United states Senate Youth Program. I was invited to join the meeting and provide a former participant'south perspective on how beneficial the program is to young people. Information technology was awesome when Senator Wicker agreed to be a Co-Chair!
Monica: 1 of my duties every bit an intern for Senator Kaine was to help the press assistant tape articles about Senator Kaine's vetting process for the vice presidential nomination. As media outlets began to capitalize on speculation surrounding Secretarial assistant Clinton's decision, every solar day I would receive an increasing number of printing clips to record, with titles like "Will Tim Kaine Be Clinton's VP?" or "Ten Things You Demand to Know about Tim Kaine." I noticed the mounting apprehension not only in the number of manufactures that came pouring into my inbox, but also in the buzz that enlivened Russell 231. In between the meetings with constituents, the alphabetic character writing, the committee hearings, everyone was wondering: would Senator Kaine exist the nominee? On Friday, July 22nd, we finally received the respond we had been hoping for. Glued to the TV screen, I watched as this very surreal story began to unfold.
Samuel: Information technology was very difficult to come to work subsequently the Orlando shootings took place in mid-June. I felt ill that tragedy like this was the new normal and I didn't want to sit down idly past without something getting done. It turns out that I didn't have to look very long. Several Democratic Firm members – including my Congressman John Yarmuth – organized the sit down-ins for gun control legislation soon later the shootings occurred. While my congressman and others were fighting on the House flooring, I was in the office answering phone telephone call afterward phone call. Whether they called in support or opposition, I was just excited that people cared strongly and wanted to answer. Then many people disapprove of government and Congress in particular, simply nosotros can't let this lead to indifference. Nosotros need to encourage people to be engaged in the political process. The other interns and I chose to stay tardily on some days so that nosotros could continue taking calls. I could tell we were part of something historic.
What advice would you give to other students nigh getting an internship on Capitol Hill?
Ethan: Most Congressional offices want interns who are willing to learn and understand that all functions in the function are valuable. Highlighting previous experience you have working as part of a squad and contributing to a goal, even if you weren't the 1 taking the lead, is a great add-on to your application!
Monica: Don't be afraid to network! The Hill is all about building personal relationships. Getting a recommendation from someone with a connectedness in the senator'southward office could mean your resume gets pulled from the bottom of the pile. Likewise make sure to continue in impact with the role subsequently your internship. Many of Senator Kaine's legislative assistants and staffers were in one case interns, and they were able to get jobs by updating the office regularly.
Samuel: Before sending in your resume, make sure it is updated and read through it for spelling and grammar. Permit someone with fresh eyes read through it as well. When because which function to apply to, it definitely helps to be from that person's district or state. If you are intent on avoiding your district or state, it is especially of import to have an answer to why the commune or land of your new selection is special to y'all. I would as well recommend looking at internships with committees. As a candidate, you should fix for interview questions near your strengths and weaknesses, what public service means to y'all, what you would similar to get out of the internship, why the congressperson's district or land is special to y'all, and what political problems you are passionate near. Information technology may sound odd, but I recommend grin through the telephone interview because information technology makes yous sound happier and more passionate (don't practice this for in-person interviews as it will look very weird). What makes Capitol Hill internship interviews special is that talking politics is fair game. I suggest being frank while at the same time considering the valid arguments and counterarguments. To secure the internship, you do non necessarily have to agree with your congressman or congresswoman, merely information technology is important to know where he or she stands and the piece of work he or she has already washed. Do your research on the congressperson's website. And think to always ask at least one question of the interviewer.
Photos courtesy of Monica Marciano and Sam Miller
Source: https://ussenateyouth.org/alumni-insiders-view-making-congressional-office-internship/