Career Corner

Hey #Hoyas – interested in opportunities in the federal government but not sure where to start? Many departments and agencies offer a wide range of opportunities that might fit your interests. You may also discover some you didn’t even know existed.

Below are a few great resources to help you get organized for Public Service Careers:

The First Ask is seeking passionate and driven interns to join our team and actively participate in our efforts to enlist candidates for State House & State Senate. As an intern, you will have the unique opportunity to participate in a political start up, gain valuable insights into elector processes, and contribute to meaningful projects that align with your interests and skills.

This is a paid internship opportunity.

Location:
In Person in Washington DC (Glover Park)

Hours:
Not to exceed 20 per week

Responsibilities:

• Assist in organizing and supporting events and fundraisers.

• Conduct research on relevant issues, legislation, and candidates.

• Manage and update social media accounts to increase outreach and engagement.

• Draft and edit communications, including newsletters, press releases, and linkedin posts.

• Collaborate with team members on grassroots organizing and community outreach initiatives.

• Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas for strategic planning.

• Provide administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of the organization.

Application Process:
Please submit your resume and a brief paragraph outlining your reasons for applying to cwelles@thefirstask.org.

The Hilltop Public Solutions internship experience is unlike many others in Washington. Interns provide much of the research and writing support that allows Hilltop staff to attract new business and develop strategy on behalf of clients. On a typical day, a Hilltop intern may be asked to research and write a briefing memo on upcoming attorneys general races around the country, find background information for a client meeting, draft an op-ed on behalf of a coalition Hilltop manages, or write content for a candidate’s website. Hilltop’s intern analysts have the opportunity to work on some of the most exciting policy and political campaigns, develop strong research and analysis skills, and build lasting connections to some of Washington’s leading political minds. We ask prospective interns to commit to work full time (32-40 hours per week) between 10 am to 6 pm EST from late May through late July or early August. The internship is paid ($17.00 per hour). Our internship program is highly competitive, and we review applications on a rolling basis.

What We’re Looking For:
● Excellent writing & research skills
● Strong attention to detail
● Knowledge of politics & the policy process
● Interest in advancing progressive causes
● Professional phone manner & customer service skills
● Juniors, seniors or grad students preferred

How to Apply:
To apply, please fill submit the required application materials (resume and writing sample) through
our application Google Form. Qualified candidates will be contacted about the next steps. Thank
you again for your interest!

The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership and development program that provides emerging leaders with an opportunity to gain valuable skills while supporting the work of the White House and furthering the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration. This program provides paid internships across the Executive Office of the President. Interns participating in the White House Internship Program will support the White House Office and the Office of the Vice President.

Program participants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years or older before the first day of the Program, and meet at least one of the three following criteria:

1. Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program at a college, community college, or university (two- to four-year institution)
2. Graduated from an accredited undergraduate or graduate program at a college, community college, or university (two- to four-year institution) no more than two years prior to the first day of the Program
3. A veteran of the United States Armed Forces who possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent and has served on active duty, for any length of time, no more than two years prior to the first day of the Program

The application period for the Fall 2023 session will open on Monday, March 13, and close on Friday, April 9.

Interested candidates can find the Program’s online application at WH.gov/intern. The website also features additional information about the Program, including a “Frequently Asked Questions” section.

Prospective candidates with questions about the Program, as well as college/university administrators, faculty, campus leadership, and others interested in more information to share with their communities can reach out to the White House Internship Program team at internship@who.eop.gov.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Assisting in legislative research for the Congressman, staff, and constituents
• Helping with data entry of constituent letters
• Attending briefings for staff members and writing a summary memo to the appropriate staffer and the Congressman regarding the briefing
• Assisting in answering constituent mail, which includes research and letter writing
• Helping process Flag and Tour Requests

Priority will be given to college students who are majoring in areas related to government and communications and who are from the First District.

If you are interested in an internship, please send a resume, cover letter, short writing sample, with your expected start and end date for the Fall 2023 session to ct01interns@mail.house.gov addressed to Tucker Wilson.

Emergent Strategies is a boutique, all-Democrat, Government Affairs firm located on Capitol Hill. We have a broad portfolio of clients spanning numerous issue areas, including: financial services, healthcare, agriculture, foreign affairs and more. We are looking for motivated, self-starters that have an interest in government affairs and policy who can thrive in a fast-paced environment. This internship opportunity is paid and would be for the fall of 2023 with the option to extend, pending review.

If interested please email your resume and a brief writing sample to janna@emergentdc.com.

Feldman Strategies is hiring a Fall 2023 communications fellow to join their team. Join a fast-moving, progressive communications firm that is working with leading labor unions, voting rights organizations, health care advocacy groups, gender and sexuality equity groups, and other progressive and political organizations to support their team. Fellows will be paid $17.00/hour. The fellowship will conclude on December 15, 2023, with the opportunity to extend.

Fellow’s Role and Responsibilities

• Collaborate directly with a small team.
• Work on assignments with real substance for a variety of different clients, ranging from political organizations, to labor unions, to voting rights organizations, justice organizations and more.
• Get hands-on experience and contribute to getting results for our clients by creating targeted media press lists, learning how to pitch stories to the press, media monitoring for clients and compiling press clips, and attending client meetings.
• Enhance your career development through mentorship from our firm’s principal, director, and other team members.
• Learn internal project management skills including tracking clients’ press mentions, supporting with calendar coordination ahead of clients’ media interviews, and more.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to jobs@feldmanstrategies.com by August 20, 2023.

The program is responsible for distribution of CFR publications and other relevant materials to Capitol Hill.

The intern will develop professional skills related to international relations, congressional relations, and work on Capitol Hill. They will have the opportunity to learn about the operations of Congress and best practices by which an organization interacts with members of Congress and their staff. The intern will also gain experience in the management of extensive databases, event planning and execution, and professional research and writing as it relates to the policymaking community.

CFR internships are paid ($17.00 per hour), require a 14 – 18 hour commitment, and are filled on a rolling basis.

The Congress and U.S. Foreign Policy internship includes a mandatory onsite component. The intern will work in a hybrid capacity (half in the office, and half remote).

The major responsibilities of this position will include (but are not limited to):

• Assist the Washington External Affairs team with day-to-day administrative duties, including logging registrations for meetings, creating and maintaining lists of congressional contacts, targeting constituencies for the distribution of CFR materials, and managing the extensive CFR database
• Help manage the Congress and U.S. Foreign Policy program’s correspondence as well as drafting invitations and other materials for meetings
• Provide logistical support and execution of weekly meetings for Capitol Hill with congressional senior staff as well as occasional additional meetings with members of Congress
• Perform research, as needed

Interested students can apply HERE.

SelectUSA, a dynamic and mission-driven program to encourage business investment into the United States, is housed within the Global Markets division at the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

SelectUSA has vacancies for unpaid internships in Washington throughout the year on a semester basis. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain valuable experience and insight into business investment in the United States, international capital flows, and U.S. investment policy.

All interns are required to be U.S. citizens and currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate school program. Selected candidates must meet minimum security requirements by submitting to a background check upon arrival.

How To Apply:

Email SelectUSA the following

• your cover letter,
• resume,
• and a writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), as one combined PDF attachment to us.
• Be sure to include your first and last name in the file name.
• In your cover letter, please include the dates of your availability and specifically address your interest in SelectUSA, how you would help support SelectUSA’s mission, and how the selected internship aligns with your future goals.

Application Deadlines

• Summer (May – August): April 15
• Fall (September – December): July 15
• Spring (January – May): December 1

Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

Overveiw

The National Women’s Foundation is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) public charity celebrating the history of women’s commitment and contributions to social justice and inspiring the next generation to continue the journey. The NWF is dedicated to civic engagement and education concerning the history of women’s rights as well as the preservation of the historic Whittemore House and Museum—a home for women’s political engagement in the nation’s capital for nearly a century. The Foundation has internships available in the Fall of 2023 in the following program areas:

YourVoiceMatters.vote 

Work will include support for programs, research and analysis, and promotion of youth voting initiatives.

Women’s History

Work will include conducting research, supporting and promoting programs and publications on women’s history.

Details

Hours: Part time. flexible 15 – 20 hours/week
Stipend: Possible

For more information and to apply email Kathy Chiron at kathy.chiron@gmail.com

Overview

Spring ’24: Apply here. Deadline: Sept. 24th, 2023 

Summer ’24: Apply here. Deadline: Jan. 7th, 2024

Information Sessions
There are currently no upcoming information sessions.

Overview

The Victory Institute’s Victory Congressional Internship is developing the next generation of LGBTQ public leaders. Each semester, the Victory Congressional Internship brings outstanding LGBTQ undergraduate students to Washington, DC, for an intensive leadership program, including:

• An 8 or 10 week Congressional internship with a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus or an LGBTQ-friendly member of U.S. Congress to learn firsthand about the federal legislative process; and
• An educational and leadership development program to learn about careers in policy-making and engage with subject-matter experts in the District of Columbia working across sectors.

The Victory Congressional Internship prepares young LGBTQ people to become informed decision-makers and influential leaders who can change their communities and our world.

Application Components

Online Application will ask for the following:

• Professional Resume (one-page)
• Unofficial Transcript
• Two Essay Responses
• Professional Headshot
• Professional Biography
• Demographic Information

Sent directly via email:

• One Letter of Recommendation

You will need to submit one letter of recommendation – either from an academic institution or from someone who can speak to your leadership skills. Please have your recommender email the letter directly to Itay Balely at itay.balely@victoryinstitute.org.

About Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC:
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC (IFS) is a lobbying and government relations firm located on Capitol Hill. The firm focuses on developing federal strategies for each of its clients and pursuing those goals before the Administration and Congress. Since 1992, IFS has been helping each of their clients achieve their appropriations and legislative goals with innovative strategies and the utmost customer service. For more information, please visit www.innofed.com

Description and Responsibilities:
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC (IFS) seeks interns on a rolling basis for the fall, spring and summer. The ideal candidate for this position will be a student seeking experience on Capitol Hill or in a government relations setting including former interns or recent college graduates with a degree in Political Science. The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented student/graduate who has strong administrative skills, exceptional interpersonal skills and first-rate verbal and written communication skills. Routine activities include:

• Perform a full range of clerical duties including answering and routing phone calls;
• Prepare client materials for meetings with Members of Congress and their staff;
• Track legislation through House and Senate committees, and monitor House and Senate floor
  activity;
• Conduct research as requested, such as reviewing bill text, government reports, and hearing
  transcripts;
• Complete various request forms as required by Member offices;
• Attend hearings and client meetings; and
• Other administrative and legislative responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Prior experience on Capitol Hill or with a government relations firm is a plus, but is not
  required;
• Working knowledge of / desire to learn about U.S House and Senate, their administrative
  practices and communications protocol;
• Proficiency in word processing software and hardware including Microsoft Office software
  (specific proficiency in Microsoft Excel is a plus);
• Ability to work with multiple team members and prioritize workload;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, projects and priorities effectively and professionally with
  meticulous attention to detail in a fast paced environment.

To Apply:
Email a resume and one-page cover letter summarizing your interest and qualifications in a PDF or Word Document, to info@innofed.com. Please label the subject line: IFS Internship

Overview

The Dewey Square Group, a leading Democratic public affairs firm, is looking for an intern for its Grassroots practice in the Washington, D.C. office. The Dewey Square Group’s Grassroots practice works with non-profit organizations, trade associations, and companies to build support for their issues, products, technologies, and brands at the local, state and federal level. Interns will work closely with Associates and Principals to gain valuable work experience. Interns will work a maximum of 40 hours per week. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. This is a paid internship.

Work will include:

• Writing and research
• Special event support
• Issue tracking
• Monitoring legislative

Qualified candidates will be:

• Able to work business hours Monday-Friday (full or part-time)
• An undergraduate student or recent graduate
• Interested in Democratic politics and a wide variety of issues
• Hardworking and eager for new challenges and projects
• Willing to take initiative and learn new things
• Positive with a good sense of humor 

Strong writing skills (drafting, editing, proofing) and verbal communication skills are a must. Proficiency  with social media and different technology platforms/analytics tools are a plus.  

Diverse candidates encouraged to apply. Undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students all welcome to apply. Candidates MUST reside in one of the following: DC, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Florida, and Missouri.

Please send your cover letter, resume, and availability to InternDSG@gmail.com.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Dewey Square Group does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of their race, creed, color, age, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, national origin, or ancestry.

We are always looking for interns interested in public opinion polling with a commitment to Democratic politics and a statistics background to work on public opinion research for political campaigns, public interest groups, membership organizations and businesses. Ideal person is interested in public opinion polling with a commitment to Democratic politics and has a statistics background. The primary internship responsibilities include:

• Conducting background research on candidates, opponents, or potential clients
• Editing memos, PowerPoint presentations and proposals
• Reading and understanding crosstab banners and topline questionnaires
• Monitoring polls the first night they are in the field
• Sorting quotes from focus group transcripts
• Creating focus group handout summaries
• Some administrative work when necessary

Knowledge of SPSS, statistics, or quantitative analysis would be helpful, but not required. Applicants must be able to work fast, have a commitment to detail and accuracy, handle a high-pressured working environment, and work well in a team atmosphere in a small office. This is a full-time position with a 40 hour work week. Applicants must be available to work between 9am-6pm ET, and have a flexible schedule to work early mornings, late evenings and weekends. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, staff and interns are currently working remotely, though once it is safe, staff and interns will be expected to work in our DC office. Pay is $15/hr. Casual workplace.

Send resume and cover letter to: internships@mellmangroup.com

Overview

As a full-service public affairs agency, Story Partners has deep expertise and a wide range of traditional and social media skills to meet your challenge and drive to victory. Known for our winning strategies, creativity and zealous determination to win—we offer clients exceptional strength in seven service areas critical to public affairs campaign success.

Story Partners is seeking fall interns. The virtual intern program provides a substantive, hands-on experience in a fast-paced workplace. The ideal candidate is a motivated, self-starter and creative thinker. We encourage students with a communications background or an interest in the role of public affairs in the political process to apply.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Drafting a wide selection of written and creative materials
• Monitoring news coverage (traditional and digital) for client issues
• Facilitating a variety of social media engagements and analysis
• Building and maintaining reporter databases
• Conducting media and issues-related research

This internship will be offered virtually and work hours can be tailored to class schedules.

Apply

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter: careers@storypartnersdc.com 

Overview

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is looking for interns in each of our divisions. We are looking for politically interested undergraduate students that want to gain marketable skills, lifelong connections, and have an enjoyable experience interning at our Washington, DC headquarters. Your internship will allow you to contribute measurable value to the NRCC’s operations and stay connected with the organization long after your last day as an intern.

To apply for an NRCC internship, please click below and email your resume and introduction to: wgreaton@nrcc.org

Overview

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) leads and serves the Federal Government in enterprise human resources management by delivering policies and services to achieve a trusted, effective civilian workforce. OPM provides leadership and support to U.S. agencies on issues including human resources policy and oversight, federal employee benefits, retirement services, guidance on labor-management relations, and programs to improve workforce performance. At OPM, we recruit, retain, and honor the American workforce that is landing rovers on Mars, fighting a global pandemic, and building this country back better.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Enrolled as a degree-seeking student in good academic standing with at least a half-time course load at undergraduate, graduate, or professional school.
• Have an interest in at least one of the following areas:
  o Communications
  o Congressional, Legislative, and Intergovernmental Affairs
  o Data Management
  o Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  o Human Capital/Resource Management
  o IT Modernization

BENEFITS:
• Gain exposure to public service while enhancing your educational goals and shaping your career choices
• Work with federal agencies under the Biden-Harris Administration
• Earn school credit
• Flexible work schedules and assignments

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please submit your resume and proof of enrollment to Jason Tengco, OPM’s White House Liaison, at jason.tengco@opm.gov. You may also submit an optional cover letter describing your interest in volunteering with OPM.

For more information, visit www.opm.gov.
OPM is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit. OPM provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.