I like the office environment I was in. They were great people to work with
What I wish was different
I should have networked more
Advice
Network and try to build relationships with the chief of staff
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Legislative Intern
May - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I saw first hand how a Congressional Office is run
What I wish was different
I wish I could have done more research.
Advice
Network and go to as many briefings and hearings as possible!
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Congressional Inter
June - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I enjoyed getting to see what law-making looked like behind the scenes.
What I wish was different
I wish I had been paid an hourly wage and that I had been given more tasks.
Advice
Whatever you are assigned to do, do it well and diligently .
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Congressional Intern
May - July 2019 • Lubbock, TX
What I liked
I enjoyed the variety of tasks I was assigned to. I was able to work alone primarily, which I enjoyed. The work is very intense, mostly because my work was reflective of a Member of Congress. Accuracy was paramount and a good challenge for the entire summer.
What I wish was different
I wish that I was able to work more around legislation. Congressional Interns in District Offices unfortunately do more community outreach and local relations than national politics.
Advice
I would say it would be in your best interest to become proficient taking phone calls and dealing with high stress situations.
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Congressional Intern
June - August 2020 • Washington, DC
What I liked
It was an amazing experience getting to work with Congressman Christ Smith from New Jersey's 4th district. He has been in office for over 40 years and just the experience of being there and learning how congress works and functions from within gave me a whole new perspective on government and its intricacies. I got to attend hearings on bills and shadow Mr. Smith in his daily routine. I also got the chance to work with different constituents on the phone and from there learn about what type of issues these congressmen and women deal with on a day to day basis.
What I wish was different
It was during the summer when COVID was keeping most things shut down so I did not get to give tours of the capital building, but that is usually a big part of the job for interns.
Advice
Make sure you know the district you are working for well before you start working. Even if you are not from the particular district that you are working with, make sure you know its type of people, their needs, and the types of policies that they vote on and support. Also research your congressman or woman really well so that you can be able to know where they stand on issues because you do represent them.
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Intern
June - August 2019 • Winchester, VA
What I liked
I loved the experience of seeing what tasks go into our political system. We also visited the DC office for a day, and being in that environment for a day was so surreal.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Congressional Intern
June - August 2017 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I loved working on Capitol Hill everyday, and I was surrounded by so many important people. I learned so much about the world of politics and government. I fell in love with the city, and met so many amazing people. It was my first time on the East Coast, and I decided I want to move their after graduation!
What I wish was different
I wish I had worked there longer! I didn’t want my internship to end.
Advice
Go out of your comfort zone and try exploring jobs in a new city. You’ll see a new part of the world and learn a lot about yourself. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
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Legislative Intern
May - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
The Congressman's staff members were committed to providing interns with professional development opportunities.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Intern
May - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I liked being close to the legislative process and living in DC this summer through an internship grant.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Congressional Intern
June - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I loved getting an inside look into our legislative process by attending briefings and hearings!
What I wish was different
I wish I could have been given more responsibilities but I suppose there's only so many things an intern can do!
Advice
To anyone thinking about working on the Hill, ask yourself what you hope to get out of it by the end of the summer. If your goal is to to do significant research, perhaps you are better suited for a think tank!
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Intern
June - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I got great experience in conducting research, drafting congressional memos, working with constituents, and networking at professional events. The work was very challenging but very rewarding. I came away with a greater understanding of how our legislative system works and the intricacies of American politics. I also really enjoyed working with the office staff--they were great mentors and teachers to me throughout the summer.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have gotten more experience working with lobbyists and different interest groups. I am interested in policy rather than politics, but the internship was more geared towards the political side of things.
Advice
Speak up for yourself and ask for the opportunities you want to get. People in the office will always be willing to guide and intern and teach them a new skill, but you have to ask first. Tell your co-workers what you want to learn and they will help make that happen.
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Congressional Intern
June - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
Put yourself out there to network, attend briefings and hearings, and ask questions. Learn everything you can!
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Office Intern
June - July 2017 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I enjoyed being in Washington D.C. and being able to interact with students with similar interests. I also enjoy the experiences and opportunities that this internship afforded me. I was able to go to hearings and see a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of politics.
What I wish was different
I wish that my talents had been utilized more. I didn't feel like I contributed anything to the office space.
Advice
I would encourage interns to seek out specific tasks to accomplish. Remember that you probably won't change the world in one internship, so be willing to learn, but don't be afraid to work hard. Tell your supervisor that you're interested in a certain area and ask how you can assist that field. Also, be willing to put yourself out there. Go to any and all events that are offered for interns. Take advantage of the networking opportunities, meet as many people as possible, and always ask for more work to do.
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Intern
January - May 2016 • Washington, DC
What I liked
For political science students, or individuals wanting to enter into any form of policy, I think this internship is incredibly important in learning how the Hill works. I was very lucky and was the only intern in my office and my office wanted me to get the most out of my internship. They encouraged me to find hearings or briefings that interested me everyday I was there and to attend them. I was able to gain insight into a lot of different topics and meet a lot of incredible people.
What I wish was different
To me, the biggest problem was the fight it was to get any credit for the internship, and when I finally was able to have that granted, it was only 1 hour. I was interning 17+ hours a week, on top of commuting to and from DC which was an additional 8 hours per week, but this time and effort was not recognized by the university.
Advice
When choosing an office to intern in, do not necessary work for your home district and someone you know. Instead, reach out to your congressman for a recommendation or help in finding an internship, and then choose where you would like to apply based on the Congressman's committees and interests.
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Legislative Intern
September - December 2017 • Washington, DC
What I liked
Being a part of the action on the Hill was great! My office was really flexible and let me go to hearings, watch votes, and just be in the Capitol building a lot.
What I wish was different
Getting yelled at on the phone by constituents for no pay is terrible
Advice
Go to as many events as possible
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Congressional Intern
May - August 2017 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I absolutely loved my office environment (I was an intern in Congresswoman Katherine Clark's office). It was amazing to have so many opportunities to attend hearings, briefings, and write memos. You really get to learn what the process of government is by being a part of it.
What I wish was different
I wish it was paid.
Advice
Take advantage of every opportunity! If a staffer asks you to do something, don't turn it down, even if it isn't "glamorous". It might lead to something more!
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Congressman Comer Agriculture Fellow
May - June 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I loved the networking opportunities and the flexibility of the office. The office staff always encouraged the interns to make the most of the time here and to attend as many briefings as possible.
What I wish was different
I really enjoyed my time working for the Congressman. I enjoyed it so much that when I was offered to come back for 15 weeks during the fall semester I decided to accept.
Advice
This experience is what you make it. You can't wait for the staff to share an opportunity with you because they have very busy schedules. You have to had a lot of self motivation and take initiative to really make the most of your time on Capitol Hill.
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Office of Congressman Steve Sivers (OH-15) Intern
May - August 2018 • Wilmington, OH
What I liked
I enjoyed getting to know the constituents and learning more about what the House of Representatives does in the district offices.
What I wish was different
I wish I had known more about Social Security and all that it entails so that I could have been of more help in the office.
Advice
I would suggest that you always remember to be patient and kind. Compassion goes a long way, and many people have had life experiences far more difficult than what many of us could imagine.
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Intern
May - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I loved being part of the political processes, using my writing skills in a professional field.
What I wish was different
Nothing. I loved my internship!
Advice
Don’t wait for people to give you tasks. Be proactive.
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Congressional Intern
May - August 2018 • Omaha, NE
What I liked
I enjoyed attending various meetings and events with the Congressman. Seeing how businesses and other people interact with a member of Congress was very intriguing. Additionally, finding ways to help these people/businesses through congressional action was a great learning experience.
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
Go in with an open, nonpartisan, mind. Constituent relations is a huge aspect of a Congressional office and helping people feels the same regardless of what end of the political spectrum they fall on.
