United States House of Representatives

Legislative Intern

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I liked being back on the Hill and getting a more hands on experience with actual legislation and research.

What I wish was different

I wish each day had a little more change in pace.

Advice

Its definitely worth it because it is extremely eye opening. You learn a lot in a short amount of time and really get a feel for what working on the Hill is like. Advice would be to live in DC as opposed to VA or MD and commuting.

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Constituent Services Intern

June - August 2018 • Ewing Township, NJ

What I liked

I enjoyed learning about the type of work a Congressional office does and being given responsibilities in doing casework intake and serving as a first screen of calls into the office.

What I wish was different

I wish there had been more tasks for interns to work on. Some days were spent waiting for the phone to ring.

Advice

Get to know your colleagues. Many of them have connections that can help you land another internship or a job. Also don't be afraid to be proactive and ask for tasks.

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Congressional Staff Intern

August - September 2017 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I liked literally everything. It was an honor to be in Washington, D.C for the first time. and experiencing its beauty. It was also great and seeing how our government functions everyday at the United States Capitol.

What I wish was different

I wish that congressional interns were paid. There are so many students who can't afford to experience the internship opportunities because of that. We have political parties that believe in strong entrepreneurial spirit and raising the minimum wage. If our government is so passionate about these issues, then they first must demonstrate it by paying congressional interns.

Advice

One piece of advice I would share is to make as many connections as possible and don't be afraid to experience the beauty of D.C.

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Congressional Intern

June - July 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I loved the office environment, as well as the fact that while I was working I knew that many of my efforts would have tangible effects.

What I wish was different

I wish that there had been less busy-work.

Advice

I would share that being in a work environment that is enjoyable can take away from the majority of the stress that comes with a job.

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Intern

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I loved the political atmosphere! I got to meet a lot of politicians and important government figures. I also got to experience going to briefings and hearings on the hill and it opened my eyes to so many issues I didn't even know interested me.

What I wish was different

I wish the interns could have taken on more projects but because the government is historically slow, we couldn't take on and see through finish any one project.

Advice

Professionalism at all times is required. Use what you learned from your professors, peers, and classes to thrive in this highly professional environment.

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Congressional Intern

January - May 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Meeting other interns, working with congressional staffers, interacting with the congressman

What I wish was different

I wish there was more opportunity for individual projects with a staffer

Advice

Wear comfortable shoes. Always

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Cashier

May 2019 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I liked the scheduling

What I wish was different

Nothing could have been different

Advice

Be nice to everyone

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Intern

August - November 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Attending briefings, writing memos and giving tours to constituents.

What I wish was different

Less menial and clerical work.

Advice

Critically think about everything at all times.

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Congressional Intern

May 2019 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I loved working with the people in my office. Entering an office where the other employees have known each other for a few years, it can be daunting being "the new girl," but everyone in the office made me feel comfortable and part of the team.

What I wish was different

I wish that I could have attended a couple of the impeachment hearings, but I had duties to attend to in the office. Regardless, it was amazing just to know they were happening a few floors down from me.

Advice

I would say, don't be afraid to apply to internships if you don't have a ton of experience. My resume before applying consisted of hostessing jobs and tutoring, but I still got the internship! In a congressional office, make sure you are professional and always asking how you can help.

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Legislative Intern

January - March 2020 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I got to work very independently, and do work that I felt was productive and important to my office. I wasn’t just given busy work.

What I wish was different

I wish that I would have spent more time networking during my time there, as we got sent home early due to COVID and I really regretted not taking advantage of the time I had.

Advice

Don’t be afraid of failure! The fear of not doing something perfectly can be really overwhelming and intimidating, but you were hired for a reason. If they didn’t think you were capable, you wouldn’t have gotten the job.

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Summer Intern

May - August 2021 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I liked being exposed to the world of politics on a national level. It was incredibly informative to learn exactly how the government operates at the highest level. I really enjoyed researching different topics for bills and finding bills that I think would be interesting for the Congressman to sign on to. The staff was amazing and very inclusive and helpful. I had an amazing experience there.

What I wish was different

I wish we could have given tours of the Capitol building, but due to COVID-19, we were unable to.

Advice

Meet as many people as you can and dive into the experience. You can stay quiet and just go about your job, but connecting with the staff and asking lots of questions will make for a great internship on the Hill in my opinion.

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Head Intern

May - July 2021 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I really enjoyed the immersive experience of working on Capitol Hill, and I made good connections with people in my office.

What I wish was different

I wish the office had more clear expectations and projects for interns.

Advice

Prepare for long days and a lot of walking. Make sure you are kind to everyone and try to get everyone's business card.

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Congressional Intern

May - August 2021 • Richmond, TX

What I liked

Great staffers, meaningful work

What I wish was different

Nothing, it was great

Advice

Volunteer!

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Congressional Intern

June - August 2022 • Washington, DC

What I liked

There were a ton of opportunities to learn and meet really interesting people.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have been assigned an office whose values I actually identified with.

Advice

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Constituent Service Intern

June - August 2022 • Glen Ellyn, IL

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

One piece of advice would be to put yourself out there. I was more reserved and shy, not wanting to make a mistake and I regret it. I wish I communicated and talked with the staff more, especially because they all seemed so kind and nice.

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