Have you ever wanted to intern for a Member of Congress? It can be hard to navigate where to start, so I wanted to share my tips and advice. I’ve interned three times, and it truly is an incredible learning experience if you’re interested in politics.

See if your school has a specific program

Many colleges have a specific Congressional Internship program and will help you with the application process. So before you apply on your own, be sure to check with your school.

Apply early

Congressional internships are very competitive, and if you wait until the application deadline the positions may already be filled. So be sure to apply early!

You have the best chance with the Member representing your district/ state

Feel free to apply to internships with any Member you want, but many offices prefer applicants with ties to their state/ district. I’d recommend applying to your Representative and Senators first, then applying for other internships.

Party matters. Like a lot

Yes you will be an intern who is not substantively contributing to any policy work, but party is still very important. Working for someone who’s views are completely different than yours can be very difficult and frustrating, and it is much easier to work for someone of the same party, even if you don’t agree with them on every issue (which is virtually impossible to do anyways).

Connections, connections, connections

Connections can be extremely helpful to get your foot in the door. Think hard about any connections you might have, even if you aren’t super close with them. If you’re in a Greek life or a college organization, see if any alumni from your school work on the Hill, ask friends of friends, ask your professors. Any connection can be helpful!

If you are deciding between multiple internships, look at the Member’s committee assignments & policy priorities

If you get offered multiple internships and are struggling to make a decision, decide which Member/ Senator is assigned to committees you’re more interested in. This will help ensure you get to do at least a little research on issue areas you’re actually interested in.

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful!