4 answers
Haylie
Student
El Centro, California
2
Questions
Asked
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I want to work in the government and maybe one day even become a politician, would it be possible during college to get an internship under a local government official?
I am really interested in politics and the way the government works and might even want to become an official myself, just wanting to know what kind of options I would have in college to make connections with politicians #government #political-science #politics #intern
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4 answers
Leslie Finger
Ph.D. Student in Political Science at Harvard University
43
Answers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Updated
Leslie’s Answer
Hi Haylie,
For sure, it is possible. Politicians at all levels of government hire interns, as do many government offices. Political campaigns also have volunteers. If you are interested in government, this is an excellent way to learn more. In some cases, internships just last for a summer, so it can be a great option for a summer job during college. The first step would be to check out some government websites and see what kinds of internships they offer.
Hope that helps!
What are you expected to already by knowledgeable about when applying for an entry-level internship in the government?
Naysa
Quinci Smith Slater (she/her)
Gender Studies Educator
24
Answers
Claremont, California
Updated
Quinci’s Answer
Yes, but it’s rare you can find politician internships like that in California, I would recommend relocating to Washington D.C because they have a lot more opportunities for upcoming politician.
Christian Becerra
Operations professional
36
Answers
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Updated
Christian’s Answer
Absolutely! And I would actually encourage you to start looking for internships as early as possible rather than waiting until you’re close to graduating.
I can speak to this from personal experience. I started my career through political internships, eventually working in a U.S. Senate office and on a presidential campaign.
My first opportunity came about in a surprisingly simple way. I literally Googled a political campaign I was interested in, found the internship application on its website, filled it out, and heard back. That was the beginning of everything!
I eventually went on to work in a Senate office, where part of my job was actually recruiting, scheduling, training, and supervising interns. So I’ve experienced the internship process from both sides.
My biggest recommendation would be to start locally. Look up your city council members, county officials, state delegates, state senators, and congressional representatives. Visit their official websites and see whether they have internship opportunities listed.
If they don’t, don’t be afraid to send a thoughtful email introducing yourself, explaining your interest in public service, and asking whether they accept interns or volunteers.
And don’t limit yourself to working directly for an elected official. Local government departments, legislative offices, advocacy organizations, and political campaigns can all provide valuable experience.
One thing I learned from working in government is that there’s so much happening behind the scenes. Scheduling, constituent services, research, communications, event planning, and office operations are all important parts of making an office function.
Also, please don’t underestimate the relationships you’ll build! Some of the most valuable connections come from working alongside other interns and junior staff members, not necessarily from meeting the elected official.
My advice is simple: Don’t wait until you have connections to start applying. Apply, show up, do good work, and build your connections along the way.
That’s how I got my start, and those early internships helped shape the direction of my career.
I can speak to this from personal experience. I started my career through political internships, eventually working in a U.S. Senate office and on a presidential campaign.
My first opportunity came about in a surprisingly simple way. I literally Googled a political campaign I was interested in, found the internship application on its website, filled it out, and heard back. That was the beginning of everything!
I eventually went on to work in a Senate office, where part of my job was actually recruiting, scheduling, training, and supervising interns. So I’ve experienced the internship process from both sides.
My biggest recommendation would be to start locally. Look up your city council members, county officials, state delegates, state senators, and congressional representatives. Visit their official websites and see whether they have internship opportunities listed.
If they don’t, don’t be afraid to send a thoughtful email introducing yourself, explaining your interest in public service, and asking whether they accept interns or volunteers.
And don’t limit yourself to working directly for an elected official. Local government departments, legislative offices, advocacy organizations, and political campaigns can all provide valuable experience.
One thing I learned from working in government is that there’s so much happening behind the scenes. Scheduling, constituent services, research, communications, event planning, and office operations are all important parts of making an office function.
Also, please don’t underestimate the relationships you’ll build! Some of the most valuable connections come from working alongside other interns and junior staff members, not necessarily from meeting the elected official.
My advice is simple: Don’t wait until you have connections to start applying. Apply, show up, do good work, and build your connections along the way.
That’s how I got my start, and those early internships helped shape the direction of my career.
Sydney Shields
Sustainability Investment Analyst Intern
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Sydney’s Answer
There are definitely opportunities to work with local government while in college. As a previous post said, it will probably be for a shorter duration of time, but well worth it if that's what you want to do long-term. Along with looking on government websites, if you have a career center or advisors that would be involved in political organizations, I would suggest looking there first. It might be easier to find roles you are qualified for when going through your school.