US Government

Congress

Internships 

Congressional Internships are typically specific to the office of the congressperson one is interning with. For the most up to date information it is best to check the specific website of the Representative or Senator you wish to intern for. However, some internships are posted to the House and Senate employment bulletins linked below. Internships are typically available for Fall, Spring, and Summer.  

Applications are typically due 3-4 months in advance of the program start date. For example, the application for summer internships often opens in February. However, this can vary. 

Find your members: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member  

Senate Placement office Positions: https://www.senate.gov/employment/po/positions.htm  

House Employment Bulletin https://www.house.gov/employment/positions-with-members-and-committees/subscribe-to-the-house-employment-bulletin  

Careers

The House and Senate each maintain their own employment bulletins which list job opportunities with members of congress. Job postings on the senate and house employment bulletin typically clearly indicate whether the position is an entry level position or not. Campaigns often look to hire additional staff or find additional volunteers during campaign periods, this can be a useful way to build a relationship with the Congressperson you wish to work for. Application timing and requirements will vary based on position.  

Senate Placement Office: https://www.senate.gov/employment/po/positions.htm 

Tip: Use Ctrl + F or Command + F to search the Senate employment bulletin for a specific job title or Senator. 

House Employment Bulletin: https://www.house.gov/employment/positions-with-members-and-committees/subscribe-to-the-house-employment-bulletin 

Pathways Program 

*US Citizenship Required*

The Pathways Program is a US Federal Government initiative to increase recruitment and hiring of students and recent graduates. The program encompasses three subprograms, the Internship Program for students, the Recent Graduates Program for individuals who have graduated in the last 2 years, and the Presidential Management Fellows Program for people with advanced degrees. The Department of Health and Human Services has their own program, as do most government agencies. 

Pathways positions are all typically posted on USAJobs.com. Internships are referred to as “Student Trainee” Positions. They can be for a defined term or indefinite and some have the option to convert a student to a permanent employee.  They are all paid opportunities.   Application timelines can vary based on the department you wish to work for. It is recommended that you set up a saved search in www.USAJobs.gov to alert you when internships are posted. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.

Center for Disease Control

The CDC also has their own Pathways Program, 

Peace Corps

The Peace Corps is a US Government program that does work in over 60 countries. It is for U.S. citizens only. Projects last for 3-12 months and include a living stipend and other support. The Corps does work in 6 primary sectors: Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health, and Youth in Development. 

It is important to note that serving in the Peace Corps can impact your ability to get a job in the CIA and any previous service with the CIA can impact your ability to work with the Peace Corps.

Apply here.

Get more information here.