Finding an Internship

Finding an Internship

After deciding an internship is the route for you, the first step is of course to find one!  This is actually easier said than done.  The number of resources out there can be daunting to a first time prospective intern.  Expect to send a resume and cover letter, as well as possibly interview over the phone or in person (more on all of that later).  Remember – you might not get accepted to the first internship you apply for, or you may not even hear back from them. Don’t let this discourage you!   This might happen for any reason; it’s important not to take it personally and keep on sending out your resume.

Luckily there’s no shortage of places to find government related internships.

University of Maryland Resources

The University of Maryland Career Center – the career center is constantly getting submissions from employers for their Careers4Terps site. You’ll need your University of Maryland login information. The number of postings can be overwhelming because the site is open to all majors; however, postings can be separated by field.

The Government and Politics Department – the Government and Politics Department at Maryland has an entire site dedicated internships, both the departmental requirements, as well as finding placements.

List Servs and Twitter - Within the University of Maryland community, list servs and more recently, Twitter, have the most up-to-date internship openings. Government and Politics majors are automatically signed up for the list serv and the BSOS twitter () provides regular updates about internship programs and deadline

Internships.com - The University of Maryland has a subscription to this database. After selecting the University of Maryland on the login screen (), enter the promo code “terps”. After that, you can create your own account for future sessions.

Outside Resources

Idealist - Regularly updated, this database contains job and intern posting around the country.  The bulk of these positions are in the advocacy and non-profit sectors.

Hill Zoo - Another regularly updated database, this is a great resource, especially for anyone looking for positions on Capitol Hill.

Public Affairs Jobs  - This blog is updated nearly daily.  While its primary focus is job openings, internship openings are frequently listed. 

The above resources are all general databases; they’re ideal if you’re trying to get a feel for where you want to intern.  However, if you already have an idea of where you would like to work, click here for a full list of popular intern organizations in the Washington DC area.