One of the best ways to get connected within government and to gain experiences is to intern with a government agency.  Whatever your field of interest is, there is a government agency somewhere that can use your help.  Government student internships are the best way to get a leg up on competition for a government job.  When students intern as a student it is much easier for them to stand out, and secure a government job.  Government jobs really fulfill a purpose for both the student and the government agency.  Students that receive a government internship are able to test a job to see if it’s a field they would want to pursue after graduating.  The government agency also gets to see how it could use you and can decide whether or not they would like to offer you a position when you graduate.

When interning you want to make sure that you are making the most of this opportunity.  Once an intern, find a mentor and network as much as you can.  Make sure that you attend receptions, sessions, and events to give you an opportunity to learn more and to network with people from other offices.  Also, pay attention to the advice that the other interns from other offices give you.  Most importantly, ask for letters of reference before you leave.

Applying for a government internship

Most government internships are for college students.  There are so many government agencies that could offer internships in many different areas.  So, regardless of you major, if you are interested in acquiring a government position upon graduation, you should look for a government internship with one of the 200 government agencies.  Having a government internship prior to applying for a government job, gives you a great advantage over other applicants in an increasingly competitive environment.

Advantages of working in a government internship position

·         Opportunity to test out the area before you decide to make a career of it

·         Internships set you apart from the rest of the applicants once you graduate

·         Government Internships give you an opportunity to network and to find a mentor

Finding the Government Internship that is right for you

There are many ways you can start your search.  First, contact your advisor at the university or college that you are attending.  They may be able to direct your search, so you are finding internship positions that will best meet the needs of you specific area of interest.  Another way to start is to search on government websites for the different government agencies.  Select the agencies that interest you and read through their mission statement and then check their website for internship postings. Although many of the federal agencies post openings for internships on their website; they are not required to do this.  So as you are searching for an internship position for a particular agency, do not rely entirely on what is posted on their website.  If the agency that you are most interested in does not have any internship positions posted on their website, do not be afraid to contact that agency and inquire about openings or even request an informational interview.  If you are having a difficult time finding a government internship position, there are many organizations out there that help place students in government internships and jobs.  You may want to check with one of those organizations if you are not having success on your own.