Why an Internship?

 As mentioned on the front page, internship experience is becoming increasing necessary to competitively enter the job force.  However, the experience in and of itself can be a valuable one.  Many students use this opportunity to evaluate their career goals; more than one has changed their future plans after an internship.  It's far better to realize a career path is not for you during your junior year of college than after an expensive year in graduate school.

However, before making the decision to intern, there are certain things you must do.  First, you must do a personal inventory of your career goals.  What do you want to do professionally and how will an internship aid you in that?  This will help you narrow your search.

Additionally, there are many logistical decisions you must make.  If you are planning on interning during the school year, it's important to note that many intern coordinators are looking for interns who can dedicate sixteen to twenty hours a week at a site, preferably in the form of at least two full days.  While coordinators will frequently be flexible with this, having an open schedule will make you more competitive.  Also, the more you are present at an internship site, the more you will be engaged in substantive projects, as staff members can rely on you to be there to do the work.  

Also, remember that most government related internships are unpaid.  While some may offer a travel stipend, many do not.  Therefore, if you are planning on taking public transit to your internship site, it may turn out that you are technically "paying" to intern.  While the experience is worth the personal costs, take this into consideration when making plans to intern if finances are a concern to you.  Some schools offer need-based stipends for students wishing to take unpaid internships.  The University of Maryland has such a program and details are posted to the Government & Politics listserv. 

Finally, keep in mind deadlines. For spring internships, late to mid-October is the deadline for the most competitive internships. Summer internships are frequently the most competitive and its generally a good idea to sent application materials before spring break.  For fall internships deadlines are generally in June or July.  However, keep in mind that these do vary based on organization and positions with government agencies tend to have earlier deadlines than other internships.