Internship hunters must start early

Few students realize how long it can take to apply and be accepted for a substantive internship with the Federal Government. Learn where to apply, and just how early you will need to.

 

From September 2005

Internships are a cornerstone of a George Washington University education. Most students, however, don’t realize how much legwork it takes to find an organization that needs help and to apply for a space. Some internships, especially highly-coveted ones, will start accepting applications soon for summer internships in 2006. Others may not require an application until the spring. Please note the following deadlines for summer 2006 positions and keep in mind that the deadline to apply for your dream internship may be sooner than you think.

Summer 2006 Internship Information and Deadlines

House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Up to a year in advance

US Department of State

November 1, 2005

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

November 1, 2005

The Washington Post

November 1, 2005

Central Intelligence Agency

6-9 months before desired start date

The Nixon Center

Rolling—apply well in advance

Heritage Foundation

February 1, 2006

The Carter Center

March 1, 2006

CATO

March 1, 2006

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

March 1, 2006

Organization of American States (OAS)

March 15, 2006

American Enterprise Institute

April 1, 2006

Of course, this list isn’t intended to be comprehensive. Be sure to look for information about other internships in which you are interested.

Other Internship Resources

Some of the most-competitive internships do not accept freshmen or sophomores. If you too young for some internships, or if a fall application seems too much right now, remember that you can still apply for many Congressional offices or non-profits during the spring. The following websites are great resources for your search:

DC Craigslist

Craigslist is a community forum where you may find smaller, non-profit organizations.

Monstertrack

Monstertrack is a nation-wide job site. You can find jobs for major firms or non-profits here.

Hill Zoo

Hill Zoo is a community board for jobs on Capitol Hill.

GW Career Center

The GW Career Center often has internships listed from organizations specifically seeking students with your qualifications.



Sometimes friends or classmate are the best resource of all—if you hear someone discussing an interesting internship, ask them about it. Don’t forget that the GW Career Center in Old Main at 1922 F Street is a good starting place for a job search, or for help on resumes or cover letters. Good luck.

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