Five steps to landing a US Senate internship
So you want to be a Senate intern?
You’ve set your sights high on this one. None of the squabbling chaos of the House for you; you’ve always been more of a saucer than a tea person anyway. With only 100 senators to choose from, however, you’ll need all the help you can get in applying for your Senate internship. That’s why we’ve had our best brains distill the process down into five simple steps to help kickstart your first Senate internship:
Looking for help with your House internship application? Check out our post on “How to land an internship in the US House of Representatives”
Step 1 - Get your resume, cover letter & recommendations together
First things first, a bit of organization. You’ll need to pull together an updated resume, cover letter and at least two letters of recommendation. Remember to keep your resume to one page or less, and make sure your top achievements stand out above the rest. Think of your resume as a highlight reel or director’s cut; short, sweet and showing off your best accomplishments.
Your cover letter, meanwhile, should be a bit more tailored to each position you’re applying for. Feel free to templatize, but make sure you add a small personal touch to each letter, whether it is a personal connection to the senator’s state or a specific bill of theirs that you agree with.
Finally, the letters of recommendation. Everyone dreads reaching out to an old professor or supervisor to ask for a favor, but the sooner you bite the bullet and send the ask, the better! Remember that they’re busy people too, so make sure to give them at least two or three weeks of advance notice before the letter is due.
Step 2 - Pick a side (Republican or Democrat?)
For some aspiring interns, picking a side was never a question in the first place. For others, however, applying to a Democrat or Republican office can be a career-defining moment before they’ve even landed the job! When in doubt, take the time to weigh each party’s stance on a few policy issues that are important to you. If you’re still not sure, try an online quiz like this one from Pew Research to see where you stand compared to the party line.
Step 3 - Keep it local
Whenever possible, start your internship job search with local or regional senators, especially if you agree with their stance on policies and stated values. Senate offices are always looking for interns & staffers with local experience, who know the senator’s state or region and can connect with local constituents.
Not sure who your senator is? Check out this link from the official website of the US Congress. Once you’ve found your senator, be sure to reach out directly to their office to see if they have any internship openings!
Step 4 - Check online job boards
After you’ve exhausted your local connections, Senate job boards are the next best thing. Chock-full of updated internship job listings, each of the following job boards can be a great resource for identifying and applying for internships:
Senate Internship Opportunities Bulletin - This should be your number one resource when looking for a Senate internship. This Senate internships bulletin is updated regularly, and lists internships for both Democrat & Republican offices. Whenever possible, try to tailor your resume & application to the specific job and office you are applying for.
The Senate Resume Bank - While a great starting point on your internship application journey, the Senate Resume Bank is just that: a starting point. In theory, the resume bank is accessible by every Senate office, giving your resume as much exposure to as many offices as possible. In practice, however, you’ll be submitting a general resume and competing for attention with hundreds or thousands of other internship applications.
Step 5 - Find intern housing!
Too many times, we’ve heard of prospective interns landing their dream Senate internship in Washington, just to turn it down at the last minute because they can’t find housing in DC. Our advice: do not leave intern housing to the last minute! Intern housing can be snapped up fast, so once you’ve hit “send” on that final application or resume, start your housing search right away.
Most Senate internships follow the fall, spring and summer semester schedule, and typically last about two to three months at a time. This means you’ll want to find fully-furnished, flexible / monthly housing in and around Capitol Hill, where your internship will be located.
Cortado makes it easy to book flexible, fully-furnished housing in beautiful locations just blocks from the US Capitol and Senate office buildings, and provides access to an exclusive network of verified interns & young professionals living in the District.
As former interns ourselves, we know just how important it is to book your stay with a safe, trustworthy housing provider, avoiding potential scams and giving you the landing pad you need for an unforgettable internship in Washington, DC.
