The White House provides internship possibilities
The White House has many opportunities for students who want to intern.
When looking for the internship that will complete your degree, why not go straight to the top with an internship at the White House? Impossible you might say, but every year, three-hundred college juniors and seniors from across the nation are chosen to represent their country through government service.
The competition is tough, but the chosen few will spend their term in a White House Office performing office duties relating to the chosen office, community service, and a service project. Students also receive fun and educational Washington tours, the ability to attend special events, and weekly lectures. Teary Petry, from Northwestern State University in Natchitochus talked about his duties working in the House of Representatives on the website www.washingtoninternship.com. He says, “The staff members at my job were very friendly, and working there was a pleasure. I was honored to meet my congressman on the second day of the internship. Each intern was given certain assignments, like responding to constituent letters, sorting mail, answering phones, and adding data into the computer.”
Special events and lectures he attended included the Nuclear Proliferation Meeting hosted by Representative Jim Matheson of Utah, a committee meeting in the Senate for the Peer-to-Peer Network hearing, and a lecture hosted by Senator Lott.
Examples of fun activities provided for interns included tours of the White House, the Pentagon, and the Supreme Court, a private tour conducted by a Navy staff member who of the Department of Defense, and touring the Supreme Court while a case was in progress.
The opportunity to travel to Washington D.C., live among our country’s leaders, and learn resume building skills is a special opportunity for those seeking not only a challenge, but a change. As Rose Coppola-Conroy, a Chicago based Career Planning Advisor says, “This opportunity will broaden student’s horizons. Students tend to develop a narrow focus when they attend the same school, in the same city, and do the same things.”
While it is an unpaid opportunity, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, (NACE) say that the internship experience pays off in terms of the starting salaries interns are offered for full-time jobs.
Marilyn Mackes, a NACE executive director said, “Employers have told us consistently that they prize relevant work experience in job candidates. This demonstrates that many organizations are willing to reward candidates who make the effort to gain that experience.”
Over 30 White House Offices benefit from interns. All interns indicate their preferred office on their application, based on interest and qualifications. The White House Offices range from Cabinet Affairs to Women’s Initiatives and Outreach, and responsibilities extend from the planning of entertainment in the Social Office, travel management in the Travel Office, and photo editing in the Photo Office.
The White House internships are open to traditional, non-traditional, graduate, and law students with exceptional academic qualifications. They also seek diversity in applicants, says the website http://clinton4.nara.gov/internship/program.html,
“The White House Internship Program strives to admit students who represent the diversity of American. Students from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.”
It is important to note that the internships are nonpartisan, meaning, the internships are not biased for any political group. Frank Gilbert, a Robert Morris College surgical technician student understands that the benefits of the internship outweigh current feelings towards the Bush Administration.
He said, “It would be great to see world leaders and interact with them on a personal level…whether or not you agree with the current political climate or not.”
The first step to applying is checking the applicant qualifications, and printing an application on the White House Intern website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/wh-intern.html. A completed application includes the White House Intern Program application, a resume, and three letters of recommendation. A listing of White House Offices and more information can be found at http://clinton4.nara.gov/internship/program.html, it is here you will pick an office of choice. For assistance in applying for the White House Internship Program, contact career services at your campus, or contact SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) at SIFE@robermorris.edu.
Why limit yourself to the ordinary; become one of the extraordinary, and apply for The White House Internship Program.