If you’re an international relations (IR) student looking for ways to jumpstart your career, ask yourself how much real-world experience you have. Many IR-related positions, including Federal Service Officers, press secretaries, and social research officers, require candidates to have prior experience in a similar field. Internships allow you to gain experience and skills outside the classroom while still completing your MA in international relations—and networking is the best way to find one.
So what does it take to secure Hill Internships for International Relations Students
Networking
It goes without saying that government internships are highly competitive, so networking is key. Speak to your professors, particularly political science and international affairs instructors. They may have connections or leads on Capitol Hill—a great place to start an internship. You’ll be able to draw parallels between your Capitol Hill internship tasks and your coursework, which will both cover foreign policy, foreign affairs, and international security studies.
Attend campus information sessions and networking events, explore your college alumni network, seek out relevant volunteer opportunities, and write to your state congressmen. National volunteer programs like the Peace Corps and Teach for America often conduct internship information sessions on campus. These are just a few simple ways to network and find the right internship for you.
Internship Opportunities
There are many internship opportunities across the country. The U.S. Senate and Congress hire summer interns, while the U.S. State Department employs student interns throughout the year. Government interns will delve into a wide range of areas, including correspondence, press, and legislative policy.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee offers internship opportunities for college students, graduate students enrolled in international relations programs, and recent graduates to gain valuable foreign policy experience. Candidates are selected based on “excellent writing skills, attention to detail and the ability to multitask,” according to the Committee’s website. Knowledge of the legislative and political process may also give you a leg up on the competition.
The nearly 200-year-old Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been instrumental in American history—from negotiating treaties to establishing the United Nations. A semester interning at the Committee is a remarkable opportunity for an international relations student to attend meetings on and off the Hill, draft memos, track legislation, and conduct research, while being paired with a staff member. Committee internships typically last a semester, but the Committee also accommodates part-time student schedules.
While not nearly as old, the Committee on Homeland Security is no less influential, as it provides essential oversight for the Department of Homeland Security. The Committee’s six subcommittees each focus on a specific issue—counterterrorism and intelligence, cyber security, border and maritime security, emergency preparedness, transportation security, and oversight and management efficiency. In its young life, the Committee has passed a number of key pieces of legislation, including the Safe Port Act and FEMA reform. This committee is both a congressional and senatorial component, making for a rich internship experience.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs is another place for IR students to intern, and creates diplomatic legislation that serves the U.S. Department of State, the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the United Nations, and the enforcement of the Arms Export Control Act. Six subcommittees focus on various geographic regions. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs employs summer interns and begins accepting applications in early winter.
If you’re looking for a diverse and challenging experience in the IR field, a Capitol Hill internship can help launch a long and rewarding career in international relations or the federal government. Network creatively, keep application deadlines in mind, and be sure to learn as much as possible with your internship. The skills and IR knowledge you gain in your internship will pay off when searching for jobs after graduation.
