Becca Saran
Interning on Capitol Hill: Do’s and Don’t’s
By Becca Saran
Spring 2015
Congratulations! If you are reading this, you most likely have landed an internship at the center of the American political system. You should first of all be extremely proud of yourself for getting this far—getting an internship and working on the Hill is no easy feat and I am sure many college students would like to be in your shoes. The next few months will be some of the most stressful but ultimately rewarding months of your life. You will walk the same halls as past presidents and use the same cafeteria as future candidates.
I decided to put together a list of Do’s and Don’t’s for interning on Capitol Hill so that you don’t feel lost in the mix of interns and hopefully find it helpful during your first few weeks on the job!
Do:
- Always show up on time. Be the first one at the office. Sort through the newspapers so the staffers have them on their desk to read when they walk in.
- Ask questions. About the building, about the history, about the representative you are working for, about your assignments, or about office procedures. Anything you are not 100% sure of, always ask.
- Have an issue area that you’re interested in and learn as much as you can about it. Many offices will discuss issues openly and you will be surprised to find that not everyone in the office is going to line up with each other. Having something you’re passionate about shows you care, but also being open to other opinions is very, very important on the Hill. I sent an email at the beginning of my internship to the staff about issues that I would be interested in. It helped because I am able to work closely with the staffer who works on those issues and I can write letters about what I am interested in.
- Say yes to every opportunity or project. When I started this job I would not have guessed that I would become an expert on environmental policy. I was asked to write a letter about the declining bee population in Florida and ever since I have been assigned multiple letters to write about environmental policy and wildlife. My coworkers joke that I have become the “wildlife expert” of the office. It was not my top choice of issue areas, but now I have sharpened my research skills and have shown I am reliable.
- Keep up your writing skills. You WILL be writing most likely more than you were expecting. Make sure your writing is clear and concise. Always proofread and do as much research on the topic as possible. Good writing will impress staffers; give them a reason to compliment you.
Don’t’s:
- Lose your calm when you see someone famous. Keep your cool at all time. It is ok to internally freak out when you see someone walking down the hall or meet some famous witness at a hearing. Everyone else will be acting calm so you should do the same.
- Ever lose your sense of wonder. This one kind of falls under the last Don’t. Find the balance of never freaking out but also never forgetting how cool this opportunity is.
- Talk poorly of anyone or their opinions. The Hill is a small place. While it can be very polarizing, remember that you never know who might be friends. You are free to express your opinion but use discretion and always be respectful.
- Keep your ID on 24/7. ID etiquette 101: you won’t really need your ID unless you’re giving a Capitol Tour, or going to get Dunkin Donuts in the basement of the Library of Congress (You’re welcome). You will notice most staffers NEVER have their IDs on them because there’s not much reason to. Also never wear your badge on the Metro or post it on Facebook. Chelsea will definitely go over this with you but it is so important that I had to emphasize it.
- Dress inappropriately. You can be trendy and dress professionally, but always air on the side of conservative. DC is definitely a place where you will be judged on your attire so make sure nobody has a reason to question your professionalism. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
Becca is a senior International Relations major interning on Capitol Hill and actively searching for a full-time job post-graduation here in Washington, DC.
