Five Tips for Landing a Capitol Hill Internship
By: Faiza Mawani
Are you an Ismaili considering a summer internship in Washington, D.C., but do not know where to start? You’re in the right spot!
This summer I had the privilege of interning for the Office for Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07). As a rising senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), I picked up some tips I wish someone had given me as I embarked on applying for a summer internship in D.C.
Tip #1: Commit to the process as soon as possible.
Last summer, I realized that I wanted to take on a Congressional internship within the next year.
As a first step, I spoke to my professors, and one of them directed me to a scholarship offered to students who are getting their Master’s of Public Administration. The Take a Leap scholarship funds recipients to spend a summer in D.C. if they are able to secure an internship there. I was fortunate to receive the scholarship in November 2022, which was contingent upon the internship experience.
I was advised by my professors to update my resume every three months, which was helpful as I routinely applied to internships. In addition to frequently updating my resume, I did some independent research on where I would like to gain experience to help me narrow down the type of policy experience that would enhance my career path.
There are many internship opportunities in Washington, D.C., so shortlisting the ones I was the most excited about allowed me to hone in on the opportunities that best fit what I was looking for. It became clear that I wanted to work for my district’s representative, and knowing this did make a difference in how invested I was in its application process.
Tip #2: Dedicate your free time or school break to doing applications.
For me, this looked like using my Thanksgiving break to shortlist the three offices I was interested in interning for:
- Office of Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07)
- U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms
By the holiday break in December, I allocated 30–40 minutes of my day to work on my applications for two weeks straight. Some of the applications were due mid-January to early February, and I wanted to have everything ready prior to the deadlines.
Most applications ask for a resume, a cover letter indicating interest, and a few writing samples. I had my resume ready, but I had never written a cover letter nor had I selected a writing sample before. I used the first week of winter break to understand how to write a successful cover letter and identify the right writing samples.
I looked up some examples of cover letters specifically for Congressional internships, but in all honesty, the examples I found did not help me too much. I ended up asking ChatGPT to help me understand what constituted a great cover letter, which was more helpful. I used the guidance to structure my personal cover letter, so there was a distinct flow.
As far as writing samples go, I fortunately had policy briefs and policy oriented samples from courses taken through my Master’s program. According to Yale University’s Career Center, writing samples are supposed to cater to the employer, so I did edit some samples to make them more applicable to the internships, which I highly recommend doing.
Tip #3: Rely on your people.
The peers (and people who generally know you best!) in your networks are invested in your success — so don’t be shy to ask for help!
I asked my professors to review my application (writing sample, resume, etc.) prior to submission, which boosted my confidence before hitting submit. I also asked my older sisters to review my application, since they know me well and have gone through internship application processes before.
Connections that your institution may have also have the ability to take you far. One of my professors knew a staffer in Congresswoman Sewell’s office, and she offered to put in a good word for me. An alum of my Master’s program reached out to me when he saw I was a recipient of the scholarship. He worked at one of the places I was interested in interning for, so he scheduled a Zoom call and told me more about the office’s roles and responsibilities within the Senate.
All it took was me asking a few questions to people who cared about my journey, and the doors opened themselves. Networking is a great strength (and a massive responsibility) that all college students should use to their advantage.
Tip #4: Prep for your interview.
In April 2023, I received an email from Congresswoman Sewell’s office offering me a 30 minute interview. I was a bit worried that thirty minutes would not be enough to convey everything I wanted, so I was intentional about prepping for the conversation so that I could be concise and ask the right questions.
When I spoke to a few friends for tips, one of them told me to use the S.T.A.R. method–Situation, Task, Action, and Result–for the scenario questions they might ask me. Through this method, you build up what the situation was (the problem), then move into what was required of you, what you specifically did, and how it turned out. I kept that method in mind, and it helped me tailor my answers in a more strategic manner.
I also made a list of skills I knew I wanted to demonstrate and share with my panel, such as organization, communication, attention to detail, etc. I familiarized myself with the policies that the Congresswoman’s office prioritizes. The priority policies include legislation on voting rights and Medicaid expansion. I tied back these priorities to relevant work I have done during college to present myself as an informed candidate for the internship.
Tip #5: Do not stop job-searching & follow up with all offices.
When I did not hear back from the office post-interview by the deadline they set, I got worried. I had a scholarship riding on this decision, and I was bracing myself for the worst outcome. I happened to come across another Congressional office based in Atlanta so I contacted and spoke with that office too. They ended up making me an offer, but I held off on accepting the offer until I heard back from my representative’s office.
I followed up with the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and Senate Sergeant at Arms offices, too, and they responded two weeks later saying they had filled the position. I continued to search on the House and Senate Vacancy Lists, and apply to anything that I was qualified for.
At this point, it was mid-April. I asked my mentor if I should follow up with the Congressional office. She encouraged me to be transparent with them about my scholarship, so they would know I had a deadline to accept or reject it.
I followed up with the intern coordinator nearly weekly for close to a month. Did I feel bad for being so persistent? Yes. Did I stop doing it? No. Congressional offices are busy spaces–so it took some time for them to get back to me. Reaching out to them on a weekly basis reminded them that I cared about the office and wanted the role, and it allowed me to stay at the top of their minds.
Remember to be persistent. But also be respectful of their time and selection process.
And it paid off!
On May 17, 2023, I received an offer letter from the Office of Congresswoman Terri Sewell. I had the exceptional opportunity to work for my district and my Congresswoman. It was an honor to serve in a light I had never seen before, and I am a proud alumnus of Sewell University.
It is easy to sit in our hometowns and not realize how much work is being done behind the scenes, both in Washington, D.C., and in your home district, for the upliftment of a state’s and, overall, a nation’s quality of life.
The second day of my internship happened to be the day the debt ceiling bill was voted on. My cohort and I sat in the House Gallery, and I experienced a flood of emotions–most strongly, excitement and happiness, mixed with a bit of imposter syndrome. I already knew I would have an eventful time through this internship, and I only had one goal in mind: to be a sponge. Soak the experience entirely and return back home with intentionality to continue serving public interests in any form possible.
I was not wrong about the internship being eventful. I was fortunate to see the victorious Supreme Court decision that asked Alabama (and by precedent, all eligible states) to redraw its voter maps–it was one of the most joyous days in the office! I also, unfortunately, witnessed the devastating hit affirmative action took via the Supreme Court, too, and went to my first D.C. protest in front of the Court. I shared a meal with my Congresswoman, and I soaked up her wisdom from being in office for the past 13 years. I went to intern socials and met fellow Muslims in public service. I sat in on meetings where stakeholders shared their concerns about healthcare and voting rights. I also answered the phone and heard constituents share their stories and helped them in any way the office could.
In D.C., I had several networking opportunities and met with interns and staffers from other offices and stakeholders from the district. I also interacted with Ismailis in D.C. through Jamatkhana gatherings and Friday night dinners, where I felt a strong sense of community and was guided towards even greater opportunities.
The six weeks I spent in D.C. were only possible because of my parents and the sacrifices they made for me and my sisters. I have thoroughly lived the American Dream because of them, and I owe this entire experience to them and my sisters, who were trailblazers before I could even walk.
This internship solidified my passion for public service and the public policymaking process. I always wanted to find a career that enabled me to directly help all people–and what better way to do that than via policy? I aspire to go to law school, but this internship helped me realize that I want to get more work experience in policymaking. I like to have a comprehensive understanding of how and why laws function the way they do, and this internship equipped me to do precisely that while giving me a holistic view of the process.
Moving forward, I will spend my senior year of college finding ways to be involved in my local community and campaigns as we approach the 2024 election year. If anyone has any questions I am always happy to connect on LinkedIn!
