The important thing to keep in mind when seeking a high school internship is to first hone in on an academic area of expertise. We always advise our students to pick a niche early in high school and develop it throughout. Your classes and extracurriculars should reflect your area of expertise. If you’re a student interested in politics there are many paths you can take. Get specific. Are you interested in government? Campaigns? Policy? Figure that out first and then figure out where to go. The idea is to really dive in where you can make an impact. It’s more impressive (and more rewarding!) to have an internship in a smaller, community-oriented setting where you can get your hands dirty than it is to land something at a prestigious, national organization where you’ll be getting coffee.
POLITICS ARE LOCAL
As the adage goes, politics are local. So, too, should you look to get involved with your community. College admissions officers will be able to tell if you spent your summer making copies for the DNC. Your goal should be to get in with an internship where you can design or spearhead a project and actually do some real work. More importantly, you should learn along the way.
A great place to aim is your city council or community board. These are small but mighty governing bodies that make a huge impact but are often tight on budgets. In other words, they could use the help of a young, eager student. Offer your services and then dive in in a way that aligns with your passions. Aim to solve a problem by the end of your internship, be it getting trash picked up from a neighborhood that was lacking, or a malfunctioning street light fixed. These will not only be great topics of conversation in your essay and in interviews, but it’s a great way to learn how government works and to make a difference in people’s daily lives.
Start out by writing a cover letter. You might want to open it with a story (just a couple of sentences) about why you got interested in politics and government. Perhaps you did a project about how a bill becomes a law in fifth grade and got hooked. Then, write about your experience. What relevant classes have you taken or clubs have you participated in that qualify you to intern with your local city council? Finally, do a deep dive into what the organization or governing body you’re applying to has accomplished. Be specific. Wrap it up by saying how much you’d like to intern with them.
CAMPAIGNS
National, state, and local campaigns are all kicking off in the run-up to the 2024 election. This is not only a great way to land a really good internship, but it’s a great way to rise up and potentially get a part-time job or a leadership position in an organization as you enter college. Again, think small-scale. Get involved with a mayoral race or the local campaign office within a national or state legislature. You shouldn’t just be door-knocking and canvasing (though you will do that, too!) Aim to lead groups of volunteers and learn how campaigns are run. Because campaigns run in cycles, it’s a fantastic way to network and potentially set yourself up for a job later. Four years from now, the same people will remember you when it’s time for hiring.
Use the same guidance as above for a cover letter, but talk about campaigns specifically. When doing your research, focus on campaign strategy that the candidate (or others) has used in the past that impressed you. Maybe you really liked something they did on social media. Be specific. The idea is to show that you’re both eager and a natural fit.
ORGANIZATIONS
With the political climate the way it is, there is no shortage of issues with which you can get involved and really learn something about both policy and organizing. Pick the issue that means most to you: Climate change, abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, gun control, housing equity, or anything else. Reach out to the local chapter of national organizations that work on these issues and get involved. Your goal here should be to learn how to lead a community campaign and end your internship with measurable results that show you helped move the needle on an issue that matters to you. Make sure to write a compelling cover letter that shows you’ve done your research about the organization!
BE A REPRESENTATIVE
If you’re interested in representing a particular party, consider aiming to become a national delegate at the convention. The process here differs from state to state, but if you’re 18 years old, it usually looks like attending your precinct caucus and vying for state delegate, then heading to your state’s convention where you will jockey to become a national delegate.
There are many ways to demonstrate expertise in politics. Your goal should be to really focus on the very specific (niche, in fact) area of politics in which you’re most interested and position yourself as an expert. Internships can be a powerful opportunity when leveraged correctly.
Need help landing an internship that aligns with your interest? Call us. We’re great at helping students develop a unique and impressive brand.