Why Interns in Congress Should Not Worry About Pay

Experience and contacts are priceless…

I’ll never forget watching the glorious sunrise illuminate the iconic dome of the U.S. Capitol building in a golden aura.

This was a familiar sight during my morning ritual as a congressional intern commuting to work in the Office of the Majority Leader for the House of Representatives. One of my morning duties was to open the office by 7:00 a.m.

I still vividly recall this high-level internship at age 20 when I was in college — even though it was over 20 years ago. That’s because this single experience had a life-transforming effect on my career trajectory in public service for the federal government.

Therefore, here’s a message for Millennials and Generation Z who are contemplating jobs in government and politics:

As this year’s summer internship season approaches, young people might be thinking about working for Congress in Washington, even though most interns are not paid.

The question arises: Should students consider an unpaid internship in Congress? The answer is yes. Here’s why…