POPVOX Foundation, First Branch Intern Project, host Fall “Internapalooza” in Collaboration with the Committee on House Administration

Sep 11

Orientation prepares Congressional interns to succeed in careers on and off the Hill

WASHINGTON, DC, September 11, 2023 — POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the seventh “Internapalooza” orientation and welcome event for the Fall class of Congressional interns on September 11, 2023. Over 400 House and Senate interns gathered in the Congressional Visitors Center auditorium to hear presentations on networking, career planning, and standing out in a Congressional internship.

The event was organized by POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project , in collaboration with the Committee on House Administration. The event featured current and former Congressional staff, former Congressional interns, and subject-matter experts on Congress.

The event began in Fall 2020 in response to challenges of maintaining congressional internships during the pandemic and in response to recommendations from the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress to improve training resources.

Speakers covered advice on leveraging the unique opportunities of a Congressional internship, understanding Congressional procedure, and making a good impression on employing offices. Attendees also had the chance to meet and network with speakers and other attendees at an evening reception.

Fact Sheet

Attendee Demographics

In total, 398 Congressional interns, other interns, and early-career staffers registered to attend the event. 383 interns provided enough information to identify themselves as currently-serving Congressional interns. The following statistics represent only current Congressional interns.

Year In School

Amongst the group of registrants, a vast majority of both prospective and current interns were upperclassmen in college or older:

6.0% in graduate school
36.3% graduated college
23.2% college seniors
18.8% college juniors
8.1% college sophomores
1.0% college freshmen
3.4% on a gap year

Education*

49.9% attending a state college or university
43.4% attending a private college or university
4.2% attending another form of post-secondary education or did not
2.9% attending a Historically Black College/University (HBCU)
1.6% attending a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
1.6% community college

*Responses total more than 100%, as interns could pick more than one option to describe their current institution.

Gender

Registrants were asked how they would identify their gender, and allowed to select more than one option; the following data were normalized from these responses.

55.1% female
45.2% male
2.6% non-binary
.5% prefer not to say
.3% transgender

Race & Ethnicity

Registrants were asked to select all that apply from a standard US Census ethnicity list. Responses total more than 100% because interns could pick more than one option to describe their identity.

60.1% White or Caucasian
18.3% Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
16.7% Asian or Asian American
10.7% Black or African American
5.0% Middle Eastern or North African
1.6% American Indian or Native Alaskan
1.8% identify as “Other” or preferred not to respond

Sexual Orientation

Registrants were asked if they considered themselves a member of the LGBTQ community.

23.8% identify as members of the LGBTQ community

Household Income

23.3% grew up with an annual household income of $200,000 or more
13.3% grew up with an annual household income of $150,000-$199,999
17.8% grew up with an annual household income of $100,000-$149,999
14.6% grew up with an annual household income of $75,000-$99,999
12.0% grew up with an annual household income of $50,000-$74,999
5.7% grew up with an annual household income of $35,000-$49,999
3.9% grew up with an annual household income of $20,000-$34,999
9.3% grew up with an annual household income of less than $20,000

Highest level of education attained by a parent or guardian

13.6% Multiple graduate degrees
35.5% Graduate degree
27.4% Bachelor’s degree
4.7% Associate’s degree
7.0% Some college but no degree
8.1% High school or equivalent
3.7% Less than a high school diploma

Path to a Congressional Internship

Interns come to Congress with a variety of backgrounds and experiences; however, some commonalities stood out:

59.0% had prior experience in a leadership position within an extracurricular activity or student government
50.4% had prior experience in a customer service position
43.4% had a prior internship in government
36.8% had a prior volunteer or paid position on a political campaign
31.3% had prior experience in an entry-level office job
20.1% had prior experience in a teaching job
17.8% had prior experience in a writing job
17.2% had prior internship experience in Congress
9.1% had prior experience in freelance work
0.8% had prior experience in military service

When asked to reflect on the biggest barriers to obtaining a Congressional internship, current interns noted specific challenges:

57.2% noted affording DC cost of living or moving costs
43.6% noted getting through the competitive selection process
27.2% noted a lack of mentorship/space to ask questions about an internship
18.8% noted not feeling qualified enough to apply
15.1% noted no barriers to obtaining an internship
11.2% noted not knowing internships were available
10.2% noted multiple attractive internship offers
8.1% noted worries about safety in D.C.
5.7% noted a lack of support from family/friends
2.6% noted worrying about the impact of their immigration status
2.1% noted a lack of accommodation for disabilities or health needs

When asked to reflect on what they saw as the biggest challenges they would face in their internships, the interns noted specific tasks:

55.9% noted finding mentors to support their future career
43.6% noted getting up to speed on the inner workings of Congress
43.1% noted finding peers and friends in their internship
42.3% noted managing the cost of living in D.C.
41.3% noted building up their confidence
37.6% noted learning a lot of new procedures/tasks quickly
33.0% noted overcoming anxiety about answering the phones
24.8% noted managing stress in a busy environment
17.8% noted making sure the internship meets their educational goals
7.3% noted no specific challenges

With these barriers noted, when asked to choose goals that were most important in their internships, the interns mentioned the following:

87.7% noted expanding their professional network of peers
86.4% noted expanding their professional network of mentors
76.5% noted deciding whether to pursue a career in public service
61.4% noted learning how government really works
61.2% noted building up their resume
57.7% noted gaining confidence and leadership skills
54.0% noted working for causes and public servants they believe in
49.9% noted learning skills to become a better advocate for their community
44.6% noted deciding on living in DC
32.4% noted preparing for a graduate degree
27.7% noted deciding whether or not to run for office
2.3% noted no particular goals

Chamber and Party of Offices Represented

383 interns gave enough information to identify their office, caucus, or committee.

70.8% of the registered interns are serving in a Democratic office, 25.8% are serving in Republican offices, and 3.4% are serving in an Independent office.
76.8% of registered interns are serving in House offices, while 23.2% of registered interns are serving in Senate offices.

The Congressional Internship Experience

Interns reported the sources of support allowing them to pursue a Congressional internship*:

65.8% reported receiving a stipend from their employing office
27.4% reported relying on personal savings or financial resources
24.5% reported receiving support from family or friends
14.4% reported receiving a stipend from an outside organization
10.2% reported receiving a stipend or grant from their school
8.4% reported receiving wages from additional employment
3.1% reported taking out loans besides student loans
10.2% reported none of the above

*Percentages total more than 100% as interns could select multiple sources of support.

About POPVOX Foundation

POPVOX Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that works to inform and empower people and make government work better for everyone.

This includes reimagining the concept of civic infrastructure, and providing new ways for government to share information and engage the public, with an emphasis on diverse participation and rebuilding public trust. Its work focuses on government capacity, engagement, and innovation.

About the First Branch Intern Project

The First Branch Intern Project began as the “Virtual Intern Project” in April 2020, when several organizations began meeting regularly to discuss supporting Capitol Hill interns during the pandemic. The project has evolved into an ongoing collaboration to provide resources and networking opportunities for Congressional interns and to promote diversity among those applying for and attaining Congressional internships.