Q: Do you offer internship opportunities in your offices?
A:
I strongly encourage any young Iowans that are even the least bit interested in government to apply to be an intern in either my Washington or Iowa offices. An internship in my office isn’t the do nothing, coffee making position that’s seen in the movies and on television. When interns come to Washington to work for me, they receive their own desk, phone, computer and share of the work load, and they are expected to pull their weight. They assist permanent staff members in the administrative, legislative and press departments as well as my staffs on the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee. Interns perform many duties including helping with scheduling, giving Capitol tours, answering phones, organizing press clippings, helping constituents with questions, draft letters to government agencies, researching topics related to current Senate issues and much more. My offices accept interns for the Fall and Spring semesters and two summer sessions. There is so much demand for the summer internships that I’ve broken it into two six-week segments to help accommodate the ability for more students to experience an internship. The Fall and Spring semesters offer the students a broader range of experiences due to the longer time span, and they are paid positions.
Q: How do students apply for your internships?
A:
To apply for an internship in one of my offices, print an application form from http://grassley.senate.gov. It’s best to fax the application to 202-224-6020 due to security related delays in mail delivery to U.S. Senate Office Buildings. Internship application forms are also available in my offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo and in the placement offices of Iowa colleges and universities. Contact my internship coordinator, Cory Crowley, at 202-224-3744 with any questions.
Q: Why are internships so important for students?
A:
Internships offer real-world experience that can give students a leg up with employers when they begin their job search after college. In fact, about half of my current staff served as former interns in my office. Interns also receive first-hand exposure to how our federal legislative branch of government works. No matter what area of study a student is pursuing, there is considerable value in learning more about the process of representative government since everyone can and should play a role in America’s representative democracy.