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Unpaid Internships and Hill Experience

Started by Kevin Bondelli · 7 months ago

Most people familiar with government employment are well aware of the catch-22 of working for Congress: you need Hill experience to get a job, but you need a job to get Hill experience. For most people the only way to break into the ranks of Hill staffers is to get an unpaid internship.
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3 comments

  • sarah

    7 months ago

    this is one of the major reasons republicans are so much better at doing leadership development... pisses me off
    reply
  • Kay

    7 months ago

    As a college student in DC, I have seen this idea in action more times than I can count. Last summer, I worked 80 hours a week - 40 at a non-profit, unpaid internship at a progressive organization, and 40 hours retail. It was exhausting, and, to be frank, not worth it. I am willing to donate my life to changing this country and helping the world, but I'm not willing to kill myself unnecessarily doing it. While working hard to enfranchise voters and other things, a friend worked mobilizing young conservatives at $17.00/hour, 40 hours a week.

    I'm not trying to sounds like a martyr; I could have made another decision or gone home for the summer or something else. But it is so frustrating when I want to do good and simply can't because I'm poor, both within and without my student context.
    reply
  • Kevin Bondelli

    7 months ago

    Exactly. It's a situation that is preventing a lot of people from having opportunities and making life hell for those that can actually struggle to do it.
    reply

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