How to Intern on a Political Campaign as a Teen
- 1). Prepare a resume and cover letter. Although you might not have much experience in the political arena, write a resume that concentrates on recent courses studied, volunteer work in the community and your career or political goals. The cover letter should not only introduce you, but should also state the goals you want to achieve with the internship. Research the candidate you want to work for. Know the major issues and the candidate's positions, and use them in the cover letter, explaining why you want to help with her campaign in particular.
- 2). Find the local campaign office of the candidate you want to work for. Local candidates, such as mayors, selectmen, state senators and state representatives, have offices in the community, while U.S. congressmen have campaign offices within the district they represent. Contact your local registrar of voters to locate the campaign office you want to work for.
- 3). Talk to the campaign manager or the candidate. Find out what tasks are involved and the skills required. This helps you determine the course of action to get the most out of your campaign internship. Give the campaign manager your resume and cover letter, explaining you are a student interested in politics; be sure to tell him your internship goals.
- 4). Be enthusiastic. While interning, work hard and do the tasks required. This looks good on you, helps the candidate and promotes team spirit.
- 5). Talk to your school. Contact your teacher and find out if any extra credit can be gained by working on the campaign. In college, course credit is often given for internships. However, this arrangement is not always the case in high school. If you are taking a civics, political science, U.S. government or ethics course -- anything related to politics -- talk to your teacher to find out additional ways you may be able to benefit from your internship.
- 6). Have the candidate prepare a letter describing your experience and performance. After the campaign, approach the candidate and ask if she can write a letter of recommendation. Have her include the tasks you performed and anything else that can highlight your internship duties. This letter helps with college admission and future employment, including other political internships.
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