BARACK OBAMA
United States Senator Illinois
Internships with Senator Obama
An internship in the office of Senator Obama is an excellent way to learn firsthand how our
government works, and to play an important role in a U.S. Senate office. Students will have the
opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and experience by assisting the Senator's professional
staff with administrative, press, legislative and correspondence duties.
Washington, DC Internships
Interns in the Washington, DC office will be able to observe the inner workings of the federal
government. Working with the Washington staff gives students a chance to see how the Senate
functions, and how it interacts the other branches of government. Additionally, interns are
encouraged to take advantage of everything Capitol Hill has to offer, including listening to floor
debate, congressional hearings, seminars and speeches, utilizing Senate research facilities, and
visiting Washington’s museums.
Illinois Internships
Internships in the Illinois offices will allow students to learn about how government can help the
people of Illinois through constituent service. Interns in the state offices may also work on such
projects as compiling daily news summaries concerning Illinois happenings and the Senator's
activities, and may assist Senator Obama's staff with special events around Illinois. Illinois district
offices are located in Chicago, Springfield and Marion.
Internship Responsibilities
Interns in all offices participate in a broad range of office operations, ensuring a well-rounded
experience. Interns should expect a balance of work that includes answering constituent calls,
handling mail and other day-to-day office affairs, along with other more substantive duties. In the
Washington office, these may include work in any of the following areas:
Constituent Services: Interns would provide support to Constituent Services Agents by writing letters to federal agencies and helping constituents of Illinois with their problems and concerns they might have with various agencies. This process would include sending out correspondence to constituents and the associated agencies, working through problem situations, making phone calls, doing research via the internet to locate resources for constituent assistance.
Administrative: Interns will be responsible for helping to run an effective and efficient Senate
office, greeting visitors in the front office, leading Capitol tours, assisting with office management
duties including budget, supply and information systems administration. They may also assist
Senator Obama’s scheduling department by compiling, tracking and responding to scheduling
invitations.
Press: Working with our communications department, interns will keep Senator Obama and his
staff updated on the latest news by compiling print, television and radio stories and tracking
important issues. Duties also include maintaining press contact databases, assisting with press
releases and preparation for press conferences.
Applying to be an Intern
Applicants for the program should submit the following materials:
• A completed application form
• A cover letter that addresses why you are interested in serving as an intern
• A current resume
To be considered for an internship, send your completed application packet to the office where
you wish to apply:
Illinois state offices:
Senator Barack Obama
Attn: Intern Coordinator
230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 3900
Chicago, IL 60604
Fax: (312) 886-3514
Senator Barack Obama
Attn: Intern Coordinator
607 E. Adams, Suite 1520
Springfield, IL 62701
Fax: (217) 492-5099
Senator Barack Obama
Attn: Intern Coordinator
701 N. Court St.
Marion, IL 62959
Fax: (618) 997-2850
Session Dates and Application Deadlines
Session Dates Application Deadline
Fall Session 2008: August 18, 2008 – December 19, 2008. Fall Application Deadline: Friday July 11, 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are internships paid?
Interns work on a voluntary basis and do not receive financial compensation for their work.
Interns must provide their own housing and transportation. Funding for internships may be
available through university stipends or private scholarship sources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Priority is given to Illinois residents who are undergraduate students in college and who are able
to work full time (35-40 hours per work week), but high school students and applicants from
outside Illinois may be considered. Some positions will be open to graduate and law students;
those applicants will generally be considered separately. For an overview of federal fellowship
and career internship opportunities, graduate students may also find very helpful information in
the Congressional report Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in
the Federal Government. (link)
If you have additional questions about interning for Senator Obama, please call (312) 886-3506
and ask for the intern coordinator.
