There was a relaxed yet professional working environment that enabled me to develop skills regarding communication, multitasking, and writing. It was a good opportunity to learn about the inner-workings of government with friendly and passionate co-workers. I learned how to do many office tasks related to the federal government, as well as get involved in projects impacting the local area.
What I wish was different
I wish that it had been paid, but this is a government internship so...
Advice
Do not take things personally - there might be some angry constituents expressing their opinions over the phone but you'll have to learn to brush it off. It gets easier with time.
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Casework Intern
September - December 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
I really enjoyed that I got to do work that directly impacted constituents.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have been paid, but I believe that they offer a stipend now.
Advice
Take your time on a case and pay attention to detail! Those things make all the difference when doing casework!
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Casework Intern
January - October 2018 • New York City, NY
What I liked
The office environment, coworkers, and the programming for extracurricular enhancement for interns!
What I wish was different
I wish the office or Columbia offered stipends for transportation because that was expensive!
Advice
Make sure that you are in both an academic and fiscal position to take an unpaid internship that requires you to commute; I struggled with the actual time commitment involved for my commute, especially because that became in many ways wasted time.
