The Hindu American Congressional Internship
Summer 2013
The Hindu American Congressional Internship is a unique opportunity for selected undergraduate students to spend an exciting summer in our nation’s capitol working for Congressional offices. Sponsored by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a non-profit advocacy organization, this internship program aims to provide students with real-world public policy experience through two lenses. First, working as interns in a Congressional office or committee alongside staffers, students will gain the perspective of a Congressional “insider.” Second, by participating in events such HAF’s DC Advocacy Days and interacting with the HAF team, interns will gain first hand experience as Hindu American advocates.
The Program
Selected students will spend approximately eight weeks between June and July 2013 interning in a Congressional office or committee. Internships in Congressional offices are highly coveted, and the process for a student to obtain an internship is competitive. HAF’s ability to offer intern positions in Congressional offices is due solely to the relationships the foundation has built with Congress over the past decade and its consistent presence on the Hill. Past HAF interns have worked for both House and Senate offices as well as for the House Foreign Relations Committee. Student accepted into this program will not only serve as interns for the Congressional offices, but also as representatives of HAF and the broader Hindu American community. Over the course of the internship, HAF will check in periodically with Congressional offices to assess and ensure their satisfaction with the interns’ performance.
HAF is a non-partisan organization that works with both sides of the aisle, and thus, is unable to honor office placement requests on a partisan basis. Though not always the case, interns are often placed in offices that represent their home state.
From June 3 – 5, all interns will participate in HAF’s tenth annual D.C. Advocacy Days. This will allow them to meet the national HAF team as well as immediately dive into the world of Hindu American advocacy. D.C. Advocacy Days is one of the major highlights of HAF’s year, and as the Foundation celebrates a decade in 2013, this event will take on additional importance. Interns will also have various events scheduled with HAF staff to increase their exposure to the important work of the foundation. At least once over the summer, HAF may host a briefing on Hindu human rights. Interns will be expected to help organize and attend the briefing (with permission from their Congressional offices).
Additionally, HAF organizes Friday lunches for interns to meet with prominent Hindu Americans in public policy as well as interfaith partners who are active on the Hill. A number of social events will take place over the summer that provide for important networking opportunities, and HAF strongly encourages interns to take advantage of them.
Stipend & Housing
The Congressional offices themselves do not pay their interns. One of the largest benefits of the Hindu American Congressional Internship is that HAF provides all interns with living and travel stipends. Additionally, housing arrangements are made by HAF through Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH).
Continued Commitment to Advocacy
HAF views this internship as an investment to the future of Hindu American advocacy. Upon completion of the program, interns are expected to write an essay encapsulating their experience on the Hill. Second, interns are required to attend an HAF fundraiser in their area and to speak about the internship in order to raise funds to expand the program. Interns who have attended HAF fundraisers in the past have truly enjoyed the experience as well as the attention that comes with being a young, articulate speaker! Third, upon return to college in the Fall, interns should publicize the 2014 program to their respective campus Hindu/Indian/South Asian organizations. Select interns will also be invited to assist in the interviewing process for 2014 applicants.
Finally, HAF urges all its interns to get involved beyond this program by volunteering with HAF. HAF’s hope is that this program builds the future leaders of Hindu American advocacy.
Minimum Requirements to Apply:
· U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident
· At least 18 years old
· Enrolled in good standing at an accredited university or college
· Minimum GPA: 3.2
Basic Qualifications:
· Strong organizational skills with ability to multi-task
· Strong team player
· Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
· Outstanding networking skills
· Solid knowledge base of Hinduism and its practice
· Strong interest in Hindu American advocacy
Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 8, 2013.
Application Process Overview
There are two main components to obtaining a coveted spot in this program. First is the application and interview process conducted by HAF. Second is the phone interview conducted by the Congressional office itself. Both are equally important for your placement in an office.
1. Application - Complete and submit the below application by January 8, 2013.
2. Phone Interviews – If you are selected to move on in the application process, you will be contacted the week of January 14 to schedule a phone or interview with HAF staff (Applicants in New York City and Philadelphia tri-state areas will be scheduled for in person interviews). A second interview – phone or in person depending upon location – will be schedule with a former HAF intern.
3. Internship Offer Notification – By end of January/beginning of February, applicants will be notified if they have been selected, waitlisted, or rejected.
4. Applicant Acceptance – Congressional offices tend to finalize their summer interns earlier in the year than many private sector firms. Due to the Congressional timeline, HAF requires selected candidates to accept or reject the offer by mid-February. Please note that that deadline is non-negotiable and will not be extended.
5. Congressional Office Phone Interviews – All offices require HAF to provide them with an intern’s resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Most, if not all, offices request a phone interview to determine the suitability of the candidate. While this rarely occurs in the case of HAF interns, it is important to note that offices retain the right to reject any candidate.
6. DC Days and Start of Internship – Interns should plan on being in D.C. by Monday, June 3 at the latest for the HAF’s tenth annual D.C. Advocacy Days. Most interns will not begin working in an office until after this event. Occasionally, some offices request interns to begin earlier. Should that be the case, HAF will work with the intern and office on an individual basis to ensure a smooth transition.
This application has multiple components. Please ensure that Components I – IV listed below are sent as attachments (doc or pdf) in a single email to .
I. Application Form
Complete the two-page application form below.
II. Resume
Your resume must include your GPA, prior work experience, as well as any extracurricular activities, on- and/or off-campus.
III. Cover Letter (One page only)
IV. Essay & Writing Sample
Essay and writing sample must be double-spaced and include your name at the top. The essay will be used to evaluate your understanding of HAF’s work and your interest in interning through a Hindu American program. The writing sample will be shared with the Congressional office as part of their application process.
Please be sure to fully address all parts of the questions posed.
A. Essay – 500 words or less.
HAF is celebrating its tenth year as an advocacy organization for the Hindu American community in 2013. From working with the media to elected officials to human rights organizations, HAF’s advocacy efforts are widespread and far-reaching. What does advocacy mean to you? Why is advocacy important, especially for the Hindu American community? How do you see this internship program fitting into HAF’s advocacy efforts in the public policy and government arena?
B. Writing Sample – 300 words or less.
This is a two-part question. First, Congressional internships are highly coveted because they offer unparalleled opportunities inside and outside of the office. But inside the office, intern responsibilities tend to include a mixed bag of work, including various administrative duties. Given this, why do you want to an intern on the Hill? Second, although Congressional internships are difficult to obtain, there are various ways of securing one. Why are you specifically applying to HAF’s Congressional internship program?
Additional Materials – The following materials can be mailed separately to HAF’s office at:
Hindu American Foundation - Internship
910 Seventeenth St. NW, Suite 1180
Washington, DC 20006
Please note that these materials must arrive at HAF’s office by the January 8 deadline.
V. Letter of Recommendation - Submit one letter of recommendation written by an individual who is in a position to comment on your leadership skills. This individual may NOT be a family member. The recommendation must be written on official letterhead, signed and sealed in an envelope that should be mailed to HAF’s office. Please provide the recommender with ATTACHMENT V.
VI. Transcript
Provide an official e-transcript from the Registrar’s Office to be sent to . If your Registrar does not provide e-transcripts, mail an official transcript to HAF’s office.
Please note that the any and all of the material above will not only be reviewed by HAF, but also shared with the Congressional office.
Application Form
I. Basic Information
Name (First/Last): ______
Circle one: Male/Female
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy): ___ / ___ / ___ Place of Birth: ______
Circle one: U.S. Citizen/U.S. Permanent Resident
Email Address: ______
Permanent Address: ______
______
Current Mailing Address: ______
______
II. Education
Current Undergraduate Institution: ______
City, State: ______
Current Year: ______Expected Graduation Date (mm/yy): ___ / ____
Major: ______Minor: ______
GPA: ______
III. Political Affiliation
Note: This information will not affect your selection for the internship program. It may be used for placement in Congressional Offices, but HAF does not guarantee placement in an office representing your political affiliation.
Which political party do you affiliate with?
__ Democrat __ Independent/Other
__ Republican __ None
Have you interned on Capitol Hill before? Yes/No
If so, which Congressional office and when (provide start and end date)? ______
______
IV. Optional Questions
How did you hear about this internship program (i.e. career services, former intern, HAF e-newsletter, Facebook)? ______
Did you know of HAF prior to learning of this internship program? ______
I hereby certify that all of the above information provided here is accurate and correct.
Name: ______Date:______
Please email your completed application to by Tuesday, January 8, 2013. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Questions? Please email .
Request for Recommendation Letter (Attachment V)
Dear Sir or Madam,
______(Applicant Name) has applied for the Hindu American Congressional Internship program, sponsored by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). The applicant will be an intern in a Congressional office for approximately eight weeks over the summer of 2013.
Your recommendation will aid in evaluating the applicant for this program. Please comment on the applicant’s leadership skills, creativity in problem solving, work ethic and ability to work with others.
Please type your recommendation on official letterhead, sign and place in a sealed envelope, sign the seal of the envelope and mail to HAF’s office at
Hindu American Foundation - Internship
910 Seventeenth St. NW, Suite 1180
Washington, DC 20006
Your recommendation must be received by Tuesday, January 8, 2013 in order for the application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Thank you.
Questions? Please email .
Hindu American Congressional Internship
Summer 2013