Constituent Services
Internships
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job
is working with young people who intern in my Washington, D.C.
office. Over the years, I have met many outstanding young men and
women through my internship program. In fact, some of my former
interns eventually became permanent staff members!
My interns perform a variety of duties,
depending on the capabilities and interests of the particular
individual. Typically, interns assist my legislative staff and
provide general support for hearings and floor legislation. Interns
have the opportunity to attend various briefings, committee hearings,
and lunch briefings.
Intern support duties can range from making
research inquiries, tracking legislation and writing background memos
to simply delivering messages to me throughout the day. A mix of
substantive and clerical work is always involved and its exact ratio
will depend on the immediate demands of my office. However, my office
gives all interns the opportunity to participate in substantive work.
At the same time, all interns should expect their fair share of
xeroxing, answering the phone, and "stuffing mail."
Interns can also expect to work with my
press secretary on an "as needed" basis. This work usually consists
of distributing press releases and supporting my press conferences or
media appearances. Since media coverage varies from day-to-day and
issue-to-issue, predicting how much time a particular intern might
sight spend on these functions is impossible. Generally, interns will
assume duties from all staff based on their ability. Basic
familiarity with computer systems and word processing is very
helpful.
I encourage interns to take advantage of
learning experiences outside my office. All interns are encouraged to
attend congressional hearings and participate in special intern
workshops, such as those conducted by the Library of Congress, when
available. My office grants time from the daily schedule so interns
can attend such events.
If you are interested in obtaining an
internship position in my office, send a cover letter, resume,
writing sample, and two letters of recommendation to my intern
coordinator, James Robertson, at the address below. For more
information call (202) 225-5755.
Congressman Mike Bilirakis
2408 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
If you are interested in
a summer internship, please mail your completed application to the
Palm Harbor office or fax your completed application to the
Washington office by April 9, 2005.
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