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What is a government relations internship and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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A Government Relations Intern must have strong analytical, communication, social, and investigative skills. During their internships, these are all in use as they attend meetings, help organize and manage events, aid in keeping the contact lists tidy, and do other large and small office-related tasks.

As the name of the position suggests, the intern should have a passion for government, politics, and legal affairs and be up to date with the country's news and laws. Of course, some internships are different than others, so the intern may need to have a more in-depth knowledge of some things rather than others, such as NGOs, charity, international law, health or policy management, and so on.

Typically, a candidate for this position should be attending a university when the internship takes place. The area of study sought differs between employers, but usually, it has something to do with Law, Politics, or Social Work.

ScoreGovernment Relations InternshipUS Average
Salary
2.7

Avg. Salary $34,678

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.3

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%

Asian 5.29%

Black or African American 10.04%

Hispanic or Latino 11.93%

Unknown 5.09%

White 67.06%

Gender

female 56.86%

male 43.14%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress level
7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Government relations internship career paths

Key steps to become a government relations internship

  1. Explore government relations internship education requirements

    Most common government relations internship degrees

    Bachelor's

    80.4 %

    Master's

    9.1 %

    Associate

    4.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific government relations internship skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Internship Program15.40%
    PowerPoint8.67%
    Public Policy8.18%
    Donor Database5.06%
    Government Affairs4.17%
  3. Complete relevant government relations internship training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New government relations interns learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a government relations internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real government relations internship resumes.
  4. Research government relations internship duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the office's social media site on Facebook by updating news from RU to alumni.
    • Announce several collegiate sporting events including volleyball, track, baseball, softball, swimming and soccer.
    • Perform PSA's for FCC.
    • Record and edit YouTube videos.
  5. Prepare your government relations internship resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your government relations internship resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a government relations internship resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable government relations internship resume templates

    Build a professional government relations internship resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your government relations internship resume.
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
    Government Relations Internship Resume
  6. Apply for government relations internship jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a government relations internship job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first government relations internship job

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Average government relations internship salary

The average government relations internship salary in the United States is $34,678 per year or $17 per hour. Government relations internship salaries range between $24,000 and $50,000 per year.

Average government relations internship salary
$34,678 Yearly
$16.67 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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