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How to hire a government relations internship

Government relations internship hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring government relations interns in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a government relations internship is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per government relations internship on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 3,662 government relations interns in the US and 58,470 job openings.
  • Washington, DC, has the highest demand for government relations interns, with 16 job openings.
  • Washington, DC has the highest concentration of government relations interns.

How to hire a government relations internship, step by step

To hire a government relations internship, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a government relations internship:

Here's a step-by-step government relations internship hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a government relations internship job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new government relations internship
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a government relations internship do?

A government relations internship involves a trainee who assists the vice president of government relations in managing and analyzing policy issues. Government relations interns are required to compile and summarize material on emerging and existing public policy for staff members. They assist with external stakeholder engagement strategy and draft press releases on pertinent legislative and regulatory issues. Government relations interns must also attend congressional hearings and produce reports to corporations and trade associations covering wide a wide array of policy areas.

Learn more about the specifics of what a government relations internship does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a government relations internship, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A government relations internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, government relations interns from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of government relations interns and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Government Relations InternshipDescriptionHourly rate
    Government Relations InternshipPublic relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. They design media releases to shape public perception of their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals.$11-24
    Media CoordinatorA media coordinator acts as a communications professional in charge of developing and implementing target communications and advertising for various media platforms. Media coordinators plan, implement, and monitor the social media strategy of an organization... Show more$16-30
    Account CoordinatorAn account coordinator assists account executives by providing day-to-day administrative support such as preparing and filing sales contracts and reports. As coordinators, they must maintain a good relationship with their clients and vendors by addressing issues and with regular communication... Show more$13-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Internship Program
    • PowerPoint
    • Public Policy
    • Donor Database
    • Government Affairs
    • Legislative Process
    • Event Planning
    • Data Analysis
    • Press Releases
    • Policy Research
    • Policy Issues
    • Congressional Hearings
    • Government Officials
    • HR
    Check all skills
    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.
    • Administer FMLA procedures to employees.
    • Create FMLA process map/best practices.
    More government relations internship duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your government relations internship job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A government relations internship can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, government relations interns' average salary in mississippi is 42% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level government relations interns 52% less than senior-level government relations interns.
    • Certifications. A government relations internship with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a government relations internship's salary.

    Average government relations internship salary

    $16.67hourly

    $34,678 yearly

    Entry-level government relations internship salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 13, 2025

    Average government relations internship salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1District of Columbia$43,276$21
    2California$42,166$20
    3Virginia$41,837$20
    4New York$39,436$19
    5North Dakota$39,228$19
    6Maryland$37,349$18
    7Michigan$35,910$17
    8Colorado$33,853$16
    9Illinois$31,540$15
    10Arizona$31,500$15
    11Utah$31,017$15
    12Georgia$28,973$14
    13Texas$28,964$14
    14Indiana$28,737$14

    Average government relations internship salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1The Motley Fool$59,895$28.80
    2Santa Clara Valley Water District$54,734$26.31
    3Visa$53,034$25.504
    4Guidehouse$49,916$24.0012
    5BNSF Railway$47,773$22.9714
    6Johnson Controls$46,014$22.127
    7AECOM$45,873$22.0521
    8Genentech$45,713$21.9827
    9Democracy Fund$43,784$21.05
    10American Enterprise Institute$43,376$20.85
    11Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc$42,814$20.58
    12Avanade$41,895$20.14
    13American Family Insurance$37,387$17.97
    14General Dynamics$36,937$17.7620
    15Defenders of Wildlife$36,323$17.46
    16Bimbo Bakeries$34,573$16.62
    17West Coast Limousine$32,751$15.75
    18AGCO$32,692$15.724
    19Hitachi U.S.A.$32,612$15.682
    20ASPCA$32,367$15.56
  4. Writing a government relations internship job description

    A job description for a government relations internship role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a government relations internship job description:

    Government relations internship job description example

    1. Responsible for the tracking and monitoring the contract deliverables with the reporting Project Manager. Escalate issues and coordinate with appropriate individuals (Foreman and/or Project Manager) for timely follow-up as required. May require direct interaction with customers for follow-up to secure purchase orders or to meet special invoicing conditions. May be required to take meeting minutes as directed by the Project Manager. May be required to participate in QC reporting (in the field and office) and follow JCI PPE Safety requirements while in the field.

    2. Manage a document control system in support of Service Orders, TDP deliverables, QAQC, and PM activities.

    3. Update and compile contract deliverables as required by team and prepare for delivery to customer as required.

    4. Runs query reports, researches and reconciles unaligned costs, such as labor hours, material purchases, expenses, other service related transactions, and any other supporting documents and/or customer and value reporting required by the contract.

    5. Support inventory control process for materials including updating equipment asset transactions.

    6. Assist Project Manager in tracking of warranty/SD warranty issues.

    7. May be required to maintain and coordinate database information through a third party vendor.

    8. Provide support with the subcontract process. Type, mail or track subcontracts for appropriate approval signatures. Secures bids and quotes for materials and subcontracts. Prepares Purchase Order Requests with supporting documentation. Files and supports collection of receipt information with accounts payable.

    9. May prepare and submit service billings in a special invoice format as defined by individual customer account special handling requirements.

    10. Updates and retains customer account information related to special billing conditions, tax status, invoice approval contacts, billing addresses and special billing rates up-to-date.

    11. Coordinate and generate scheduled service visit reports/requests and security badge requests.

    12. Assist with new employee orientation documentation and activities such as safety training or training on administrative processes, as needed.

    13. Collect, enter, and sign team’s time and enter into time recording system for Project Manager approval on a weekly basis.

    14. Complete all Project Manager assigned training (i.e., OSHA 30, LEM, etc.)

    15. Attend all safety meetings when scheduled.

    16. Maintain office administration services by organizing office clerical operations and procedures.

    17. Provide additional service administration support, as required.

    18. May be required to work on special projects and other duties as assigned.


    What we look for

    Associate’s degree preferred, high school diploma or equivalent required, plus three to five years of related work experience, preferably within a service / sales, or technical work environment. Must have proficient computer skills within the following applications: Advanced Microsoft Word, Excel, ACCESS, Desktop Publishing and Internet business application usage. Must demonstrate the ability to perform work independently and demonstrate solid organizational and attention to detail skills.

    Must have strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with both internal and external clients. Must have the ability to simultaneously handle a large and diverse number of projects, tasks and issues with tact, cooperation, and persistence. Ability to prioritize work activities based upon financial impact to desired business goals. Experience and/or basic project accounting or costing principals is desired.

    In order to meet the increasing demands of our customers and comply with the Federal orders, we may require all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment and submit proof in our Johnson Controls Vaccination Tracker upon hire.


    Johnson Controls is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please view EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/tomorrowneedsyou.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right government relations internship for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your government relations internship job on Zippia to find and recruit government relations internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as pr news job board, pr council, prsa job center, hoojobs.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit government relations interns, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new government relations internship

    Once you've decided on a perfect government relations internship candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a government relations internship?

There are different types of costs for hiring government relations interns. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new government relations internship employee.

You can expect to pay around $34,678 per year for a government relations internship, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for government relations interns in the US typically range between $11 and $24 an hour.

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