How to hire a public policy internship

How to hire a public policy internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step public policy 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 public policy internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new public policy internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a public policy 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?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a public policy internship to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a public policy internship that fits the bill.

   This list presents public policy internship salaries for various positions.

   Type of Public Policy Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Public Policy Internship	Public 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.	$11-33
   Account Coordinator	An 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
   Communications Coordinator	A communications coordinator is responsible for overseeing the communications department's operations, developing the brand image, and monitoring press releases, company articles, and other related marketing materials for business promotion and visibility. Communications coordinators actively interact with existing and potential clients, negotiate contracts, and build profitable partnerships... Show more	$16-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Policy Intern
   • Congressional Hearings
   • Public Health
   • Fact Sheets
   • Press Releases
   • Community Outreach
   • Public Policy Issues
   • Policy Analysis
   • Blog Posts
   • Government Officials
   • Advocacy Efforts
   • Legislative Process
   • Data Collection
   • Legislative Session

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and write copy for client social media platforms and ECPR's social media deliverable, which involve SEO streamlining.
   • Create PowerPoint presentations for executive board meetings.
   • Develop all documents for events including e-invitations, programs, agendas, and PowerPoint presentations.
   • Conduct analysis of international climate change implications and participate in the selection of tools for government agencies to monitor climate change.
   • Pitch client product reviews to different outlets and actively follow-up with bloggers, YouTube subscribers and professional publications.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, public policy interns' average salary in maine is 54% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level public policy interns 65% less than senior-level public policy interns.
   • Certifications. A public policy 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 public policy internship's salary.

   Average public policy internship salary

   $41,773yearly

   $20.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level public policy internship salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

4. Writing a public policy internship job description

   A good public policy internship job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a public policy internship job description:

   Public policy internship job description example

   At Constellation, a freshly independent and soon-to-be Fortune 200 company, we're providing the energy and services to transform our future. Combining next generation technologies and product offerings with the country's lowest carbon generating fleet, our company is purpose-built to meet the challenges of the climate crisis.
   
   Constellation has been the leader in clean energy production for more than a decade. Now we're speeding delivery of low-carbon or no-carbon power to help families, communities, governments, and businesses meet their sustainability and decarbonization goals. Constellation provides 10 percent of total clean power and 22 percent of clean baseload power in the United States and is the leading competitive retail supplier of energy products, services and clean energy solutions. The race is on to confront climate change, and no company is more ready to meet that challenge.
   
   We are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in attracting, retaining and advancing employees who will best serve and represent our customers, partners and communities. We provide a workplace that ensures mutual respect, where each individual has the opportunity to grow and contribute at their greatest potential. Constellation will provide you the tools and resources you need to design, build and power a successful career.
   
   Join us as we accelerate the transition to a carbon-free future. Energize your career with Constellation.
   
   We are currently seeking highly motivated college students for **Summer Internships for 2023** to work hybrid / remote for our **Public Policy team** located in multiple locations. These paid internships will last approximately 10 weeks (approx dates 6/5/2023 - 8/11/2023). Interns will work on specific projects, designed to help them gain real-world, hands-on experience working independently under an assigned supervisor.
   + Austin, TX
   
   + Annapolis, MD
   
   + Baltimore, MD
   
   + Kennett Square, PA
   
   + Washington, DC
   
   + Remote
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   **MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**
   
   + Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in Political Science, Business, Economics, Analytics, Sustainability, Law, or Government
   
   + Minimum GPA: 2.8 Cumulative / 3.0 Major
   
   + A track record of outstanding academic performance.
   
   + Eagerness to contribute in a team-oriented environment.
   
   + Ability to work creativity and analytically in a problem-solving environment.
   
   + Excellent leadership, communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
   
   Constellation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and employees or applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to: age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
   
   VEVRAA Federal Contractor
   
   REQNUMBER: 243576
   
   Constellation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and employees or applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to: age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find public policy interns for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any public policy interns they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level public policy interns with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your public policy internship job on Zippia to find and recruit public policy 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

   To successfully recruit public policy interns, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 public policy internship

   Once you have selected a candidate for the public policy internship position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is 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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