Stacey Shackford
When Mount Holyoke College junior
Erica Lutes landed a summer internship
at the United States State Department
(state.gov/www/careers/rinterncon
tents.html) in Caracas, Venezuela, she had
no idea what to expect. The job titles
"international paper shredder” or "coffee
server for the ambassador” came to mind.
But instead, the international relations
major spent her summer heading up an
election observation program for the
American embassy, writing reports on
Venezuela’s economic situation, composing
classified cables on revolutionary activity,
and hobnobbing with Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez Frias. “It was wonderful. You
just can't imagine how much you can learn
in one summer,” said Lutes.
Recent University of Vermont grad Jody
Handly interned as a head field technician
on a national wild fish health survey for Fish
and Wildlife in Alabama, traveling between
10 states and working with state and federal
agencies. Handly eventually developed her
own project, which she hopes to complete
in graduate school with the help of grants
she was offered because of her internship.
“It was a life-changing opportunity for
me,” said Handly.
Finding the Right Internship
Erica had to go
through a rigorous appli
cation process that
included interviews with
the CIA to get her intern
ship. Jody found hers at
the Student
Conservation Association
web site (sca-inc.org).
The SCA is the country’s
oldest and biggest intern placement organi
zation for those interested in conservation,
placing thousands of students into posi
tions with organizations like the National
Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
The U.S. government has tons of oppor
tunities in practically every field. Although
White House interns inevitably have to deal
with occasional snide jokes about Monica,
isn’t it worth it to help shape domestic and
foreign policy? Students interning for the
Council on Environmental Quality advise
the President on national and international
environmental policy matters
(whitehouse.gov/CEQ/interns.html), while
interns at the Social Office help plan White
House dinners and other gatherings. Try
(whitehouse.gov/internship/program.html)
for other government internships working
Although White House
interns inevitably have
to deal with occasional
snide jokes about
Monica, isn’t it worth it
to help shane domestic
and foreign policyp
for the Chief of Staff, Counsel to the
President, Office of the First Lady, the
National AIDS Policy and other offices.
Even the FBI is looking for a few good
men and women (fbi.gov/employment/
honors.htm). So is the Department of
Commerce’s Central and Eastern Europe
Business Information Center
Interns working for the Block Island
branch of the Nature Conservancy.
(mac.doc.gov/eebic/intern.htm).
Whatever your interest, be it
folklore, African art, space travel, or
astrophysics, the Smithsonian will
likely have an amazing internship
(http://web1 .si.edu/ofg/
resopp.htm#intern).
From Mickey Mouse to Letterman
Ever wonder what it’s like to be
Mickey Mouse for a day? Disney
theme parks (wdwcollegeprogram.com)
have hundreds of opportunities for busi
ness majors, future hotel and restaurant
managers, and even aspiring animators,
filmmakers, dancers and actors.
Fan of daytime drama? The new NBC
show “Passions” is seeking interns now
(http://home.nbci.com). Aspiring music
video maker? Palomar Pictures lets interns
dub and edit its music videos and commer
cial showreels with professional systems
(rsinternships.com/applications/
posting.php3?ID=192). Another intern
ship site, www.rsinternship.com, can help
you land jobs that range from running a night
club in New York City to promoting the
House of Chanel fashion, fragrance, or make
up lines through a public relations internship
with the legendary French company.
Fifteen lucky students per semester get
to pour coffee for David Letterman
(csp.msu.edu/slc/indetail.asp?code=CM
A=010). And according to MTV Networks
spokesperson Suzanne Lumerman, about
700 interns get to work in the same build
ing with the likes of Carson Daly and the
folks who bring you “Total Request Live"
and “Real World” (mtv.com/jobs.html).
Even if you don’t land on Letterman,
there are likely to be plenty of possibilities
for cool internships in your hometown.
Check with your local newspaper, TV sta
tion, congressman, police department or
courthouse.
It beats sitting in a stuffy classroom or
flipping burgers for the summer. And a truly
cool internship might lead to an even cool
er job after graduation and end your burg
er-flipping days forever. •
A few hours on the Internet will reveal
literally thousands of internship
opportunities. Try these sites:
www.rsinternships.com
internshipprograms.com
4internships.com
summerjobs.com
futurecollegegrads.com
coolworks.com
resortinternconnection.com
Above: The New York Yankees share their 1999 World
Championship champagne with David Letterman.
(AP Photo/HO, Alan Singer)