Internships

Internships for the Office of Congressman Derek Tran

Our DC and District Offices offer part-time and full-time internships for students currently in college or those who have recently graduated. Internships typically run in the Spring (Jan-May), Summer (May-Aug), and Fall (Aug-Dec), but we are willing to offer individualized timelines based on the applicant. You can find descriptions for the DC and District Office internships below.

DC Office Internship

The DC Office Internship has flexible hours to accommodate students’ course schedules but generally runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. We offer both paid internships and those for college credit, and applicants for the DC internship can apply for either the Legislative Internship or the Press Internship. Both internships have responsibilities that vary, but include answering the phones, assisting with constituent correspondence, and leading tours of the U.S. Capitol building. Specific responsibilities for the two types of internships are listed below.

Legislative Internship

Legislative Interns attend hearings and briefings on behalf of staffers, prepare the Congressman's binders for committee hearings, and conduct research for legislative staff. Experience with research, whether in an academic or professional setting, is a plus for those interested in a Legislative Internship.

Press Internship

Press Interns, on the other hand, will draft copy for press and digital materials, develop digital content, and capture videos and photos of events the Congressman attends. Technical experience with graphic design tools (Canva, InDesign, Illustrator), photo editing programs (Photoshop, Lightroom), or video editing software (Premiere, Headliner) is a plus for those interested in a Press Internship.

Ideal applicants for both types of DC Internships are self-starters who possess a customer service mindset, are intellectually curious, and have strong writing skills. CA-45 ties are preferred.

District Office Internship

The District Office Internship has flexible hours to accommodate students’ course schedules but generally runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT. We offer both paid internships and those for college credit.

District Office Interns assist with frontline constituent services within the District, along with day-to-day operations within the office. These responsibilities include shadowing/staffing the Congressman/Field Representatives at field events, providing casework and research assistance, covering the receptionist desk, attending meetings, and batching constituent messages. The District Office Internship offers an excellent opportunity to dive deep into CA-45 and learn about the real impacts Members of Congress have on their communities. Experience with service-oriented roles as well as a strong knowledge of CA-45 are a plus for those interested in a District Office Internship.

Application Instructions

To apply for either the DC or District Office Internship, please fill out our form below. If the form is not open, our office is likely not accepting applications. Our offices will only accept internship applications according to the application periods listed below.

2025 Application Periods

Summer Internships: March 1st to March 28th
Fall Internships: June 23rd to July 14th
Spring Internships: November 1st to December 1st

Due to a high volume of applicants, you will likely only be contacted if you are selected for an interview. This office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, disability, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, LGBTQ identification, family status, or military status. Women, people of color, and other members of traditionally underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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Phone Number:

Phone Type:

What are these options?

Constituents who are hard of hearing or use a video phone have the option to choose TDD or VP based on the type of device they are using. This allows our office to respond to them accordingly. The default option 'Voice' is a standard audible telephone.

Internship Details

Which internship are you applying for?

Are you applying for an internship in our DC office or District office?

Are you interested in a Press Internship or a Legislative Internship?

Press Internship

Legislative Internship

Both

Are you looking for college credit? If yes, you will not be eligible for a paid internship.

Relevant if you are currently enrolled in College/University.

What would your start and end dates for the internship be?

How many hours per week would you be able to work? Interns are able to work anywhere from (20-40) hours per week.

Background Information

Are you a constituent of CA-45?

Do you have any district or state ties? Describe them.

Required Documents

Your file size can not exceed 2MB. Documents must be the following file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, .txt

Mac users: Your document must have a file extension. Resave it using your word processor with the appropriate extension from the above list.

Resume:

One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt rtf pdf doc docx.

Cover Letter:

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2 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt rtf pdf doc docx.

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