The Hindu American Congressional & Advocacy Internship
Summer 2016
The Hindu American Congressional & Advocacy Internship is a unique opportunity for select undergraduate and graduate students to spend an exciting summer in our nation’s capitol working for either Congressional offices or the HAF office.
HAF offers two tracks for the internship: Congressional Intern Track and Advocacy Intern Track. The Congressional track has four (4) spots and the Advocacy track has two (2) spots, for a total of six (6) interns. All interns will spend approximately eight weeks between June and August 2016 in Washington, D.C. The four Congressional Interns will be placed in Congressional offices while the two Advocacy Interns will work alongside staff in the HAF office. All interns will be invited to events organized by HAF, such as DC Advocacy Days, Friday lunches, and sponsored briefings.
HAF Congressional Intern Track
This track is geared towards applicants who are primarily interested in representing the Hindu American community by working in a Congressional office. Selected applicants will work with HAF to secure an internship spot in a Congressional office and will intern full-time in the Congressional office for the eight weeks. Interns will work on projects based on the needs of the Congressional office. Congressional Interns will join HAF for various events to ensure they also receive a solid understanding of Hindu American advocacy.
Internships in Congressional offices are highly coveted, and the process to obtain an internship is rigorously competitive. HAF’s ability to offer intern positions in Congressional offices is due solely to the relationships the foundation has built with Congress over the past decade. HAF is a non-partisan organization that works with both sides of the aisle, and thus, is unable to honor office placement requests on a partisan basis. Though not always the case, interns are often placed in offices that represent their home state.
This track is open to all majors although government, public policy, and international/foreign relations majors are highly encouraged to apply. Rising juniors and seniors will be given preference.
HAF Advocacy Intern Track
This track is geared towards applicants who are interested immersion in the full scope of Hindu American advocacy. Interns will spend their summer working alongside HAF staff members on any number of ongoing initiatives from public policy to fundraising and development to marketing to accounting to human rights. Past interns have participated in meetings with Congressional offices, attended relevant Congressional hearings and briefings, researched human rights violations, developed creative material for policy meetings, and created membership surveys. The world of advocacy is fast-paced and ever-changing. Interns must be flexible and willing to tackle issues and projects as they arise.
This track is open to all majors although religion, accounting, and marketing majors and graduate students in South Asian Studies are highly encouraged to apply. Applicants experienced with graphic design and proficiency in Photoshop and InDesign are also encouraged to apply.
Minimum Requirements to Apply:
- U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident
- At least 18 years old
- Enrolled in good standing at an accredited university or college
- Minimum GPA: 3.2
Basic Qualifications:
- Solid knowledge base of Hinduism and its practice
- Strong interest in Hindu American advocacy
- Outstanding networking skills
- Strong organizational skills with ability to multi-task
- Strong team player
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 12, 2016.
Application Process Overview for Congressional Intern Track
- Application - Complete and submit the below application by January 12, 2016.
- Phone Interviews – If you are selected to move on in the application process, you will be contacted the week of January 18 to schedule a phone or in-person interview with HAF staff (Applicants in New York City and Philadelphia tri-state areas will be scheduled for in person interviews). A second interview – phoneor in-person depending upon location – will be schedule with a former HAF intern.
- Internship Offer Notification – By end of January/beginning of February, applicants will be notified if they have been selected, waitlisted, or rejected.
- Applicant Acceptance – Congressional offices tend to finalize their summer interns earlier in the year than many private sector firms. Due to the Congressional timeline, HAF requires selected candidates to accept or reject the offer by mid-February. Please note that this deadline is non-negotiable and will not be extended.
- Congressional Office Phone Interviews – All offices require HAF to provide them with an intern’s resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Most, if not all, offices request a phone interview to determine the suitability of the candidate. While this rarely occurs in the case of HAF interns, it is important to note that offices retain the right to reject any candidate.
Application Process Overview for Advocacy Intern Track
- Application - Complete and submit the below application by January 12, 2016.
- Phone Interview: Round 1 – If you are selected to move on in the application process, you will be contacted the week of February 1 to schedule a phone interview with HAF staff.
- Phone Interview: Round 2 – If you are selected to move on in the application process, you will be scheduled for a second phone or in-person interview depending upon location with one or more members of HAF’s staff. (Applicants in DC, New York City, and Philadelphia tri-state areas will be scheduled for in person interviews).
- Internship Offer Notification – By early March, applicants will be notified if they have been selected, waitlisted, or rejected.
- Applicant Acceptance –HAF requires selected candidates to accept or reject the offer by late March. Please note that this deadline is non-negotiable and will not be extended.
This application has multiple components. Please ensure that Components I – IV listed below are sent as attachments (doc or pdf)in a single email to .
I.Application Form
Complete the two-page applicationform below.
II. Resume
Your resume must include your GPA, prior work experience, as well as any extracurricular activities, on- and/or off-campus.
III. Cover Letter (One page only)
IV. Essay & Writing Sample
Essay and writing sample must be double-spaced and include your name at the top. The essay will be used to evaluate your understanding of HAF’s work and your interest in interning through a Hindu American program. Congressional Intern Track applicants, please note that the writing sample will be shared with the Congressional office as part of their application process.
A. Essay for Both Tracks – 500 words or less.
HAF is an advocacy organization for the Hindu American community. From educatingthe media and teachers about Hinduism to speaking out about Hindu human rights to building lasting relationships with elected officials, HAF’s advocacy efforts aremulti-faceted and far-reaching. Still, many do not understand advocacy or the need for it. What does advocacy mean to you? Why does the Hindu American community need an advocacy organization like HAF?(Please be sure to answer both questions fully in your essay)
B. Writing Sample for Congressional Intern Track ApplicantsOnly – 300 words or less.
Congressional internships are highly coveted because they offer unparalleled opportunities inside and outside of the office. There are various ways to secure an internship in a Congressional office, including directly applying to the office itself. Why are you applying through HAF? Why do you believe you are the right fit for the Congressional Intern Track? (Please be sure to answer both questions fully in your essay)
C. Writing Sample for Advocacy Intern Track Applicants Only – 300 words or less.
HAF advocates on a number of fronts. Some examples include:
- highlighting Hindu human rights worldwide
- Take Back Yoga campaign
- improving how Hinduism is taught about in public schools
- upholding the separation of church and state.
Of the four examples listed above, select one and explain why HAF’s work in that area resonates with you. Be specific in citing examples of HAF’s work. Over the course of this internship, what more do you hope to learn about this area of HAF’s work?
Additional Materials – The following materials can be mailed separately to HAF’s office at:
Hindu American Foundation - Internship
910 Seventeenth St. NW, Suite 316A
Washington, DC 20006
Please note that these materials must be postmarkedby the January 12 deadline.
V. Letter of Recommendation - Submit one letter of recommendation written by an individual who is in a position to comment on your leadership skills. This individual may NOT be a family member. The recommendation must be written on official letterhead, signed and sealed in an envelope that should be mailed to HAF’s office. Please provide the recommender with ATTACHMENT V.
VI. Transcript
Provide an official e-transcript from the Registrar’s Office to be sent to . If your Registrar does not provide e-transcripts, mail an official transcript to HAF’s office.
Congressional Intern Track: Please note that any and all of the material above will not only be reviewed by HAF, but also shared with the Congressional office.
Application Form
I am applying for Congressional / Advocacy (circle one) Intern Track.
I. Basic Information
Name (First/Last): ______
Circle one: Male/Female
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy): ___ / ___ / ___ Place of Birth: ______
Circle one: U.S. Citizen/U.S. Permanent Resident
Email Address: ______
Permanent Address: ______
______
Current Mailing Address: ______
______
II. Education
Current College/University: ______
City, State: ______
Current Year: ______Expected Graduation Date (mm/yy): ___ / ____
Major: ______Minor: ______
GPA: ______
III. Political Affiliation – Congressional Intern Track Only
Note: This information will not affect your selection for the internship program. It may be used for placement in Congressional Offices, but HAF does not guarantee placement in an office representing your political affiliation.
Which political party do you affiliate with?
__ Democrat__ Independent/Other
__ Republican__ None
Have you interned on Capitol Hill before? Yes/No
If so, which Congressional office and when (provide start and end date)? ______
______
IV. Optional Questions
How did you hear about this internship program (i.e. career services, former intern, HAF e-newsletter, Facebook)? ______
Did you know of HAF prior to learning of this internship program? ______
I hereby certify that all of the above information provided here is accurate and correct.
Name: ______Date:______
Please email your completed application to y Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Questions? Please email
Request for Recommendation Letter (Attachment V)
Dear Sir or Madam,
______(Applicant Name) has applied for the Hindu American Congressional & Advocacy Internship program, sponsored by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). The applicant will be an intern in either a Congressional office or the HAF office for approximately eight weeks over the summer of 2016.
Your recommendation will aid in evaluating the applicant for this program. Please comment on the applicant’s leadership skills, creativity in problem solving, work ethic and ability to work with others.
Please type your recommendation on official letterhead, sign and place in a sealed envelope, sign the seal of the envelope and mail to HAF’s office at
Hindu American Foundation - Internship
910 Seventeenth St. NW, Suite 316A
Washington, DC 20006
Your recommendation must be postmarked by Tuesday,January 12, 2016 in order for the application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Thank you.
Questions? Please email .
Hindu American Congressional Internship
Summer 2016