General FAQ
Q: What are the eligibility requirements to apply for an internship?
You must be a currently enrolled junior, senior, graduate student, or law student with a 3.0 GPA or higher. You must be either a Georgia resident or attending a Georgia college, university, or law school.
Q: If I apply for an internship and am not selected, can I re-apply for the next quarter/semester?
Yes. If the Governor's Intern Program does not select you for the semester in which you are applying, you are welcome to apply for the following semester.
Q: If I am placed in the Governor's Intern Program this summer, can I participate again next summer?
Because the GIP offers a limited number of internships per semester, you may participate only once. We want as many students as possible to experience this great opportunity. * An undergraduate or master's level GIP participant does have the option to participate in the law program.
Q: Can I get academic credit?
Yes. You may arrange for academic credit through your academic advisor. If necessary the Internship Coordinator or your direct supervisor (once placed) may serve as the contact person for your academic advisor.
Q: I do not live near my preferred internship sites. Can you provide housing?
The Governor's Intern Program cannot provide housing for you; however, the Emory University Summer Intern Housing Program (SIHP) provides affordable and comfortable accommodations for summer interns at the Clairmont Campus. For more information visit the SIHP website at http://www.emory.edu/sihp.
Q: Do you provide transportation to my internship site?
The Governor's Intern Program cannot provide any transportation for you. MARTA has two stations that are located near the Capitol; the Georgia State Station (directly across from the Capitol in the Twin Towers complex) or the Five Points station (two blocks west of the Capitol at Underground Atlanta).
Q: How long is the program? When is my first day of work?
Fall and spring semester internships are 18 weeks, and the summer internship is 13 weeks. The Governor's Intern Program strives to schedule the internship dates and deadlines in accordance with the academic schedule of most Georgia colleges, universities, and law schools. Please check the calendar to see when the internship in which you are interested begins.
Q: Are all the internships located in Atlanta ?
Yes. While internships with agencies are sometimes offered in other locations around the state, internships facilitated through the Governor's Office are all located in Atlanta.
Q: Can I fill out my application on paper and email or fax it in?
Yes. Please first try to complete your application through the application page on the wesbite. If you experience problems with the website, you may email or fax your application with resume, cover letter, references and writing sample.
Q: How many days/hours can I intern per week?
Interns have the option of working between 20 and 40 hours per week. You and your supervisor will determine the days and number of hours that are best for you and the office. Keep in mind that if you are interning for academic credit, most programs require you to intern a minimum number of hours per week.
Q: Can I request to work in a specific area in the Governor's office?
Many departments within the Governor's Office host interns, including the Office of the First Lady, Scheduling, Policy, Government Affairs, Communications, Executive Appointments and Constituent Services. You are encouraged to indicate on the application a specific area in which you are interested, but this will not guarantee an internship in that department. If you are selected to participate in the GIP, the Intern Director will work with the internship supervisors to place you in the department most compatible with your area of study.
Q: What kind of work will I be doing as an intern?
Each office has different needs and requirements, and your duties are at the discretion of your supervisor. During your interview with the participating agency, you may be given more specifics regarding your internship duties. Some of your responsibilities may include: research, data compilation, attending meetings, general administrative duties and assisting in the planning of special events.
Q: Can I look at a list of agencies that participate in the Governor's Intern Program?
One of the greatest things about the Governor's Intern Program is that the participating agencies change every semester. The agencies involved in our program this semester may not host an intern next semester. If you are interested in finding out more about potential participants, please visit www.georgia.gov for a complete list of Georgia agencies. * From homepage, click on Government on the side menu.
For additional questions, please contact Lauren Wright, Director of the Governor's Intern Program, at (404) 656-1784 or lwright@gov.state.ga.us.