Internships - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

So many! Just take a look:

• Gain valuable work experience. As an MCG Intern, you add marketable work experience and skills to your resume when competing for jobs in your chosen career field.
• Build career networks. You will have opportunities to interact and work side‐by‐side with professionals in your chosen career field.
• Explore different career options. You will have an opportunity to examine and explore one or more career fields, which can often help you more confidently select your career path
• Receive on‐the‐job training. You will receive constructive feedback, learn how to anticipate work expectations, and grow your problem-solving skills.
• Earn high school or college credit. Contact the career center/academic advisor at your academic institution to find the requirements for earning academic credits for internships
• Enjoy flexible scheduling. By coordinating with a department’s Intern Supervisor, flexible schedules can be offered that work with your school schedule and also the nature of your internship work assignment.
• Acquire public and community service experience. Whether you are interested in a career in public service, want to explore careers in the public sector, or serve the local community while gaining professional experience, an internship is a great way to help you reach your career goals.

 You may apply for an internship if:

• You are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited college, community college, or university, or
• You graduated from an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited college, community college, or university.

Yes. MCG will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. If you need accommodation for the application process or the internship assignment, email the Office of Human Resources at ohr@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

Most intern opportunities do not require U.S. citizenship. However, certain departments require U.S. citizenship, such as the Department of Police. For more information, refer to the applicable department’s website pertaining to internship opportunities.

No, internship opportunities do not require that applicants be Montgomery County residents.

Send your resume and contact information to ohr@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

You may apply for internship opportunities year‐round. Typically, the internships are offered on a semester basis (fall/spring). 

Your resume should be concise and include a summary of your key strengths, skills and achievements. Summarize your specific internship field of interest and career objectives, such as information technology, finance, human resources, public policy, law, etc. Your resume should also include your education and any academic courses that are relevant to your internship field of interest, work experience, extracurricular activities, and service experiences, such as volunteering, community engagement, etc. Be sure to also include your availability to intern (e.g., fall, summer, June to September, etc.).

After your information is received, managers from various departments will then be able to review resumes, contact applicants for interview, and select applicants for current and/or prospective internship opportunities. Because internship availability depends on a department’s needs, internship applicants’ resumes are kept active for six months. 

An MCG internship is typically a semester in length. However, longer internship work opportunities may be available depending on your academic institution’s work experience program.

Interns are expected to work up to 20 hours per week. Flexibility concerning the days, number of hours, any additional hours, and time interns will work depends upon the school schedule and the nature of the work assignment. Interns can coordinate flexible work schedules with their department’s Intern Supervisor.

The majority of MCG’s internship opportunities are unpaid, and applicants are encouraged to contact educational institutions and other non‐profit organizations to apply for assistance as needed. To view paid internship openings, visit  Search Jobs and enter the keyword “intern” or “internship” in the Keywords field.

Some academic programs provide course credit for work experience as a requirement for graduation, and some programs require an internship as an elective course for credit. Contact the career center/academic advisor at your academic institution to find the requirements for earning academic credits for internships.

Applicants should become familiar with the various departments, program areas and locations that are relevant to their areas of interest/focus. Refer to the Executive and Legislative Branch Offices sections of MCG's Departments and Agencies list. 

The Intern Supervisor develops the work assignments to meet the needs of the organization and the student. The Intern Supervisor also provides orientation to the MCG Intern on the first day, and frequently meets with the intern to provide instructions, guidance and feedback.

Before completing your internship, you will have an opportunity to discuss your experience with your Intern Supervisor. You will be asked to complete an evaluation form to provide feedback on your internship experience. Your feedback is invaluable and will help to improve the Internship Program for future interns.