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Internships

CBO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

CBO volunteer summer internships provide excellent opportunities for graduate students to experience and observe the budget process and policymaking at the federal level. The internships are located in Washington, D.C. and normally last 10 weeks.

What are the qualifications?

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You should:

• Be pursuing a graduate degree in economics, public policy, health policy, financial management, mathematics, statistics, or a related field.
• Be sponsored by your university. It is not necessary that your university pay you or provide college credit. If you are offered an internship, CBO will provide a form for your university to complete indicating that they acknowledge the internship will be of educational value.
• Have solid writing skills and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Have exceptional interpersonal and analytical skills.
• Preferably be familiar with computer programming, statistics, econometrics, and other quantitative methods.

How do I apply?

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Submit your application through CBO's application system by February 29, 2012.

A complete application consists of:

• a resume
• a cover letter
• contact information for 2 references (preferably one academic and one employment),
• coursework for the spring semester, and
• an unofficial transcript. PLEASE NOTE: First year graduate students must also submit an unofficial undergraduate transcript.

 

To be considered, you must submit a complete application by February 29, 2012.

You can register for an internship job alert to receive an e-mail when CBO is accepting applications, typically in mid-December.

How does CBO select interns?

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CBO selects interns on the basis of the candidate's:

• academic achievement,
• the relevance of academic work to CBO's responsibilities, and
• relevant work experience.

When will I find out if I am selected for an internship?

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CBO reviews applications after the deadline. A staff member may contact you for additional information and to determine your interest in a project. We expect to extend all offers and inform you of your status by April 6, 2012. You should be sure that your e-mail client will accept e-mails from careers@cbo.gov.

What do CBO interns do?

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In addition to contributing to CBO's work in one of CBO's divisions, interns participate in an educational program that includes briefings on CBO's role in the budget process. CBO interns may also participate in seminars such as the Congressional Summer Intern Lecture Series, which has featured former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and journalist Cokie Roberts.

What projects have CBO interns worked on?

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While at CBO, interns have also contributed to the following cost estimates and publications.

How can I prepare for a CBO internship?

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Previous interns describe the following experiences as valuable in preparing for their CBO internship:

• Courses in economics, public finance, public budgeting, microeconomics, econometrics, and public health
• Experience with SAS (or other statistical programs) and large data sets
• Experience conducting independent research
• Strong writing skills
• An understanding of the federal budget process
• Prior policy internships and participation in student government

Does CBO have interns in the fall or spring semesters?

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CBO has interns in the fall or spring only on an occasional, 'as needed' basis. You should register for an internship job alert so that you receive an e-mail if CBO needs an intern during the fall or spring semester.

For more information, please contact Nancy Fahey at 202-226-2628 or at careers@cbo.gov.