<p>I was offered an intern position at my local republican party office. I was told that I would be doing work along the lines of voter registration, phone calling, door to door, etc. I am getting the impression that they just need volunteers to do their dirty work.. What do you guys think? Is this a worthy internship?</p>
<p>My son is doing the same this summer. In my opinion, it is not super great experience, but it is still decent experience, and better than no experience at all. It will give you something to talk about on job interviews, and perhaps get you a letter of recommendation or two.</p>
<p>I guess the simple answer is that if this is your best opportunity available, then take it.</p>
<p>See if you can negotiate a bit: Yes, you’ll do the grunt work, but you’d also like to be involved in planning/attending some of the more interesting activities. If you can describe what you’d like to be doing for them, someone in charge of the office may be able to make it happen - especially for someone who shows up reliably, does the work competently and is always pleasant and professional.</p>
<p>I started out as a grunt, but quickly moved up in the ranks; be professional and reliable and the higher ups will notice that. From doing grunt work, I’m planning events, training volunteers, making connections, and a lot more. Put your passion out there, if you have it.</p>
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<p>I also just started to volunteer at my local Republican office as well. I have just been walking door to door and making phone calls. This might sound kind of dumb but since a majority of adcoms are democrats IMO, would they discriminate in any way if I put I worked for a Romney Office, Just a thought…</p>
<p>i had the same politics problem…i wanted to start a young republican club at my school…then thought twice about it and disguised it as a regular politics club…i would intern and say that you volunteered for a political campaign without being precise.</p>
<p>On the contrary, most schools are happy to have a diversity of political opinions represented within the student body. Since conservatives are under-represented at some schools, it’s probably to your advantage. Now, whether you want to attend a school where you are in the minority is a different matter, and one that URMs face all the time.</p>
<p>^^ That’s an interesting point. Also I interned for the first time today, and all I can say is that there are some very grouchy people in America.</p>
<p>My son is an intern for the RNC this summer, and his position sounds similar to yours in some ways: voter registration, phone banking, completing forms, filling in electoral maps, manually recording information into Excel. I was (to put in mildly) ambivalent because of the quality of the work, but it was his dream internship, so he took what they gave him - in terms of position and lousy pay. It does not even cover his rent in DC for the summer. He said most people are not paid at all, but he is part of a summer program that pays a teensy weekly stipend- highway robbery, IMO, but I digress. Some of his fellow interns are well-connected, and they are doing the same grunt work as everyone else. </p>
<p>The organization sends the interns on trips or bring speakers (and photo-ops) in once a week. And the interns network like their lives depend upon it! This is a big benefit that I’ve noticed. He is meeting people who introduce him to others both inside and outside of the organization. They’re willing to connect him with local campaigns when he’s back at school or try to bring him back to DC once he graduates. They all seem to want to help. There are many higher up’s, national pollsters, national campaign managers, lobbyists, elected officials, press officials, and chiefs of staff, who were once lowly interns performing the same drudgery you are now. </p>
<p>What I’m trying to say is that despite the lack of intellectually challenging work and feeling a bit taken advantage of, you have opportunities to learn the ground game in a local office, a chance to show others what you’re made of, and people to mentor you (hopefully) and network with, and I don’t think that is a waste of time. See what you can do to get them to include you in other activities so you gain wider exposure to other parts of the organization that you might not be directly working in right now. You could also become involved in working on a local campaign instead of a national one. That might be valuable as well because they will be doing more with less people than the other way around. </p>
<p>Hope this helps some.</p>
<p>Make connections and have fun!</p>