FCNL Internship: Frequently Asked Questions

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) offers several internships each year. Interns begin in August or September and work for 11 months, until the following July.

This document will give you some hints on completing the internship application and provide answers to common questions.

Questions to consider as you complete your application

• How do you demonstrate a commitment to making your community a better place or the world more peaceful and just? How might you translate those ideals into actions that will change public policy?
• Why do you want to work for FCNL? What can you contribute?
• Do you have the experience, stamina, flexibility, and persistence to work for a national organization that is engaged in lobbying and advocacy? Can you uphold the responsibility and high standards of an FCNL internship?
• Are you comfortable working for an organization where many people on staff are Quakers? Are you comfortable with the religious traditions that are sometimes evident in the workplace, such as moments of reflective silence before important meetings?
• Are you comfortable working in a big city where “security protections” will be a daily part of your work life? FCNL’s building is located near the U.S. Capitol.
• Can you bring fresh energy, enthusiasm, and analytical ability to our efforts in Washington?

Instructions and hints on applying for the internship

The internship program is open to anyone with a college degree or equivalent experience. People of any age can apply, although most applicants are recent college graduates. Applicants with less than a 3.0 grade average will be at a distinct disadvantage given the competitiveness of the selection process. People with many different majors are considered. Computer literacy, good writing skills, research skills, and a solid command of English are necessary to fulfill the duties of an FCNL intern.

Applicants do not have to be members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). We do not expect your application essays to include religious references unless that is your natural voice. Diversity in life experience is embraced by FCNL, and we have had interns who follow many different religious traditions. We do inquire about the applicant’s knowledge of and prior experience with Quakers because interns will be communicating a great deal with FCNL supporters, many of whom are Quakers.

We warmly encourage all interested people to apply. FCNL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

FCNL interns earn approximately $15,000 in their 11-month appointment. Social Security and taxes are taken out of paychecks. Interns also receive health benefits, paid sick leave and vacation, and mass transit fare assistance.

If you are selected as an intern, you will be treated as any other new employee would be. That means that FCNL is not responsible for handling such things as housing, airfare, visas, and so forth. If selected, you will be put in touch with the other interns in case you want to share an apartment. People on staff will be personally helpful to new interns and many support systems are in place once interns start work.

Completing your application

You may contact us with questions.

If you handwrite your application, please make it legible. You may also type directly onto the application form.

Start early. You will need to request transcripts from your school, which can take some time. All parts of your application (transcripts, recommendations, and your application and essays) must be received in the FCNL office by the application deadline (usually mid-March). Applicants are not disqualified if one piece of their application is late, but applicants who return the entire application on time are given preference. It is your responsibility to make sure that all parts of your application have been mailed.

Each intern works for one of FCNL’s senior staff members. In your application essays, feel free to describe what issues interest and concern you. You should not assume that you will be offered an internship working on those particular issues, although your interests and prior experience are taken into account when making assignments.

References are important. Ask each prospective reference if she or he is willing to write a letter about your qualities and qualifications, in addition to sending in the reference form with the checklist. If the person cannot take time, you will be disadvantaged. If even two of your four references will write a letter, it will help us to know you better.

A hint about selecting references: It is best to select people who know your talents but have an “arm’s length” relationship, for instance, who are not your family members and do not have a business relationship with your family. While a friend can serve as personal reference, it works best when that friend can describe your efforts as a volunteer or leader or how you furthered a social cause.

We recommend that you keep a copy of your completed application for your records.

Sending the application materials

Our mailing address is 245 Second St., NE, Washington, DC 20002. We recommend that applicants use the U. S. Postal Service to mail application forms.

We will accept faxed application material only from the people who are writing your references. Our fax number is 202-547-6019. We must receive a signed copy of the reference in the postal mail within two weeks of receiving the fax.

After you have submitted your application

Depending on the number of applicants, you may receive a formal response within six weeks. We will notify by postal mail those candidates who we want to interview. All interviews are conducted by telephone.

We will make final internship selections beginning at the end of April. If you have not heard anything by then, feel free to contact us for a status report. FCNL will send a letter to all applicants at the end of the selection process. Make sure to let us know your permanent (home) address as well as your school address so that we can contact you even if you have graduated.

Email is the best way to get in touch with FCNL about your application. If you do not have access to email, please let us know that fact on your application. You may contact us by mail or telephone.

We look forward to receiving your application!