Interning at DHS

Earlier this month DHS announced the 2010 DHS Headquarters Student Summer Employment Program. This program is an opportunity for students ages 16 or older who are enrolled or accepted to college to work at DHS Headquarters in a variety of jobs. The students will be expected to work full time (40 hours per week) and will be paid.

Getting to work in the federal government and actively partake in securing the homeland is an excellent opportunity for college students. The reason that I know this is that I am an intern here at DHS Headquarters. I am a college senior who is spending my last semester in school interning at the Department of Homeland Security, getting to work with the Office of Public Affairs and with the White House Liaison’s Office.

Since joining the team here at DHS Headquarters, I have been able to see firsthand just how actively, personally engaged the federal employees here are in securing our country. And by being in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) I have seen how DHS makes communicating information with the media and directly to the American people is an important part of this still-young department’s mission.

Since joining the team here at DHS Headquarters, I have been able to see firsthand just how actively, personally engaged the federal employees here are in securing our country. And by being in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) I have seen how communicating information with the media and directly to the American people is an important part of this still-young department’s mission.

I work with the New Media team here in OPA. In addition to helping write posts for this blog, I contribute to the Our Border social network, and I’ve helped film events for the DHS website, such as the interview with Ambassador Jim Jones and a pen and pad session with Secretary Napolitano. In the White House Liaison’s Office (WHLO) I have been able to see some different ways the federal government interacts with the American people – for example, I have helped direct emails that come into DHS with comments on immigration to the appropriate person. That’s right – we really do read your email and try our best to respond to the questions we get.

My internship here at DHS has taught me a lot about the federal government. I have also learned a lot about using new media to communicate over different channels, including this blog. Being a part of the team that keeps our country safe has been an excellent opportunity for me and I recommend to anyone interested, that they apply.

Lauren is an intern in the Office of Public Affairs at DHS HQ