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DOL Internship Program

Internship Program

Welcome to the U.S. Department of Labor's Internship Program website. The Department of Labor (DOL) invites interested applicants across the nation to apply to internships that will provide students with a unique opportunity to learn how federal government agencies operate. Students will be part of the Department's mission to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States by improving working conditions, advancing opportunities for profitable employment and assuring work-related benefits and rights.

Previous interns have had opportunities to work in a variety of areas including public affairs, speechwriting, research, legal work, human resources, legislative affairs, budget, contract compliance, and performance analysis. Students should have a general interest in the field of government, strong writing and research skills, and should expect to perform substantive work assignments, as well as general administrative duties. Students can seek internship placements at the DOL National Office in Washington, D.C. and at the Regional Offices (including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco).

Applying to DOL Internships

**The summer application deadline has passed. Please stay tuned for updates on the fall application deadline. **

Applications will be accepted throughout the year for Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer internship positions. After complete application packages have been received, DOL agencies will contact qualified candidates to schedule interviews. Once the interview process has concluded, DOL will contact selected students to extend an offer.

DOL Internship Program:

  • The Internship Program typically lasts six – 12 weeks (dates are flexible depending on agency needs and student schedules).
  • All application materials must be submitted by the deadline to students@dol.gov.
  • Application materials include: a resume, a cover letter, and an unofficial transcript from the applicant's academic institution demonstrating enrollment on at least a half-time basis.
  • Students must list the top three DOL agencies of interest in the first paragraph of the cover letter (Visit DOL Agency websites at http://www.dol.gov/dol/aboutdol/orgchart.htm).
  • Students interested in internships at a DOL Regional Office must list the regional area of preference in the first paragraph of the cover letter.
  • Students who are veterans may be entitled to Veterans' Preference and should include the following information with their application.
    • DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).
    • Letter from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) designating the percentage of service-connected disability (if applicable).

Lessons Learned From Previous DOL Summer Interns

Contact Us

For questions, please contact the Internship Program Director at students@dol.gov