http://www.dhs.gov

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Student Trainee

July - September 2022 • Washington, DC

What I liked

It taught me a lot about cyber security.

What I wish was different

Wish we could’ve went in person.

Advice

To really apply yourself so you can take away a lot from it.
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Intern

August - December 2020 • Tucson, AZ

What I liked

They treat you like a real employee

What I wish was different

I wish I would have been able to go in person

Advice

Work hard and remember that feedback isn't on you as a person but just on your work
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Officer

June - September 2019 • El Paso, TX

What I liked

Everything

What I wish was different

I stayed longer

Advice

Not everything is as it seems
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Purchasing agent

March 2017 • Boston, MA

What I liked

The federal benefits

What I wish was different

Advice

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Risk Management and Internal Controls Analyst

May 2019 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I enjoyed having the opportunity to experience working for the federal government performing risk assessments for US Citizenship and Immigration Services be an hour of the Department of Homeland Security in order to assist the agency in achieving its objective to protect and secure the U.S. and it’s citizens. I have been able to gain invaluable experience that’s will help me to pursue a career in Intelligence with the U. S. Government in the future and have had the opportunity to continue working for USCIS after graduation.

What I wish was different

Advice

My biggest piece of advice would be to have an open mind in any internship experience and participate in as many duties and projects as you can even if they are outside of your comfort zone or expertise. My experience has allowed me to work in my chosen field of IT but also assist with the financial and operational teams. Having different and diverse skills will make you more appealing to an employer because they will be able to throw anything at you and have the confidence you can adapt quickly and produce quality results.
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Student Trainee

June 2019 • Fairfax, VA

What I liked

I really like the fact that I was exposed to different work areas within USCIS. I get to talk to different employees about their experience in DHS and how they got to the position they are in today. It's interesting learning what goes on behind the scenes.

What I wish was different

There's nothing that I wish was different because I've really enjoyed my time interning there since I got to learn a lot.

Advice

Networking and asking questions is really important so don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and talk to new people!
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Intelligence Analysis Intern

June - August 2019 • Washington, DC

What I liked

They gave me direct projects and allowed me to work as a part of the unit. Reports and projects I worked on over the summer were disseminated to clients, which was a great feeling of doing something that mattered and had an impact.

What I wish was different

Longer internship!

Advice

Do not pass it up! This opportunity was amazing and if I could already go back and do it again I would.
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Student Intern

March 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

The environment was very friendly and encouraging

What I wish was different

I wasn’t working directly with my field of interest

Advice

The OCFO is an excellent area for a career
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IT Intern

June - August 2019 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I enjoyed the ability to work on a project of my choosing and truly lead the development of it. I was able to communicate with executives, managers, and technical specialists allowing me to experience the full hierarchy of a national IT department.

What I wish was different

While I enjoyed working on my single project, I wish that I could have hopped around and worked on different issues. I came to learn a lot about cloud computing and cyber security policy, but I think I would've also enjoyed exploring other topics.

Advice

Be outgoing. The best opportunities are afforded to you when you ask how you can help. By being an intern, you're not held with the same expectations as a normal employee and may be able to sit in on meetings and interact with individuals you couldn't as a normal employee.
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Research Assistant

May - June 2019 • Charlotte, NC

What I liked

The thing I liked most was traveling to NCSU on the final day to present our project / findings in front of a handful of their grad students. We also got to hear about their research, and took a tour of their different departments as well.

What I wish was different

The entirety of the project was based on identifying the most optimal amount of contraflow control lanes for use in Charlotte in the event of a hurricane, which wasn't all that interesting. So if I was to change something, I'd change the topic/focus.

Advice

I would say go into it open minded. The software and tech that we used looked and felt outdated, but having a positive attitude and remaining on the same page made our project a success.
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Intern, Civil Rights Institute

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

There were lots of opportunities to engage in self-driven research and projects, and the office made it easy for us to learn more about the department and its components.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Student intern

September - December 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

The experiences and exposure i received.

What I wish was different

More things to do. More responsibilities

Advice

Have an open mind.
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Senior Intern

June - July 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I enjoyed working with the day to day employees of the USICIS.

What I wish was different

More time to experience the fast paced envrioment.

Advice

Great opportunity! Take some risks with your life and, like this one, paid off tremendously.
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Emergency Planning Intern

August 2018 • Phoenix, AZ

What I liked

I enjoyed the flexibility in working projects as they came up. I could see how I was directly using my expertise in supply chain and information systems to assist adjusting and auditing operating procedures.

What I wish was different

none

Advice

Be proactive and keep asking for more work, otherwise you might get left alone for long periods of time. The position was meant to be able to work independently with little supervision.
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Cyber Student Intern

June - September 2018 • Fairfax, VA

What I liked

I learned a lot about web development, and became a more independent programmer.

What I wish was different

I didn't have a car and didn't know many people in the area, so enjoying being alone was difficult at times.

Advice

Working for the government can be as frustrating as people say!
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Airport Security Screener

July 2013 • Anchorage, AK

What I liked

Long hours, nice paycheck

What I wish was different

More me time

Advice

Expect to work
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Student Trainee

May 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Getting to go abroad to Malaysia to support the process of admitting refugees into the US.

What I wish was different

Nothing.

Advice

Be open to unexpected opportunities!
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Student Trainee, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

May - July 2017 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Interesting material, treated well by supervisor and others, able to see a government agency operate from the inside

What I wish was different

At times there wasn't a whole lot for me to do

Advice

Make the most of the opportunities given to you! I got to do cool things like attend a Senate hearing!
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Research Fellow

June - September 2018 • Los Alamos, NM

What I liked

It was a very interesting and unique atmosphere at LANL, given its historical prominence as a center for the development of nuclear energy and weapons.

What I wish was different

The location was rather remote and I found it difficult to find housing and people to socialize with.

Advice

Start looking for housing as soon as possible, and make an effort to meet people - it will be difficult to do either at the last minute.
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