Secretary of State Interns

Secretary of State Karen Handel is pleased to provide Georgia students with the opportunity to intern with the Office of the Secretary of State. Interns in the agency have the opportunity to work in one of the agency’s divisions, learning the inner workings of state government and the agency. Each intern will have a variety of responsibilities, and the office he or she works in will aim to assign projects that relate to his or her field of study.

Interns also have the opportunity to participate in several group activities that highlight the agency’s functions. At the end of their session, they are invited to a luncheon with Secretary Handel.

Internships run 17 weeks for fall and spring semesters and 10 weeks for the summer semesters. Interns should indicate on their application whether they would like to work full-time or part-time. Interns are paid an hourly wage.

All internships are in Atlanta with the exception of the Professional Licensing Boards, which is located in Macon.

To be chosen as an intern with the Office of the Secretary of State, interns must meet the following qualifications:

Interested students should complete an application (located at here) and return it by the following deadlines:

Term	Application Due By:	First Day of Term:
Fall	June 15, 2008	August 18, 2008
Spring	October 15, 2008	January 5, 2009
Summer	March 15, 2009	May 27, 2009

Download an Application

Applications can be faxed or mailed to the phone number or address listed on the applications, and must be received by the due date.

Late applications will not be accepted. Interns must indicate the divisions where they would prefer to work.

If you have any questions about obtaining an internship with the Office of the Secretary of State, please contact Whitney Halterman at 404-657-4597.

The following divisions within the Office of the Secretary of State offer internship opportunities:

Interns will be trained in record-keeping, and assist in developing the database with additional material. Interns in this office will be responsible for historical records and documents. The intern will join in day-to-day operational duties for the Capitol Museum and projects that are in progress at the time.

This division would appeal to students with an interest in history, education or public relations. There is a specific need for someone with computer knowledge and/or experience with digital photos.

Thousands of people, including student groups, international visitors, and groups from all 50 states, visit the Georgia Capitol for tours through the Secretary of State Tour Division each year. The Capitol Tours Division provides educational resources for student groups and individuals coming to the Capitol. Interns in this office will work primarily with visitors to the Capitol

This Division would appeal to students with an interest in education, communications, political science or public relations.

The Elections Division ensures fair and legal elections, and facilitates statewide voter registration. By educating elections officials and voters on the election process, the division plays a crucial role in keeping Georgia’s elections fair and free from fraud.

This internship would appeal to students with an interest in political science, international relations, and law. Intern applicants should have an interest in governmental research and the day-to-day responsibilities of an election office.

Front Office:

The Front Office of the Secretary of State serves as the primary Constituent Services Center for the agency and is responsible for providing administrative support to the Secretary of State. Interns for this office would assist with both the Constituent Services and the Scheduling Teams.

The Front Office Intern should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to problem solve, and take on multiple tasks simultaneously. Other qualifications for the Front Office Intern include proficiency in Microsoft Office, attention to detail, and a desire to pleasantly and effectively interact with the public.

Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission:

The Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission is the sanctioning body for all boxing and mixed martial arts matches in Georgia. Interns in this office would assist with a wide variety of customer service and clerical functions, including administrative organization, creating and maintaining computerized forms, and assisting the Commissioner in accomplishing day-to-day tasks. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend matches and weigh-ins.

Intern applicants for this office should have an interest in public administration and/or sports. In addition, he or she should be proficient in Microsoft Office.

Legal Affairs:

Interns in this division will be responsible for assisting General Counsel with a range of projects, including legislative reviews.

All applicants for this division should be law school students, or seniors in college with plans to attend law school.

Press Office:

The Press Office serves as the official communications division of the Office of Secretary of State. The office responds to all media inquiries and distributes news releases, photographs, speeches, newsletters, public service announcements and other communications to audiences statewide. We also produce brochures, pamphlets, and letters for the different divisions.

Intern applicants for this office should have an interest in journalism, public relations, marketing, or political science. Applicants should be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. Applicants with experience in Adobe PhotoShop, Illustrator, Quark Express or other graphics, design and layout software will be given additional consideration.

The Professional Licensing Boards Division provides administrative support services to 35 professional licensing boards that issue 192 types of licenses to more than 400,000 Georgians in various professions. Each board processes applications, administers examinations and, when warranted, conduct investigations into possible professional misconduct.

Intern applicants for this office would assist with a variety of customer service and clerical functions including answering the telephone and relaying telephone messages, typing and filing reports and documents, creating and maintaining computerized forms to track information, and assisting board staff with preparations for licensing board member meetings.

Interns for this office should have an interest in public administration, law and/or criminal justice.

This division registers and regulates securities, investment advisors and representatives, and works to prevent investment fraud. It also registers and regulates charitable organizations and paid solicitors, as well as registers and regulates perpetual care cemeteries and pre-need dealers.

This division would be of interest to students who enjoy law, economics, or non-profit management.