My internship focussed on giving me hands-on experience. There was almost always something to do, whether it was engagement-related work, interesting seminars and speakers, or enrichment activities with other interns or PDPers. My managers/supervisors were very hands-on in guidance, but encouraged me to work autonomously as much as possible and provided feedback on my work. I ultimately got to participate in interviews, meetings, write-ups, and analyses on a regular basis. GAO emphasized work-life balance and encouraged me to connect with other interns, school alumni, or engagement team members and helped with networking. GAO also let me have a really flexible schedule, which I appreciated.
What I wish was different
Some of the orientation activities can be very time-consuming (for good reason), and I wished they'd spaced some of the events out more. My internship itself was remote but it would have been nice to 1) have a more streamlined process for in-person access to GAO and 2) have actually gone in to work at the physical building.
Advice
Don't be daunted by feedback! Sometimes it can be disheartening to get a piece of written work back that's all marked up, but this isn't directed at you specifically - it's just part of the process and a good opportunity to learn.
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Junior Analyst Intern
May - August 2022 • Denver, CO
What I liked
I enjoyed the mentorship of the senior analysts above me. I learned a tremendous amount about the role GAO plays in government and how GAO helps the average taxpayer. As an intern, I was able to work on projects that had a large impact. I was not treated like an intern who grabs coffee; my input on engagements was necessary for the success of the team.
What I wish was different
I wish the job had been fully in-person.
Advice
Go in with an open mind and embrace the work you're given. I was placed on projects I had no background knowledge in, but became a subject matter expert by the end of the experience.
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Financial Audit Intern
June - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
Fun tours of government buildings
Interesting Training
Challenging daily workload
What I wish was different
Intern mentor could have been better
I wish there was more time to work on separate audits of other agencies.
Advice
Choose a start date in May so that you can attend the congressional hearings
