Research the office for which you are interviewing.  Check their web site. Call the member or organization's general office and ask for information to be sent. You do not want to contact the person with whom you are interviewing for information. Contact others who may be familiar with the office. Read a newspaper.

Prepare a list of three to five references.  Two should be previous employers or staff for whom you have volunteered (preferably politically or campaign oriented). Professors, pastor or priest, organization advisors and friends that are well-respected in the business or political arena. Do NOT use family members.

You may want to have letters of recommendation from a previous employer or professor.

Be prepared to ask questions. Such as:

What are previous (the organization you are applying with) interns doing now ? Is there a possibility that this internship could count as college credit ? "What skills are considered most useful for success as an intern?" "I would really like to work for your staff. I think it is a great office and I am confident I could do this job well. What is the next step of the selection process?"

Have the obvious questions answered.  Look over your resume to see what obvious questions may develop. Prepare yourself to answer them eloquently.

Call the office receptionist so you will know who is interviewing you and how to spell and pronounce his or her name.

Make sure you arrive early (approximately 10 minutes) so you have time to collect yourself and your thoughts. Read a newspaper or magazine while you wait.

Body Language Give a sincere smile. Have confident, self-assured posture. Have a firm hand shake. Look the interviewer in the eye from the beginning of the interview.

Dress For Men: These things help make a good first impression. Dark blue or black suit with cuffs on the pants. White or light- blue shirt. Red, yellow, navy or royal blue ties that have a distinct pattern. Do not wear a Tabasco or Limbaugh tie.

Dress For Woman: These things help make a good first impression. Dark blue, black or red skirt suit. Skirt should be to the knee or below. Simple blouse with limited color (i.e., white, cream, or light blue). Scarves are acceptable. Simple jewelry.

Since there are many applicants for internships the interview is your opportunity to stand out. Emphasize two or three key strengths as much as possible throughout the interview. Do not just reiterate your resume.

Now is the time to elaborate on things you may have cut from your resume.

Don't feel like you are talking about yourself too much.  Remember, you are there to sell yourself.

Following the interview, send a thank-you letter to the interviewer for taking the time to interview you and answer your questions.

Restate your benefits and personalize the note with information you discussed during the interview. This will separate you from other applicants.