When it comes to finding a US Olympic Committee internship, there really is something for everyone at the nation’s most fascinating, sports-related nonprofit organization. Known best for its work in securing the Olympic games in American host cities, the USOC is also deeply involved with preparing athletes for competition at these events and implementing the goals and standards of the International Olympic Committee even when the games themselves are not occurring. Interns will find that opportunities exist for almost every major, no matter the time of year or their unique interests within the organization. There are a few steps to follow, however, in order to secure one of these competitive placements at a USOC facility.
Interns Can Start at the USOC Throughout the Year
Some of America’s largest organizations only allow interns to work with them during the summer months between the spring and fall semesters, which means that a lot of qualified students miss out on the opportunity simply because of their availability. This is not the case with the USOC, however, thanks to year-round intern windows. The organization accepts applications for fall, summer, and spring placements, each of which lasts approximately three months. In other words, there are three, semester-long intern periods available at the USOC year-round. This makes it easier to apply and less competitive to be accepted to one of the organization’s popular programs.
Application Materials are an Extensive Part of the Process
Though there are more slots for interns to start at the USOC throughout the year, the organization is still highly competitive and demands a lot of each applicant who wishes to be accepted to an open position. All applicants must submit an official USOC application, a full professional resume, and a cover letter detailing their interests and relevant qualifications when working for the organization. Though not required, students are highly encouraged to submit several letters of recommendation from professors and professional contacts along with their official application for the program. This can only boost a student’s application, so it’s certainly something worth pursuing prior to submission. It’s important to note that any supplemental application materials must be submitted when the application itself is submitted online. Materials submitted later will not be considered.
Many Areas of Consideration for Today’s Applicants
The committee is often associated purely with sports, but interns can work in a variety of areas that are both sports-related and completely unaffiliated with athletics. Interns are selected for positions in sports medicine, sports administration, strength and conditioning, human resources, broadcasting, marketing, journalism, fundraising and development, and even the Paralympics organization. This means that a wide variety of college majors, from business to sports medicine and human resource management, are all considered a great fit for the many intern programs offered within the nearly 400-person United States Olympic Committee corporate structure.
With all of these unique areas of opportunity for today’s undergraduates, it’s easy to see why the United States Olympic Committee is so highly competitive for interns. The organization offers exposure to some of the biggest and most successful athletes in the country, introduces students to the corporate side of athletic competition, and even allows students to live and eat within its on-campus facilities for Olympic athletes throughout the duration of their intern work. For these reasons and many more, students considering a US Olympic Committee internship should apply early and include letters of recommendation for an even better shot at beating the competition for placement within the organization.
Related Resource: Do I Need a Degree in Sports Journalism to Become a Sports Journalist?
