You can apply here. Our application consists of a qualifications essay, a motivations essay, and a tech policy memo. We also ask that applicants provide an anonymized resume (devoid of identifying information) and the names/contact information for two references. Please note that we do not require references to write letters of recommendation.

You can view an offline version of the application here.

We will accept a resume or CV! Please use whichever format you prefer and will highlight your candidacy.

We ask that applicants remove identifying information from their resume, such as name, photos, and LinkedIn urls, as the first round of application review is anonymized to help to prevent unconscious bias. Please also ensure that the name of the file does not have your name on it.

We know that applicants will have papers or articles they published that they want to showcase and we encourage you to do so! Please just ensure your name is not showing (some folks choose to replace their name with XXX or redact your name).

Yes, if you think it showcases your candidacy better! We encourage folks to include these when they can.

Our selection process is approximately eight to ten weeks. We conduct an anonymized first review of applications and then invite candidates to a 20-minute first round interview. We then invite candidates to a 45-minute second round interview and conduct reference checks before making offers. Please note that we will notify you before contacting your references.

You can read more about our selection process from the previous application cycle here.

Since our application review process is anonymized, we’re unable to provide individual feedback about an application.

We provide up to $2000 for relocation expenses and up to $2000 for accommodation for the first month of the fellowship in the Washington DC area to ease the transition.

During the first three weeks of the program, fellows participate in a rigorous orientation that comprises of two parts:

Part one consists of learning about how the policymaking process works within Congress, with workshops on the following topics: legislative process; House and Senate floor procedure; committee jurisdiction and process; memo writing; and oversight letters and investigations.

Part two consists of visits with tech policy thought leaders at academic institutions, civil society groups and technology companies to explore the range of perspectives on common tech policy challenges.

The placement period, which is the second three weeks of the program (weeks four through six overall), is primarily fellow-driven. After orientation, TechCongress will facilitate meetings with staff from Member offices and Committees to help fellows find their placement.

We help secure interviews with any offices that have identified ahead of time are interested in hosting a fellow, and leverage our networks to try to get fellows conversations with offices they’re interested in or align with their policy interests. The TechCongress team and community serve as a sounding board that help fellows decide where to work. All 95 of our fellows have served highly influential Members of Congress or Congressional Committees. No fellow has ever failed to find a placement, and we are very proud of the impact they’ve made.

Although we encourage our fellows to meet with as many offices in Congress as they are interested in, please keep in mind that certain committees that require security clearances may be reluctant to host fellows given these sensitivities.

The day-to-day for a fellow widely depends on placement; we like to say that each office in Congress operates like its own small business, with different cultures and procedures. However, many fellows spend their time reading legislation, catching up on the news, meeting with stakeholders, and providing feedback or counsel on a tech policy issue to staffers. We’ve also had fellows help organize hearings and write oversight letters.

We provide our fellows with a professional development stipend of up to $2000 over the duration of their fellowship, which they can use on a variety of educational resources such as conferences, courses, and certifications. TechCongress additionally connects fellows with a career coach for a number of free sessions towards the end of their fellowship, to help them polish their resume and prepare for the job search. We also host multiple networking events throughout the year, aimed at connecting fellows with other folks in the tech policy space. Our Slack is very active, and always has different events and opportunities for both fellows and alumni.

Halfway through the fellowship, TechCongress convenes each cohort and discusses advice for the job search (for example, what to do if you want to stay in Congress, how to apply for jobs in the Executive Branch, etc.). Most recently, we ran a series of three workshops dedicated to providing guidance for fellows. We also connect fellows with a career coach, who helps them think through post-fellowship planning and offers help with resumes and cover letters. We additionally have a slack channel dedicated to sharing open positions and run a public ‘Policy Opportunities for Technologists’ newsletter.

We are fortunate to have an extremely active alumni network. There are many opportunities to stay engaged with TechCongress as an alumni.

Fellows work in a variety of sectors after completing their fellowship. Approximately a third of fellows stay in the government (Legislative or Executive Branch), a third of fellows go to civil society organizations or think tanks, and a third of fellows go back to industry but in more policy-oriented roles that enables them to leverage the knowledge gained from their fellowship.

To learn more about where fellows have worked post-fellowship, you can check out the Our Impact page on our website.