The federal government offers a wide range of career paths across fields and disciplines, but finding the right path often starts with an opportunity to explore. 

At YRCI, we’re proud to help the next generation of professionals discover meaningful careers through our internship program. Our interns bring their interests, perspectives, and ambitions to the table, and we give them opportunities to turn those interests into meaningful work and explore career paths they may not have considered before. 

We sat down with three former interns, Chloe, Ellie, and Jake, to explore how YRCI’s internship program shaped their views on federal service and equipped them with skills they still use today. 

Applying to YRCI’s Internship Program 

Each intern arrived with different goals, but they shared a common desire to do work that mattered. 

For Chloe, the draw to YRCI was the chance to contribute from day one. “My career goals are always evolving, but they’ve always centered on organizational culture and employee engagement,” she shared. When an employee training project landed on the table, it sealed the deal. “I was immediately given the opportunity to develop a workplace culture training, and that was an immediate yes for me.” 

Ellie, an organizational leadership graduate, was seeking both professional growth and purpose. “What brought me to YRCI was the chance to not only grow professionally, but also contribute to something that really mattered,” she explained. YRCI’s team took a collaborative approach to shaping her role. “They asked me what I was interested in and then tailored the whole internship in a way that benefitted both of us,” she added. 

Jake came in with a different focus entirely: finance and commercial real estate. He took a chance on something outside his comfort zone. “This opportunity with YRCI kind of presented itself last minute, and I thought it’d be interesting to experience something I normally wouldn’t have done.” 

Projects and Responsibilities 

A defining feature of the YRCI experience is the trust placed in interns to lead real work. 

Chloe was given a significant assignment early on. “I was trusted with this huge project as an intern to build my own training from scratch.” Over two to three months, she researched, designed, and delivered an employee training to multiple groups across the company. “The training project was the golden project. That was the biggest takeaway for me.” 

Ellie worked across marketing and operations, contributing to social media campaigns, email efforts, and client research still in use today. “I got to work on a lot of projects and try a bunch of different things, and that really taught me,” she said. Most importantly, the work was substantive. “I got real responsibility and real experience directly from that.” 

Jake rotated through the financial side of the organization, tackling a new discipline each week, from general finance to accounting to pricing. His capstone work included building a historical database of labor rates and a model to estimate funding end dates. His hope reflects the mindset we value most. “I’ve learned a lot of unique formulas that I can implement into real estate modeling.” 

Developing New Skills 

The interns highlighted a mix of technical skills and professional growth. 

Chloe discovered an unexpected talent: teaching. Presenting on a challenging topic stretched her abilities, and the experience proved transformative. “I was able to tackle so many different projects during that time that it gave me a wide variety of skills.” She added, “It felt like I was able to build a really solid foundation for whatever I want to apply to in the future.” 

Ellie emphasized precision and communication. “Above all, especially in marketing, attention to detail is really, really important.” That skill later proved essential in a high-visibility role where, as she put it, “Everything YRCI taught me, I put into use every single day.” 

Jake sharpened both hard and soft skills. “I’ve definitely improved a lot on my Excel skills,” he said, adding that he “got to see each step of the process” in government contracting. He also grew more comfortable collaborating. “I’ve gotten a lot better at communicating, scheduling meetings, and asking questions.” 

YRCI Mentorship 

One theme stood out across every conversation. Interns felt valued, supported, and genuinely part of the team. 

“I really felt supported. I always felt respected and valued,” Ellie said. “I was never just an intern.” She credited the culture as a defining influence. “The company culture that YRCI has created is really like no other.” 

Chloe echoed that sentiment. “I really felt like I was part of the team and that any ideas I had were actually listened to and valued.” Being trusted with a major project, she said, gave her confidence she carries forward. “I was trusted with such a huge project, and I felt like I actually had that trust in me.” 

Jake found mentors who made growth approachable. “They didn’t make me scared to reach out, ask questions, and schedule meetings, which I thought was really cool.” 

Beyond the internship 

The interns agree the experience gave them a foundation and the confidence to move forward. 

“I think working at YRCI really gave me confidence,” Chloe reflected. That confidence now shapes how she approaches new challenges. “I’ll apply for things even if I haven’t done them before, because I know I’ll figure it out.” 

Ellie described a clear transition point. “I really bridged the gap between being a student and becoming a professional.” She realized how much she’d grown. “I was looking to gain experience, but looking back, I realized I gained a whole lot more than just experience.” 

For Jake, the internship opened an unexpected door. “It’s definitely made me more interested in a federal career too,” he said. “The information I’ve gained about the industry is incredibly valuable, and I am very much considering staying on this track.” 

Advice for future YRCI interns 

Their guidance is refreshingly consistent and worth remembering. 

Chloe encourages boldness. “Don’t be afraid to put your ideas out there, because they will be heard, valued, and actually put into action.” 

Ellie encourages others to take chances.  “My biggest piece of advice is to step out of your comfort zone, because that’s usually where you learn some of the most important things you’ll carry throughout your career.” 

Jake keeps it simple and open. “Be open-minded about where you’re going,” reminding future interns that “everybody here is really focused on you getting something out of this internship.” 

Ready to launch your career? 

At YRCI, interns get real work, guidance from dedicated mentors, and the support to grow into confident professionals. As Chloe put it, “What I learned is going to stick with me forever.” 

If you’re a student or recent graduate looking for meaningful experience, mentorship, and a genuine head start on your career, we invite you to explore internship opportunities at YRCI. Your next chapter could begin here.