APCO Insight Internship Program
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Job Description
About Company
APCO Worldwide is a global advisory and advocacy firm, established in 1984. It began with one woman’s vision and has since grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm with over 1,200 employees and operations spanning 80 markets around the world. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO’s team comprises strategic advisers, consultants, and creators who collaborate across borders and functions.
APCO’s core mission is to help leading corporations, foundations, and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact. They partner with the world’s leading companies, associations, nonprofits, and public-sector organizations, including six of the top 10 companies on the Fortune 500.
The firm provides expertise and services on a wide range of issues, including financial, competitive, political, and societal challenges. Their service offerings include public affairs, crisis & reputation management, impact strategies, corporate reputation building, and global solutions. APCO is particularly active across key sectors such as health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure, and food & consumer products.
APCO is recognized for its ability to champion clients’ interests, build their reputation, and strengthen their standing. It has been named “Public Affairs Agency of the Decade” by The Holmes Report and one of the “Top Places to Work in PR” by PRNews. The company emphasizes a collegial work environment and is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, believing in bringing diverse people and ideas together to build “un/common ground” for progress. They are an Equal Opportunity Employer, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.
Job Description
The APCO Insight Internship Program is an exciting opportunity for college seniors or recent graduates seeking to kickstart their career in opinion research within a dynamic, global team. This internship is located in APCO’s Washington, DC office, operating in a hybrid and flexible work environment, with a company laptop provided for both home and office work.
As an APCO Insight Intern, you will gain deep exposure to the world of understanding target audiences, ranging from policy elites and opinion leaders to industry experts and everyday consumers. The role involves working on a wide array of research agendas, including reputation management, corporate communications strategy, public affairs, issues management, message testing, and thought leadership research. APCO is committed to nurturing growth through a stimulating environment that offers engaging experiences such as lunch & learns, research trainings, and hands-on industry exposure.
Responsibilities include:
• Editing reports and other written communication.
• Conducting basic quantitative and qualitative primary opinion research data analysis.
• Participating in the development of client proposals and deliverables.
• Engaging in qualitative and quantitative research projects, such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and online surveys.
• Conducting desk research to identify market trends, competitive landscapes, and consumer insights.
• Testing survey programming.
• Editing and coding datasets (for both qualitative and quantitative primary research).
• Assisting in the development of research survey questionnaires and interview guides.
• Participating in internal training sessions and workshops to enhance market and opinion research skills.
• Supporting the team with administrative tasks, including scheduling meetings, managing project timelines, and updating databases.
• Performing other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
• Must be a recent college graduate or a senior in class standing.
• A degree in fields such as marketing research, business administration, psychology, sociology, statistics, data analytics, communication, public policy and administration, or other related fields.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills, capable of interpreting complex data and drawing meaningful conclusions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, coupled with basic experience in handling and processing data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Microsoft SharePoint Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Working knowledge of Excel formulas and data processing.
• Previous experience in research and familiarity with crosstabs are a plus.
• Basic working knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics (experience with statistical software like SPSS, STATA, or R is preferred but not required).
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information responsibly.
• Availability to work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
• Requires US Work Authorization; candidates with OPT/Post-OPT status cannot be considered.
Compensation for this paid internship is a fixed hourly rate of $17.50. The application closing date is Friday, July 25th. While an immediate start is preferred, the internship program concludes on Friday, December 12th, 2025.
