Advice from the field (work for Congress!)

This post is part one in a series on getting jobs in specific fields. Each post will feature writers currently employed in that field answering a set of questions related to the hiring process. Feel free to ask the writer questions by leaving a comment.

1) What is your current position and how did you come into it?

I am currently a legislative correspondent on Capitol Hill (in Washington D.C.) for a U.S. senator from the Pacific Northwest. I came to Capitol Hill by way of a district office internship with my local senator. After graduating from college, I interned under a constituent service representative for about six months. Inspired by my time there, I decided to move to D.C. to find a job on Capitol Hill. A former staffer in the district office where I interned worked on my current senator’s 2006 reelection campaign and connected me with contacts on Capitol Hill.

2) What are three tips and tricks specific to getting a job in your field?

First and foremost, you need to make connections. Congressional offices rarely hire individuals who don’t already know someone in the office. The best way to make worthwhile connections in a Congressional office is through an internship. You should apply for an internship in each of your home state’s senate and house offices (depending on your party affiliation), as constituents get priority. Available internship and staff positions can be found at www.senate.gov/employment.

If you live in Washington D.C. (or know someone that does), you can also put your resume into circulation through the U.S. House of Representatives Resume Drop-off (Longworth House Office Building, Basement 227).

Along with internships, informational interviews are also helpful to making connections. An informational interview is simply an interview where a job seeker asks for advice as opposed to a specific position. While an informational interview may not ensure that you will be hired in that particular office, it is a good way to get your resume into a staffer’s hands, ask questions, and hear about possible openings on Capitol Hill. Constituents, interns, and recent college graduates come through local and capitol offices frequently and can generally meet with high-level staff for a few minutes. Simply call the member’s front desk to request an informational interview.

If you want to work on Capitol Hill it really helps to be living in Washington D.C. There is high job turnover in the Senate and even higher turnover in the House as staffers are promoted or move into different roles in the government. Offices are looking to fill positions quickly and there is an ever-growing pool of interns ready to start yesterday for any given position.

Finally, it’s important to be aware of a member’s committee assignments and priorities if you want to work on particular policy issues. Congress.org’s Congressional Directory is a great place to find contact information and committee assignments.

3) What is the most common mistake made by applicants in your field?

If you are applying for your first job out of college, do not expect interviews for legislative aide positions right away. Some people are able to jump into policy positions right out of college or off of a campaign, but most people pay their dues by starting out with a lower level congressional position.

4) Is there any other advice you would offer to someone looking to get a job in your field?

Work on a campaign! Understanding the political process (as well as the priorities of a state or district) starts with understanding how a representative gets elected.

Anonymous Staffer is a legislative correspondent in Washington D.C.