FAQ on Finding a Job on the Hill

From GrassrootsPedia

== How do I find a job on the Hill? ==

What if I'm not in DC? How can I still look for a job there?
Truth be told, it is a lot easier to find a job in a location where you are currently living - it provides good opportunities to invite people to "coffee" to have informational advice sessions, be seen at happy hours, and have ample chances to provide your elevator pitch to folks asking what you're in DC for. But, that being said, its not necessary to be in DC when you're looking to work here - it will just take smarter organizing and better targeting.
The first step is letting it be freely known that you're job hunting in DC. Don't think that your potential connectors are too busy to help you - but know that you should use these connectors wisely. Try to talk to them a couple times - once to help give general advice (have questions prepared) and then again when you have a specific use for them ("hey, I heard that the Finance Committee is hiring, do you know anyone there you can connect me with?")
Additionally, don't think that the intern/work experience you can have in your District/State aren't worthwhile. If your Congressman's office will take you on as a part-time volunteer, the work they are doing, and the connections they have to DC, are extremely valuable. Offices will exchange staff between district and DC offices often.

When is the best time to look for internships?
Offices staff up following a school's semester schedule - internships are usually for about 3 months, for the summer, fall, winter and spring. The biggest intern season is doubtless in the summer, and there will be more competition to secure these positions. Apply early, regardless, and go ahead and call the front desk of your representative's office to ask them about their application process.

What about other internships? Can they help get me a Hill job?
Other internships are key for building up specific skills in a policy area or specialization you're interested in (say, press or new media). For specific skill sets like press, sys admin and new media, these internships will certainly give your resume more bulk. That being said, Hill offices are looking for people with Hill experience unless you have a direct connection to an office or staffer with sway, so you should still seek out an internship experience, however brief it is.

I don't have any money- how can I afford to be an intern?
First of all, there are some creative ways to get scholarships for an internship on the Hill - try your state society or Rotary Club, or check in with your school's alumni office to see if they have ideas. Secondly, not all Hill internships are completely unpaid - there are some offices that offer a stipend of $1000/month or so, which can cover your rent. Finally, if you're interning at a District office you're not expected to intern full-time in many offices, so ask when you're applying what expectations are.

What are the best types of writing samples? When you're applying for a Hill job, you want to take the time to match your writing sample to the type of job that you're applying for. Legislative Correspondents (LCs) spend their time writing short (less than 2 page) letters to constituents to offer responses to questions on various legislative stances, whether that be why did x co-sponsor/not co-sponsor x bill, or why did x vote that way? This work demands concise, informative writing in the member's voice. Writing samples for this work should be in the form of short reflections on policy stances, not 10 page academic papers on unrelated issues. It's a good idea to write to your member of Congress (perhaps not the one you're applying to work for) and get a sample of their staff's work in return, to get a feel for their voice and style. Legislative Aid positions require more advanced and nuanced writing, in which case academic work will be just the ticket.

I know I need to target my applications. How do I do this when the job posting doesn't list an office? (ex Midwestern Democrat seeks...)
Many Hill jobs are posted with vague or missing information, including the member's name. This helps offices avoid walk-in interview requests and calls, but it takes away from your chances to connect specifically on commonalities with that office. In these cases you need to call attention to your skills, not your geographical or college background, and focus on how your skills translate into making you a fantastic press assistant/staff assistant/whatever.

What's the best way to follow up?
Thank you's are critical, for both your informational advice sessions with your connectors and the offices where you are given a call back or an interview. Email is the best way to follow up with offices, and if you don't have a staffer's email you can often call and request it from their front office or follow the typical House/Senate email format if you know the correct spelling of the name of the person who interviewed you. Follow up should be done within a day of your conversation, and address what you talked about and include a copy of your resume again. Make it as easy as possible for your interviewer or your connector to remember you, your assets, and forward you on to the next step. Remember that mail is screened for anthrax and takes months to go through that process, so you don't want to follow up with an office with a thank you card unless you can drop it off at the front desk of that office!