I just finished up my fifth informational interview coffee chat of the week with someone from my home state trying to get a job on the hill and I figured sharing my background could be useful.
A bit about my background, I’m currently a Sr. Policy Advisor in the House where i’ve been for about two years now.
During my time in college (go devils!), I had the opportunity to intern as a research staff for a state member’s office where I basically did everything from getting coffee to summarizing hearings. After I graduated, I got a full time job as a full time partisan research staffer where I slowly grinded my way up.
After about four years, I felt that I pretty much hit a ceiling where there was unlikely to be any further advancement. I had a pretty good relationship with my boss and told her I was interested in getting a job in DC and she made a deal with me where if I gave her a few more years before she retired, she’d personally lobby for me. She also advised that I go to part-time law school. Personally, I feel she did this to lock me down, but the state did reimburse me for part of the tuition so it didn’t seem completely unreasonable and I do think it ultimately worked out for me.
I made sure to (gently) remind my boss about my interest to move to DC a couple times over the next few years and towards the end of my time in law school, she told me that one of the House members in AZ had a Sr. Policy Advisor opening. She told me it’d be a bit of a long shot to get in that senior but she lived up to her word and personally called the member. From there I got an interview with the Chief and LD and got the job shortly thereafter.
In a nutshell for other ppl who may come from a similar background as me, I guess my high level advice is that:
Having a senior stakeholder being willing to make a direct call is probably the single most important thing you can have. I don’t think anything else I did would’ve mattered much if my boss didn’t personally call someone to get me the job.
A lot of the work I did in the state legislature translates very well to what LAs do in DC (i.e. briefing books, dealing with costituents, hearing prep, negotiating with other offices).
Having a JD helps a lot - may not be obvious in my writeup, but my Chief/LD seemed to really value that during my interview.
Understanding the key issues impacting your state (AZ groundwater in my case) are really really helpful even if your DC issue portfolio doesn’t directly touch on those issues. Basically, being able to issue spot how decisions in DC filter down to the state level and how they’re likely to be viewed is highly valued, at least my member really cares about that.
Hope this helps, but happy to answer any questions anyone may have.
That’s not very nice. Jobs in Congress are niche to say the least and a lot of folks just find their way here at a different pace. Biggest problem with coming later is mostly the low salaries, but I’m guessing one of the few places that would pay less would be a state legislature.
Tbf, I totally get what you’re getting it. For me, one of the most frustrating aspects about working here is dealing with chiefs in their late 20s/early 30s. They tend to be insufferable and high on their own supply
I don’t think I could’ve made it here earlier in my career given where I came from, but I do think about how much further I’d be if I did.
It is surprising to me how little people here understand that. Some ppl really focus on seemingly inconsequential things that they think will be the magic bullet that gets them ahead.
Jesus. $30k? Even 10 years ago, how was that a living wage? I made about $55k in my first job and I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water.
@motej where do you think you go from here? Do you think you’re gonna go into lobbying (and if so, state or federal focus)? Just trying to get a sense on what comes next (i.e. state leg staffer –> hill staff –> ??? –> profit?)
Yeah, I think I’m somewhat at a crossroad at this point. Main considerations at this point are (1) going to the Senate or a House Committee; (2) go downtown; or (3) move back to AZ.
Pros and cons from each of these that I’m thinking of include:
Senate/House Committee
Pro: Would be nice to get that on my resume. I feel like I haven’t gotten the full Hill experience yet if I don’t at least try it out for a bit.
Con: I think this might just be me delaying my life further unnecessarily. I ain’t getting any younger and I think the gf is kinda sick quasi-floating my lifetstyle at this point.
Downtown
Pro: $$$
Con: I guess this means i’m gonna stay in DC for the foreseeable future and even with the pay bump, I’m not sure if I’m ever going to afford a house if I don’t want to move to the middle of nowhere.
AZ
Pro: I will be able to afford a house, a lot of family out there, it just feels like home to me.
Con: I don’t think I have any skills that translate quickly to a job out there? There are some govt affairs jobs, but far slimmer pickings than here in DC obviously. I could do state lobbying, but then it’d make my federal experience feel like it’s been a waste of time - not a complete waste, but I think folks get the idea. And biggest problem is probably that while the gf is willign to move with me, she’s not super gungho about it because she’ll find it tough to get a job out there given her background.