It’s easy to see why working on the Hill is appealing.
You’re in the heart of what’s going on in the country, watching lawmakers at work creating the future of your nation. It’s rewarding and fascinating work to be involved in. On top of that, you’re usually surrounded by the best and brightest of your peers which may make getting your foot in the door difficult. Here are a few ways you can increase your chances of getting hired to work on the Hill.
Start out as an intern.
It may not be the most lucrative path to start, but taking an internship position is still a solid way of getting hired in a long-term position on the Hill. Hiring managers are known to turn to current interns first when an opening becomes available as they prefer applicants with this up-close personal knowledge. They also know what they are getting when hiring an intern and can speak with previous supervisors to know if you would be a good fit. Even some of the most entry-level positions are filled with interns rather than cold applicants.
Look elsewhere other than job postings.
Many House offices don’t search for candidates through advertised job postings. Instead, they may look for a good prospect through contacting trusted colleagues which include staffers and others connected to the state or district of interest. So, if you’d like to increase your chances of getting a job on the Hill, focusing on your network and making new connections is likely a better use of your time. Often times, they’ll be considering an internal candidate or someone who comes recommended to them.
Know your state or district.
A staffer looking for a candidate for the Hill may still entertain someone from their specific state or district first. Think about someone who answers the office phone or interacts with constituents. In roles like this, the hiring manager wants someone who can relate to who they’re talking to. So, to increase getting a job on the Hill, know a lot about your state and district and pursue jobs where you well represent the population.
The good thing about trying to get a job on the Hill is that staffers are there to represent you as a citizen and because of that, you may have a good chance of just reaching out to those in your district for a quick informational interview. You could ask them questions about how they got started working on the Hill. You could also ask what they would recommend to someone who wants to work on the Hill and if they have any staffers they would suggest you get in contact with about open positions. Try these different approaches to land a job on the Hill and see which gives you the best traction.
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