getting a staff assistant entry level job on the hill

[Anonymous]

No prior hill experience, grad degree couple years work experience, looking to get something on the hill in a democrat's office at an entry level position.

Besides the senate bulletin, where else should I look?

[Anonymous]

How old are you?

[Anonymous]

Good question about the age. At age 31 on the Hill, I felt like a Granny. Most staff assistants are right out of college.

[Anonymous]

You should start with your own local representative. And State Senator. Check with your college for links between your college and certain reps. Check the Hill papers. Is this Hill Rag still being published? Find the online papers. I suspect there is an office that helps young Dems find positions with other Dems in the House of Rep. There used to be for Republicans - I went there to find my first internship.

[Anonymous]

Is it mostly for white people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are you?

27. turn 28 next month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good question about the age. At age 31 on the Hill, I felt like a Granny. Most staff assistants are right out of college.

Yes, I'm the one who asked the age question. I took a semester off of college to intern for a Senator, then returned as a staff assistant after I graduated. I worked my way up in the office, and then became a lobbyist after he retired. If you want to start on the Hill at an older age, then you probably have to be an expert on an issue or bring some serious press skills. Do either of those apply to you, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good question about the age. At age 31 on the Hill, I felt like a Granny. Most staff assistants are right out of college.

Yes, I'm the one who asked the age question. I took a semester off of college to intern for a Senator, then returned as a staff assistant after I graduated. I worked my way up in the office, and then became a lobbyist after he retired. If you want to start on the Hill at an older age, then you probably have to be an expert on an issue or bring some serious press skills. Do either of those apply to you, OP?

Meant to add that I, like many others, went to law school at night while I was working on the Hill, so that's how I got my advanced degree.

Working on the campaign at a high level might also get you in...but the timing is obviously not good for that now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good question about the age. At age 31 on the Hill, I felt like a Granny. Most staff assistants are right out of college.

Yes, I'm the one who asked the age question. I took a semester off of college to intern for a Senator, then returned as a staff assistant after I graduated. I worked my way up in the office, and then became a lobbyist after he retired. If you want to start on the Hill at an older age, then you probably have to be an expert on an issue or bring some serious press skills. Do either of those apply to you, OP?

OP here. nope. Yeah i figured Staff Assistants are probably 21-23. Just interested in doing it for a couple of years and see where it takes me.

I know I can't be picky but I would particularly like to work in a D's office that focuses on Financial issues (ideally a staff assistant in liz warren's office for instance).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all of the replies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should start with your own local representative. And State Senator. Check with your college for links between your college and certain reps. Check the Hill papers. Is this Hill Rag still being published? Find the online papers. I suspect there is an office that helps young Dems find positions with other Dems in the House of Rep. There used to be for Republicans - I went there to find my first internship.

This is good advice. Focus on members with which you have geographical ties. This is particularly important for the entry level positions.

[Anonymous]

What about working for a committee instead of a member?

[Anonymous]

Try Hill Zoo. You also may want to try for an LA or LC position, since you have a little more experience.

[Anonymous]

These positions really are reserved for the kids of major donors. They're also totally unskilled jobs - opening mail and shoving letters under the automatic signing machine.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, no one is going to hire you as a staff assistant on the Hill at your age. And you aren't going to get any other position up there without connections or some type of experience. If you can swing it, try to find an office that will take you in as an intern. You get Hill experience, you get to know people, and you'll have a much easier time landing something with these two things under your belt.

Other than that, try to work every connection you possibly can. Get into office to meet with folks for "informational interviews." Get advice from them. You never know when it leads you to someone that has an opening. Also, most of the freshman offices aren't even close to full staffed right now, so if you can work any connections with any new offices, that may be a good way to go. Lobbyist friends can sometimes help with connections on the Hill too, so hit them up.