I Don't Think I'll Ever Make it in DC, Thinking of Giving Up

[Anonymous]

You should actually teach. spend a few years in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should actually teach. spend a few years in the classroom.

I already did that before grad school.

[Anonymous]

You need to figure out what you’re bringing to the table. A degree isn’t it. The data science is really promising, so you need to sell that. Make sure you talk about how it was fun to learn it and you are excited to learn about the next things, AI etc. An org will not be excited about you because you have have Tableau training or can use R, but they will be excited about you if they think you are someone who can learn new things and think of ways to use them.

[Anonymous]

It is tough but it also sounds like you only applied to very competitive internships. You always need to apply to a mix like applying for college.

DC is tough right now but it’s always been a competitive marketplace. Idk where your program is located but I would recommend looking at nonprofits and state government there and maybe contact your representatives office to see if they have any internships maybe focusing on education policy.

Contact career services and ask for advice. What are their contacts? Any alumni need interns? Can they coach you on interviewing?

Can you talk with a professor who might need an intern to help with a book or project? A professor who also might run a center who needs an intern?

National Education Association has internships still open

[Anonymous]

Don’t worry, Trump will make the economy great again. Consider the current turbulence as growing pains.

[Anonymous]

Switch to a different masters degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry, Trump will make the economy great again. Consider the current turbulence as growing pains.

I don't think even Trump believes this.

But, OP, A MPP degree isn't what it used to be. My wife has one and twenty years of experience in DC and had a very hard time finding a job recently.

[Anonymous]

My DS is graduating with his BA in public policy from a top school and there is nothing out there and what is, has thousands of applicants. I am really worried that it will be years before there are jobs back like this in DC. He did secure a Senate internship for six weeks so he’s lucky in that sense but he needs a FT job. You should’ve applied to the offices not the committees and your entire list is filled with the most competitive think tanks and nonprofits in DC. Have to go for lesser known orgs. There are still some policy internships advertised. Go to LinkedIn and search policy intern and apply to all of them. Good luck but know you are far from alone which is why it’s so competitive.

[Anonymous]

Did you kid have internships while in undergrad ? Use those connections and he should call the bosses and say he’s looking. Work hard in the internship in the Senate and hope the will turn into a FT job. Someone who works late or is available and doesn’t sign off at 4:30 PM and someone who does something even though “it is not my job” will seen in a better light. He should listen. I once had an intern who thought they were the boss and it really turned people off.

He should also look outside DC in state and federal. If you live in DC have him look at VA and MD or lesser known organizations. Back in the day I would have said look at Americorps, Peace Corps, but who knows if those will have funding issues. Have him keep applying and not assume will get a FT position out of his internship.

Your kid should contact career services and ask for assistance and attend any alumni events in DC to network. Honestly he needs to do a great job at his internship and apply for a FT job with the Senator and others afterwards. That internship could turn into something great depending on how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you kid have internships while in undergrad ? Use those connections and he should call the bosses and say he’s looking. Work hard in the internship in the Senate and hope the will turn into a FT job. Someone who works late or is available and doesn’t sign off at 4:30 PM and someone who does something even though “it is not my job” will seen in a better light. He should listen. I once had an intern who thought they were the boss and it really turned people off.

He should also look outside DC in state and federal. If you live in DC have him look at VA and MD or lesser known organizations. Back in the day I would have said look at Americorps, Peace Corps, but who knows if those will have funding issues. Have him keep applying and not assume will get a FT position out of his internship.

Your kid should contact career services and ask for assistance and attend any alumni events in DC to network. Honestly he needs to do a great job at his internship and apply for a FT job with the Senator and others afterwards. That internship could turn into something great depending on how it goes.

seems like you are replying to the post directly above yours which is mine... I am not the OP nor is my son. Just FYI. The Op does not have a Senate internship, they have no internship for the summer.

[Anonymous]

Education policy is going to be rough out there friend. There are a billion phds without jobs in that field right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you kid have internships while in undergrad ? Use those connections and he should call the bosses and say he’s looking. Work hard in the internship in the Senate and hope the will turn into a FT job. Someone who works late or is available and doesn’t sign off at 4:30 PM and someone who does something even though “it is not my job” will seen in a better light. He should listen. I once had an intern who thought they were the boss and it really turned people off.

He should also look outside DC in state and federal. If you live in DC have him look at VA and MD or lesser known organizations. Back in the day I would have said look at Americorps, Peace Corps, but who knows if those will have funding issues. Have him keep applying and not assume will get a FT position out of his internship.

Your kid should contact career services and ask for assistance and attend any alumni events in DC to network. Honestly he needs to do a great job at his internship and apply for a FT job with the Senator and others afterwards. That internship could turn into something great depending on how it goes.

seems like you are replying to the post directly above yours which is mine... I am not the OP nor is my son. Just FYI. The Op does not have a Senate internship, they have no internship for the summer.

but yes in response to your response to my post, yes my DS has already done a House congressional internship (district and the member is out of office now) and worked in two policy internships, one of which has lasted on a part time basis now for two years. He has great credentials and real life work experience as well as outstanding references. He has had several people try to help him by putting in a word where they know people etc, but has not turned into any interviews nor offers. He interviewed for one policy job at a law firm and they said they had over 500 applicants. Its insane out there right now. His goal going into the summer was to focus on a Capitol Hill internship and hope it turns into something or at least boosts his resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should actually teach. spend a few years in the classroom.

I already did that before grad school.

Then go back and plan to work up to administration.

A lot of “Ed policy” is disconnected from what kids and teachers actually need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should actually teach. spend a few years in the classroom.

I already did that before grad school.

How many years?

But seriously, the best Ed policy people in the country are unemployed right now. Not sure anyone is going to need someone just starting out.

[Anonymous]

I'm not confident that education policy is something you should be trying to hook your wagon to at the federal level. The current administration is hostile and dismissive of education policy at the national level (hello, diminished/dismissed Dept of Ed). You would be best served to focus on a state, IMO.