yuck

It's risky. Schedule C - the lowest level political positions - are also often not that prestigious when moving back to private sector - and there's a huge rush at end of any second term to move into jobs when the value of X admin is not as high. It can be incredibly fulfilling to work in an admin so it may be worth the risk, but it is a big risk.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He does not want to stay in big law so not an option. Because of our situation, a political job is easier to get and offers a convenience excuse when leaving the firm. He would prefer a career job but it seems basically impossible to come by. I guess the real question I'm asking is: how hard is it for two people to find private sector jobs at the end of a presidential term when a couple thousand politicals are coming on the market?

What year is he in biglaw? His options, and urgency to exit biglaw, will depend upon what year he is. Also, is he corporate/transactional or in a litigation group?

Even if you are a politico appointee in this admin, it does not follow that you will get to keep the slot in the next admin, even if the Dems win again.

That said, if you are talking about an appointment to lower level position, getting in now will allow you to be better positions for a higher level position in a later admin.

In short, a political appointment is always a short term gig.

The people I have met who were able to capitalize on their political appointment, were people who were already doing well in the private sector. I know of a number of people who were in the second Bush admin who, so far, have not seen their careers greatly improve because of their service. If anything, it was as if they pulled themselves off track for 2-4 years. If the Repubs take back the White House, however, I imagine some will be able to go back in at a level higher than when they left.

Had a friend who was high up political appointee for Bush; took about a year for him to get a good (i.e. sufficiently well paying, senior) position afterwards.

It's hard. My DH did it in an earlier democrat administration along with many friends and former colleagues. Also, and I say this as someone who voted for Obama twice, I feel that there is a feeling out there that his appointees have been less than stellar, and that his whole core group will pretty but close up shop and fade away after his term is up. Doesn't help that HRC will be bashing him through the upcoming race. So I think you'd be joining what will soon be a lame duck period, and trying to compete for jobs with others fleeing simultaneously, all while potential employers aren't that impressed and don't seem to find Obama's people to be particularly relevant. It might help if you want to have appointments on your resume for jobs outside of the dc political loop, though.

OP here. He does not want to stay in big law so not an option. Because of our situation, a political job is easier to get and offers a convenience excuse when leaving the firm. He would prefer a career job but it seems basically impossible to come by. I guess the real question I'm asking is: how hard is it for two people to find private sector jobs at the end of a presidential term when a couple thousand politicals are coming on the market?

Anonymous wrote:If you have to ask, you aren't in the pipeline.

+1000.

If you have to ask, you aren't in the pipeline.

if one wanted to consider being a political Schedule C at this point in the administration, how does one do it? My impression is that the first wave and even second wave of political appointees are departing. How does one network to get on lists for positions that may become open?

Wait. WE are talking apples and oranges. OP are you civil Schedule C or political Schedule C? Do you have any chance at becoming SES? Is your husband coming in as political or career and at what level? 10:31 is correct only if you are political, in which case the average stay at an agency is 18 months, but of course you can stay during the duration of the president's 4 year term but will usually be fired on inauguration day (or at least I was). If your husband has a Biglaw position, I would encourage him to keep it and stockpile cash in case he gets fired. He should get sufficient notice to then move into government if he wants and has a talent that is needed. I was SES-4 and my husband political Schedule C so we were both fired on inauguration day but knew it was coming so had set aside cash. I moved into the private sector and he started his own business. But the economy is not as strong now. I would advise anyone in biglaw to hang on as long as possible because those jobs are becoming increasingly rare and usually have great pay and benefits. Make sure your husband has taken advantage of all the disability insurance, medical, life and anything else he can get while in the private sector.

Staying longer than 2 yrs in any agency, at any point in an administration, is usually over-staying your welcome. Good luck.

Being in biglaw is pretty risky too. What are his other options?

I am pretty conservative, and have never looked for a job as a sched C, but it seems pretty iffy to me for you both to be politicals. OTOH if he really hates his job, that's a relatively good way to transition to something else.

I am a Schedule C. DH offered like position to come in from Biglaw. Both of us in prestigious agencies (treas, DOJ, WHO). Should we be worried? The money will be tighter and we cannot chance several months unemployment during a transition. He never wants to go back to Biglaw again.