Can we grab a coffee? It’s the question everyone on Capitol Hill knows isn’t about coffee but rather about building a connection, seeking to learn something new, or taking the next step to advance your career.
I’ve used these discussions to guide my career and help others seeking to advance their own. Leaving public service to start a new job at a for-profit or non-profit can be gratifying, but leading to that moment creates a multitude of questions for many people. Making “the jump” off Capitol Hill is one of the biggest steps in your professional life, and there are actions I’ve learned from my coffees you can take to optimize success.
Unwrap Your Gifts
No one has or will be exactly like you in the future. You are unique, and you have a purpose. In making “the jump,” you have to know your purpose and how your gifts can be used both in the public and private sectors.
Are you a policy expert, a spokesperson, a networker, a campaign warrior, a coalition builder, or a team leader?
Don’t let your current job title dictate what you are. You need to know what makes you special and capable of selling yourself to future employers.
Timing the Jump
If your member lost their reelection or announced their retirement, start connecting with your peers ASAP. Don’t take time off or wait until your employment ends. Get ahead of the competition to maximize your chances of that next opportunity before someone else does.
Alternatively, if you’re lucky to have steady employment, make sure you’re leaving the Hill for the right reasons. If you haven’t accomplished everything you want to, stick around. Don’t leave with regrets because coming back isn’t easy after your lifestyle changes.
At the same time, you have to recognize your own needs and those of your family. How many vote-a-ramas have you been through? How many hearings and markups have you worked on? Are you still feeling fulfilled in the work you are doing? Have you missed time with friends and family because of late-night votes? Did your family grow and now needs daycare, or are you thinking of buying a house in one of the country’s most expensive housing markets?
Working on the Hill can take a toll on both you and your family, and it often isn’t a sustainable lifestyle.
How to Jump
Before you start exploring downtown, find mentors who have gone through the process themselves. Use them to share your thoughts and ask questions without judgment. Learn from their successes. It helps not only when looking for your next job but also when offers start coming in to help ensure you are making the right decision for your career.
Be specific with your job goal. Don’t say you will do anything. You won’t. Think about whether you want to work in-house, a trade association, a multi-client firm, an investment group, a strategic communications operation, a consulting firm, a campaign, or a thought leadership organization.
Be crystal clear about what you want and drive hard in that direction. It’s also just as important to communicate what you don’t want to do as you think about advancing your career. And recognize sometimes getting to no is easier than getting to yes.
Find people you want to work with and be open with them about your career goals. Sometimes the best jobs are the ones that are never posted publicly. Network with individuals who inspired you both on and off the Hill. Building relationships with trusted colleagues you admire and respect is the best situation for you in the long run because it makes it easy for them to recruit you or recommend you to others.
Know your worth. Yes, you don’t know salary ranges as well off the Hill. To combat this, ask around, especially your mentors, and learn what the current job market needs are so you can use that to your advantage in marketing yourself. Understanding your salary expectations is important to have at the ready. Pay flexibility is great, but don’t sell yourself short.
Be Transparent. Have conversations with your chief of staff, staff director, and your member of Congress about your career aspirations and your professional development needs. You would be surprised how helpful a member, chief of staff, or staff director might be in your search and interview process. It’s usually in their interest to have a network of individuals to support them in their political and policy goals long-term.
Don’t Flame Out
There is an old Scouting rule that you should leave your campground better than you found it. The same applies on the Hill.
Don’t leave on bad terms or put your office in a bad position. Be mindful of election cycles and big policy debates when timing your jump. Yes, dream jobs sometimes show up and turn into unexpected offers. You have to jump at that, but leaving when your boss needs you most isn’t a good look.
To avoid this, always communicate. This makes the transition easier for all parties involved. Work with your office on appropriate end dates and avoid dictating terms for your departure.
Prepare for Change
The Capitol Hill lifestyle is unique. Your life has revolved around the institution, your member or committee, and the public you serve. You will be trading that to make clients, membership, or executives happy. It’s new, rewarding work. Fully embrace unwrapping your gifts in a new and exciting way.
This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Tax, and Bloomberg Government, or its owners.
Author Information
Scott Riplinger is a senior partner at the CGCN Group, a top lobbying and strategic communications firm in Washington, DC.
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