How to Get a Job on Capitol Hill

If you've ever lived in the Washington, D.C., metro area, you know just how coveted those Capitol Hill jobs are. A job on Capitol Hill can be the golden ticket to a rewarding government, public policy or legal career. Here are several places you can find these jobs and a few tips on how to successfully apply for Capitol Hill positions.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• A computer with Internet connection
• A professional resume

1. Create a professional resume. If you are a student or new graduate, you will want a functional resume that lists your skills and education first, followed by your experience. Applying for a position on Capitol Hill is so competitive that this may be one of the few times it would be advisable to sink money into having your resume professionally written by a resume company.

2. Read the Roll Call newspaper. This is one of the most respected and widely read newspapers on Capitol Hill. Reading this paper will give you a well-rounded sense of what happens on Capitol Hill. Also, Roll Call provides a listing of available jobs on Capitol Hill through its classified ads available online. Simply click on "RC jobs" at the top and follow the prompts to find available Capitol Hill positions (see Resources below).

3. Read The Hill newspaper. This is another respected Capitol Hill newspaper. The paper lists job postings on the Hill under its "Employment Classifieds" at the top of the homepage (see Resources below). Reading The Hill will also give you important information about the goings-on on Capitol Hill. You will find that current knowledge of Hill events is critical when it comes to the interview.

4. Search the government job website, USA Jobs, for current openings with government organizations on the Hill such as the U.S. Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (see Resources below). Follow instructions for application exactly and utilize keywords from the job description in your resume for the best shot at being considered for these government positions.

5. Search the Washington, D.C., section of Craigslist. Believe it or not, many Capitol Hill jobs and internships are listed on this common website. You may be surprised to find everything from the nonpaying internship to the six-figure job listed on the Craigslist job postings (see Resources below).

6. Go to your state representatives' websites and search for jobs there. Often, Capitol Hill jobs with representatives are listed on individual sites.

7. Don't be afraid to start at the bottom. Many of the top players on Capitol Hill started off as interns, or even as bartenders at well-known Capitol Hill restaurants. Quite often, getting a job on Capitol Hill is all about the people you know and less about your experience. What better way to get to know a Congressman than to be the person bringing him his coffee, typing memos or even serving up that glass of wine or scotch on the rocks during the local happy hour?

Tips & Warnings

• Network, network, network. Get to know people who work on Capitol Hill.

• Attend local wine tastings through Taste DC (see Resources below). This is a very popular networking tool in the Capitol Hill circles.

Resources

• Roll Call newspaper
• The Hill newspaper
• USA Jobs
• Government jobs at Craigslist
• Taste DC