The in (it's the best way)

Congressional offices, and private lobbying firms involved in public policy rarely travel around the country for on-campus recruiting and often don't even post jobs in the traditional places. Timing is one important reason: when a Senate committee or a federal agency needs a new staff member, the time is now. Consulting firms hire in waves and often the government can't wait.

Based on my experience as a Congressional intern and my current search for employment in the public sector in Washington, D.C., I'll be including many tips about the public finance job market. I'll start with just one basic tip: network.

I'm sure you've heard it over and over again from your career center, but for this type of position I have to stress it. For starters, many Congressional offices and government agencies completely lack a human resources department. Instead, another employee takes on the additional task of hiring interns or seeking applications for a full-time position. Whoever that person is has other work and definitely wants to efficiently run the search for people. Your goal: make this person's job easy.

Seek out a connection to DC, whether its through your parents, family friends, neighbors, or professors. Network yourself to an interesting position and when you apply, the busy employee coordinating the intern or job search already has an idea about you based on your connection. You don't need to have a CEO dad or mom who went to law school with the Chief of Staff for your Senator. Those connections certainly won't hurt, but a good conversation with a professor and persistent follow-up will get you the same results.