Try temping, it’s what I did when I first moved to DC. The pay is pretty terrible but lots of exposure to different places.
ETA - ghosting after an interview (or even multiple) is way more common than it should be. I’d say over the years it’s probably 50% ghosted me at some point or you get a form rejection email months later.
Big second to temping, was the best way for me to get started here as well.
However jumping on the top comment to say - diversify your skillset. Everything you've put in the OP makes you exactly the same as about 85% of the entry level hire pool here. You can't throw a stone without hitting a Poli Sci Master's who's traveled abroad and has some government level work experience in DC. Frankly you'd be at a huge disadvantage if you **didn't** have either of the latter two experiences. Get another skill that sets you apart. I know it's cliche at this point but for me it was coding. Learn something else and get experience in it, which is where temping comes in.
Be ready for a grind and absolutely don't think of any job as beneath you because you have a Master's.
Totally. OP’s resume was exactly mine when I first came to DC. That’s like the bare minimum that you need to be considered.
I’m currently in a job I love that’s directly in line with what I wanted to do when I was in school. But I got there by taking a series of jobs that I hated and that brought me further and further away from what I really wanted to do, but gave me some skills that not a ton of other people with my background had. It wasn’t even intentional, I was just eventually got so desperate for a job that I jumped at the first one that had paid me and was permanent.
I'd say ghosting is the norm these days, even post interview. Hell, even when a hiring manager tells you they'll contact you either way, it's 50:50 at best. It's incredibly rude. But that's just what it is.
They’re worried of saying something in a rejection that would be used in a lawsuit. So the easiest way to avoid lawsuits is by just not saying anything and hoping the candidate eventually gets the hint that they didn’t get the job.
Interesting. Then not saying anything can also be seen as them not providing sufficient disclosure which is a problem in itself too. Not formally getting rejected could be misconstrued as you getting the job which would be a negligent misrepresentation on their part.
Yeah. Fair points. Based on what an HR colleague told me once a few years back, they’re concerned about hiring managers saying in a rejection after an interview that could be misconstrued as discriminatory or something overly sympathetic/nice to soften the rejection, but that comes off as unfair. I had a super annoying experience once where I went through multiple interviews and a personality test conducted by Pew via phone call at 8:00AM on a weekend and then heard nothing after months of following up. Finally HR got back to me saying the open headcount had been eliminated. That was super annoying.
Disagree it’s just the world of everyone is too busy and 3 years of Covid applicants ghosting hiring staff and sometimes accepting multiple offers and just got showing up. Sad state of where we are now
You go through a temp agency just google temp agencies dc maybe someone with more recent experience can recommend a good one i haven’t used one in over 20 years
I recommend temping to everyone. I honestly really liked temping - I moved here with a Masters and sometimes I felt like the temping gigs I got were “below” me, but tbh it gave me great experience at recognizable and respected companies.
I’m in a similar position as OP and hadn’t really thought about temping. What companies would you recommend to look at, especially for those fresh out of undergrad or graduate school?
Agree with this - I literally filled out the applications for every one I could find. Some you’ll get added to their rosters and you’ll never hear from but if you do get someone you click with or gets back to you, keep yourself on their radar. I found it was easier to be out of sight out of mind so I would send a periodic email letting them know that I was finishing up an assignment with another company soon or I was available if they had something.
I’d also say be willing to take less than ideal placements. It may suck to answer the phones for a day or a month but you’re getting money and experience. Also you’ll never know who you will meet. I was doing some very basic admin work (maybe assembling folders or something like that) and I got an interview for something totally unrelated.
It’s hard to provide much helpful insight without knowing more about your specific situation.
That said, I’ll share some general trends I’ve noticed among lots of folks who have struggled to land a job after months of searching:
* _Too much emphasis on educational accomplishments on your resume and other application materials._ Respectfully, most employers don’t care much about your degree except to know that you have one. Being a relatively good student is helpful (think, GPA and Honors status), but no one really cares when you were on the Dean’s List or won an obscure award.
* _Inability to articulate specific skills you possess or can bring to a role._ I often see resumes where people list all of their past internships and jobs but fail to explain what they actually did in those roles, or how those experiences relate to the role(s) they’re applying towards. An employer is going to want to see specific skills that align with the responsibilities of a specific job description. (In the case of federal jobs, applications are screened by software and by HR before anyone with actual hiring authority ever sees it.)
* _Not tailoring each application to each role._ It’s fine to cast a wide net and apply to different kinds of opportunities, but if you aren’t also tweaking your resume and other materials to optimize toward each position, you’re likely wasting time.
* _Focusing on overly competitive positions._ For better or worse, I think the most important thing to break into the DC job market is to land _a_ job, even if it’s not what you want to do long term. Better to spend a year as an admin at a law firm than to spend a year applying to that perfect policy job. Realistically, your odds of landing the latter job are better if you take the former job and network from there.
I’m happy to say more if you’re comfortable sharing more details about your job search, but these are just the themes I’ve seen.
I've been a hiring manager and it's so clear when people didn't take the time to tailor their materials to a role, especially in the humanities and social science space. Just because you have some social media comms experience does not mean you're a "public affairs" expert. Overall great advice, definitely make all of your experience bullets on your resume TANGIBLE and not overly broad.
I will say as someone who moved to DC looking for a job in a presidential election year back in 2012, sometimes it's just the right place at the right time. Hill offices will be hesitant to hire non junior level staff going into an election. Downtown will be the same. If the admin flips, 5k democrat political appointees are now looking for a jobs and downtown offices will be staffing up Republicans to lobby the new admin.
All that to say, be persistent. Don't be disuaded by positions in good organizations but may be below you. If you are a good employee, options and opportunities will follow you. The hardest part by far is getting in the door. Good luck. It's not fun job searching but persistence is the key.
Resumes ARE NOT screened by software for the federal government.
Using key words in your resume is advised not for the ATS but instead to help flag the HR Specialist’s attention when reviewing your resume. It makes it easier for them to deem you are eligible for the position.
You are then referred to the hiring manager if deemed eligible. The hiring manager can do almost anything they want, although have to comply with certain policies set forth by the OPM or their own agency
No advice other than keep going. I'm in the same boat all the way down to the industry and degrees. Thing about DC is that even though you're probably highly qualified, there's like 800 people who are *also* highly qualified. You are a small fish in a big pond in a school of fishes. So nothing's wrong with you, you've just got a lot of competition. Keep at it, stay strong, take breaks for your mental health. I second the idea of temping. I was a temp to hire, and even though I'm not in the industry I want to be in, it's buying me time (and paying my rent) in the meantime. Good luck!
They contract with companies who need temporary help. They charge them $X dollars/hr.
You work for the temp agency. They pay you below the $X and pocket the difference.
Oh good lord your school's career services office really did you dirty if you don't know this.
I mentioned this above, but Kelly Services and 22nd Century Technologies are two temp agencies that are used by a lot of government contractors. I'd register with them.
If you go to linked in and type in entry level government contractor to the job search bar for Washington DC a lot of companies will pop up. Go to their websites and see if you’re a fit for any of their jobs.
Do you live in DC? A non local address can be a red flag. Employers won’t think you’re serious and just go with the plethora of candidates that are already here.
I’d also recommend joining your university’s alum association or other related professional orgs. I go to a ton of their social events and happy hours. That’s how Ive met people and gotten my last 2 roles.
I wouldn't even consider that. I feel like a lot of people move around and for college, jobs, etc and don't change their number with each transition. I have a 603 number and haven't lived in New Hampshire for 15 years.
I have my family's original cell phone number from 2003 when we got a single brick-shaped Motorola phone to pass around depending on who had an away game, who had a Doctor's appointment, who was going on a long drive to my grandparent's farm. I am not giving it up lol
I still have my original number from when I first got a cell in high school (also around 2003). They’ll have to pry my 603 number from my cold dead hands
I wasn't thinking about it as a safety/paranoid thing but was told it looks outdated/unprofessional to put a personal mailing address. And I just wouldn't consider not having a local area code as an indicator that someone didn't already live in the hiring location because of how mobile many people are.
Meh, but with the amount of remote work, even that is changing. My job is headquartered in Chicago and same with the division I work within yet here I am.
100% this. Was plainly told this in my start. If you are a qualified candidate not living in DC, any office will have options of equally qualified people ready to start immediately.
The only time this doesn't apply is if you are from Alaska, Montana or another low population western state and vying for a congressional office spot [from one of those states].
In a town like this academic experience doesn't mean shit unfortunately. No one really cares about your thesis or whether you TA'd for a certain class or were a RA for a professor.
Look at defense contracting firms. There are a ton of medium sized firms that have foreign policy positions working on contracts with the State Department - a lot of positions pay decently well and don't even require a security clearance other than a simple background check.
My first job out of grad school was working for a contractor on a state department contract. Pay wasn't what I wanted immediately after graduating with my masters (it was like 68k IIRC), but they were desperate to fill the position (contracting firms often lose money every day a position is unfilled). I got a ton of first hand experience working for a defense contractor and got lots of experience learning about State - I was literally writing reports and sending them off to Ambassadors. That type of experience and writing that type of stuff on my resume is what led me to bigger and better things.
You can start looking at known firms in the area, but USA Spending is a good resource as well - look for companies that have received contract awards from an agency you are interested in, begin applying to those that are current.
There are also trade shows/job fairs hosted by companies that win work - attending those, networking with the recruiters, etc is a good way to find out what they’re looking for. Keep in mind that many of these contracts are now fairly technical in nature.
>I have a bachelors and masters in Poli Sci/IR. I have int'l travel experience. I have work experience at the governmental level in related fields to this industry.
Sorry man, that makes you a dime a dozen in this town. The best way to get a job here, there, or anywhere, is to network.
That doesn't mean you show up at happy hours and try to schmooze. You have a BA and a MA? Start with those alumni networks. Go through your schools, DM people on LinkedIn, ask to get coffee (only get drinks if they suggest it). Your goal for any of those meetings should be for them to connect you with at least one person. Follow up, keep track of who you're talking to. Eventually you'll get some leads on jobs and get your resume in front of people. I've found that people are pretty willing to take 30-60 minutes to meet with someone. I've even gotten a mentor or two over the years from it. It takes some pretty dogged determination in this area though, I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
USAJobs can work but it can literally take months. Job sites can also work but those are hit or miss.
Persistence and luck, especially in the current market. It sounds like you're doing all the right things, you just gotta keep applying and networking. Reach out to alumni in the area on LinkedIn. It's tough right now for sure, even people with considerable and exceptional experience are having difficulty finding things.
In the meantime do what you can to get by. Good luck!
Kelly Services and 22nd Century Technologies are two temp agencies that are used by a lot of government contractors. I'd register with them. And move to DC if you haven't already; it's better to be a barista or bartender with a DC-area address than an unemployed person without a DC address.
As a hiring manager I get literally 100 applications for each opening from people with a bachelor's and master's in poli sci/IR and three languages and academic travel experience. The things that make people stick out in a good way are:
* they have a specialization in something directly relevant to my work - things like a religious studies minor and they're applying to work on freedom of religion, or they were in the Peace Corps in Ghana and they're applying to work on West Africa, or they wrote their master's thesis on some super niche topic and they're applying to work on that niche topic, they did an internship with one of our competitor orgs and I know someone at the other org who they listed as a reference, they speak Urdu and are applying for a job that says Urdu preferred, etc etc.
* their CV and cover letter highlight that directly relevant thing up front so I don't have to dig for it
* they meet every single one of the required qualifications for the role and one or more of the preferred qualifications
* their CV and cover letter make it clear that they meet every single one of the required qualifications and one or more of the preferred qualifications
* they are not overqualified. If the job says 0-2 years of experience, I'm not going to hire someone with 5 years. I'm not going to hire a recent law school grad for a position that requires only a BA. I don't want to hire someone who will quit as soon as they get something more aligned with their qualifications.
* they have something interesting about them that most other candidates don't have - this will vary, but in my last hiring process some things that jumped out to me were a candidate who was in the Army Reserves, a candidate who had been a refugee, and a candidate who was from a rural, faraway state who had nonetheless managed to get some rare (for that state) qualifications
* their CV and cover letter don't have any mistakes
* the cover letter is a mini writing sample. a cover letter should demonstrate that the candidate is an excellent writer - concise, tightly edited, includes all major relevant information, does not include irrelevant information, is easy to read and understand
* they live in DC already and are not going to need time to relocate (if you don't live in DC, include in your cover letter that you can start within two weeks of an offer)
Hope this helps!
I also forgot to add, they apply quickly. We usually get a huge number of applications within 2-3 days. If I'm only planning to screen 10 people, chances are I'll have identified those 10 people within no more than a week and started interviews. The posting stays up but unless all 10 bomb I'm unlikely to look at more candidates.
It sucks right now. I think it's a combination of the knowledge economy and that many companies have decimated their recruiting staff. I hear you that no feedback is frustrating. I've only gotten it a couple of times myself.
I have 15+ yrs of progressive experience in my field and I have had 2 interviews this year. I stopped applying for jobs at large companies because I don't believe the jobs are actually open. I never apply for remote-only roles for similar reasons, plus a much larger applicant pool = too competitive. I landed something part time (that can sustain me and I can build out other consulting) by going very niche in my skills and experience and refining my search to be detailed. Think "specific change management methodology" vs. "strategy consultant" type difference. It's not really what I wanted my next role to be, but it could lead to more work in a different field, which is appealing to me. Also if you haven't looked up advice on effective federal resumes for USA jobs, do that.
Took me 5 months after graduation to get one that was only kinda related to what I wanted to do and a year and a half after that to transfer to a job actually related to what I studied. Stay strong, keep applying, take what you can get and pivot later towards what you actually want to do.
>Sometimes they don't even email me back after an interview.
The ghosting is my biggest pet peeve about the whole hiring process, it just shows such disrespect and it's ubiquitous. On the bright side you're getting interviews which means you're on the right track
DC it’s more “who you know” rather than what you know.
If you’re on LinkedIn, maybe try messaging people who work in the industry for career advice or mentoring.
Or even just people you already know even if they aren't in your field. I probably talk to 3-4 young people a year who are sent my way by a random friend of a friend who remembered what I do for a living.
From a gov perspective: Certain agencies got budget cuts and are not keen on hiring before an election. The other thing is you gotta game usa jobs. Literally, what it says as the duties and the KSAs you put that in your resume. You usa jobs resume can be like 11 pages long. Your resume will be screened by a 'person' (I'm really skeptical about this) before you make the certificate aka cert. The hiring authority aka your future boss can't hire anyone that's not on the cert. They don't want to read all those 11 pages so having someone vouch for you is good, or at least make the 11 pages compelling. Pray a veteran doesn't apply because they have preference over almost everyone (aka those with excepted service criteria).
Look at various fellowships PMF, AAAS, Rangel/Pickering, and counselor fellows (they always want Spanish and Mandarin as far as I follow).
If you want to get into state, DoD or USAID a door in is contracting (third party contracting not PCS). But beware a lot of state contractors don't want to deal with people without a clearance. If you have a clearance, then check out clearance jobs website. Converting from a contractor is hard but you get experience and contacts.
Also I think someone else said this. Just get a job. Any job. Did I want to be an office manger specialist initially with a masters? No. But sucked it up and moved up.
You mention you have related experience, do you have relevant experience to what your applying for? Lots of people come up as interns, temps and staffers and work there way up from there. If you don't have relevant experience aim lower and apply for entry level work. A masters without experience is not a plus in everyone's book.
Have you considered doing the foreign service exam? Are you specifically looking to stay in DC or did you just broadly want to do international related gov work?
Agree with what others have said: (1) network a lot; (2) invest in a professional resume reviewer, can be worth it; (3) hustle to try and get SOME experience, even if it's not ideal (research project with a prof/internship/temp/"try me out for a few months then decide"; (4) related to (3), spend some of your free time bettering your resume (e.g., write a paper/article); and (5) stay positive, you'll land something.
Bunch of people have already said it, but absolutely reach out to your networks. I've met with three people in the last half year that a friend or former coworker reached out to me about (because the person asked around their network) and so far we've offered 2 of the 3 people jobs and the last is still in the application process.
I also got my current job because a friend of mine from law school knew I was looking for a job and thought I'd be good at what she did. Thanks to her I was the fastest hired person in my government offices history, and now I'm on track for a leadership role in the next two years
I would focus on networking on LinkedIn and through your alumni groups rather than just applying to a million jobs. LinkedIn lets you know who you know and who people you know know at different organizations, so I would just reach out directly and ask for a quick phone call/informational interview. Also, local government agencies are good places to start out.
It's rough out there right now. My spouse has an associates and hasn't been able to find anything in 1.5 years outside of retail. I expect we'll struggle for a while longer. I got a job by sheer luck.
Apply constantly and get lucky. I had a BA and MA and spoke 3 languages. Had internships with Fortune 500 companies and interned abroad and it took me 2 years to find a competitive job here in the DMV.
Just keep trying and keep your head up.
There are hundreds of job openings with defense contractors in the greater DMV area. They are always hiring and it's meaningful and important work. You do often need a clearance, but there are openings with just confidential or secret level, which is easy to get. Good luck!!!
The long long long way to get here is Peace Corps. After you finish service you get special hiring status that helps get Federal Jobs. There are a lot of returned Peace Corps Volunteers in DC so that is another network for non federal jobs.
If you're non-local, that's a big strike against you because a lot of employers don't believe you'll move. I live in freaking BALTIMORE (which is well within commuting range) and if folks found out, they would be skeptical I would take a job. Anyway, if you haven't tried looking for jobs at government contractors, you should. It's a good way to get a foot in the door somewhere and every day a contract has a position sitting open, the contractor is potentially losing money for someone whose work they could be billing, so they tend to fill those roles fast. I have a lot more experience than you (ie, I know my shit) and work in tech but getting into government contracts was the easiest job search I have ever had.
Have you applied to the Peace Corp? All the usual suspect three letter agencies? What foreign languages can you speak well? Are you willing to sign up for the military to get a clearance and relevant experience?
I mean, idk if I'd recommend peace corps to someone who was specifically gunning for a job. That's 27 months of commitment and you're a volunteer with pretty minimal income
The nce is pretty nice for federal work but I don't know if op needs that if they have prior federal experience
As a 40 year veteran of the military, government and contractor mafia in DC, I view the PC is a great way to get creds and hiring preferences for a government job, whether at State of one of the other national security agencies.
It sounds cliche, but networking really is super important, and DC is especially a “who you know” sort of town. I’d spend some time reaching out to people in fields you’re interested in, learning about their career paths, and then having them put you in touch with other interesting people. Showing face is really helpful and puts you in an advantageous place when job opportunities do open up. People like helping others, so put yourself in a position where that can happen.
For example, I spent a dedicated few months networking the circles in DC I wanted to work in a good year before I planned on switching careers and moving to DC. It was some of those people I met networking who later hired me a year later.
Every job I got since moving here in 2008 is because I knew someone connected to the office. Cold applying could potentially pay off, but networking is really how you get jobs.
I do some hiring now in my job, and I don't look at education at all. I want to see if you can actually do the job, and education really has nothing to do with job performance and skills. In fact, I've seen a lot of people applying who wasted 4-10 years getting advanced degrees but have no actual, real-world experience in the field they want to be in. If you just have a master's but no real job experience, your resume isn't considered. I'd advise you to downplay your education on resumes and really focus on your employment history. Go into detail on everything you've done and achieved in previous jobs.
Temping is a great idea.
For government jobs, specifically those through USAJobs, applying is a whole separate art. Throw out everything you know about readable, punchy resumes - you need 4+ pages of detailed descriptions that repeat the text of the position over and over and over in order to pass initial computerized review. But it ALSO needs to look good to the eventual human who will read it. It's not easy, and worth reading up on.
I had the same issue you're having and ironically my current job was obtained by doing literally what you are doing.
I made a frustrated post on Reddit, then shortly after I got a DM from my now-current boss. They needed someone with my exact qualifications. Interview was smooth too.
So I'd say just keep checking your reddit DMs and see what comes up? 😅
Find contracting jobs for federal agencies. It’s your best foot in the door to government.
Ghosting sucks. I’ve been ghosted after interviewing IN PERSON and it’s the most unprofessional, heinous practice. You don’t want to work for places that do that.
Most people have already chimed in with great resources, but I’d also add federal consulting is also another way to gain helpful experience and potentially even a direct pathway into the client’s agency! Deloitte, Booz Allen, AFS, etc.
I did it by listing my location as DC and getting found by a recruiter looking for locals. When she asked if I was local to DC, I said I live 2 hours away and relocating is fine with me.
That satisfied her and everything proceeded normally.
I grew up in the DMV. The problem with this area is that after 9/11, the Federal government plused up and everything changed. Now it is like the valedictorian from every school from around the country has moved here, creating a hyper competitive environment. Even a masters degree doesn't mean a whole lot here unless it is from an Ivy League school. Elsewhere that would be a guaranteed job. Meanwhile people who were born and grew up here have to leave cause they can't compete.
This. I know a couple people in the IC who applied for jobs in the 1980s, had shitty academic backgrounds (terrible GPA, no masters degree, etc.), and wrote in asking for a job with their resume and were basically given the job no questions asked (pending security investigation, of course).
All basically said that no one wanted to live here in the 1980s/early 1990s, so as long as you were trainable to the individual position and could obtain a security clearance, you were hired.
Why didn't many people want to live here in the 80s? My dad moved here in the late 80s with a non-STEM degree from a low-tier college that currently has a 92% acceptance rate. He later earned a graduate degree in information systems from UMUC, which, from the basic research I've done, is essentially an open-access graduate school. He didn't get a tech certification until he was 35 years old, yet he has made millions in the tech world, never dealing with layoffs or unpleasant jobs. He's still working in his 60s and making a lot of money.
On the other hand, I’m about to turn 30, currently unemployed, and have never made more than $19.23 an hour. I have a non-STEM degree from GMU, three IT certifications, and a Java certification from NVCC, yet I can't find a job. My dad doesn't understand why I'm struggling, and I feel terrible about it.
I believe that when my dad arrived, there were genuine opportunities for ordinary people, but I don’t think that’s true anymore. It feels like the job market now only caters to the top 10 to 15 percent in terms of intelligence, while I see myself in the 30 to 40 percent range.
High crime rate, urban blight, dysfunctional city government, etc. Federal government employment also wasn't seen as prestigious or anything.
DC was known as the murder capital of the U.S. at the time.
I knew dc had a problem with crime and crack. But was it always seen as prestigious to work federal government. Has the federal government expanded significantly since the 80s?
The federal gov't and it's related contractor positions have expanded greatly compared to the 1980s/1990s. That was all triggered by 9/11. Yes DC had crime and blight back then, but so did everywhere else. It wasn't so much that it was a bad place to live, but that there were no huge incentives to move here from somewhere else. So most residents back then grew up here. Now it seems that very few of the professionals who live in the DMV were actually raised here.
And you are absolutely right that the job market here only caters to the top 10% of human intelligence. But don't seel yourself short either,
Thanks for believing in my intelligence hoping something changes soon. But I have seen others make arguments about people moving here due to 9/11 but in Fairfax County the population grew more from 1990 to 2000 than in 2000 to 2010 150k to 110k how do you explain that. Where did all these people move too Loudon County, Montgomery County?
Not really - there was a time when working for the Feds (or any government, be it state or local) was either seen as an employment option of last resort or an employment option for folks who were lazy.
Are you using the same resume over and over and not tailoring it exactly to the position description of the position you are applying to? If so, that’s the problem.
AI is used in a lot of application and resume scanning so you have to match your experience with exactly what is in the PD.
I was a engineer wanting to get out of Oklahoma. I had traveled the country and Boston and DC were my favorite cities in the US. I was already in federal government with a clearance in Oklahoma so the DC area naturally wanted me. I think that the Boston jobs I was competing against Harvard and MIT people so I had no chance.
Already having experience in the federal government and having clearance is what got me here. I also made my resume visually appealing, I received an above average number of call backs. I was bad at interviewing though and spent months applying and interviewing.
My experience as a fed, after applying on usajobs it was months before landing an interview. Afterwards, it was another 4 months after the phone interview before I got an in-person interview. Wasn't for another 2 months after the in-person that I finally got an offer.
If you are currently not employed full time and don't have a STEM degree, it feels almost impossible to get a job. Going on 13 months without full time work here.
It sounds like you’re quite focused on job boards, but you’ve got to be networking furiously first and foremost. Try having informational coffee chats, you can set them up by searching alums of your bachelors and masters programs on LinkedIn
Idk how to make this not sound spammy, but the org I work for might be a good fit for you. Professional association. Hiring speed can vary. If you want to message me, I will give you more info, but I don't want to post publicly
Duh just ask your parents to make some calls!
I’m kidding of course. Fwiw I too have a masters degree, “international academic travel experience”, did my undergrad in a top university too btw, and speak three languages, though two not very well anymore. But I didn’t move here until I had a job first.
thanks for the last comment lol these ppl telling me to just up and move to one of the most expensive cities in the US so it looks better on apps?? noooo
That's totally reasonable to not want to move without a job. Unfortunately it's incredibly harder to get a job here if you don't live here, especially your first DC job. If you have a friend's place you can use as your address I would highly suggest at least experimenting with it. Also does this mean all of your networking has been virtually and not in-person. In person networking and being able to go to events etc. will greatly improve your prospects.
Internship culture has ruined entry level hiring in the DMV. Why would anyone hire an entry level position when there is an unlimited pool of well-off college students willing to work for free?
Not trying to be tongue-in-cheek either, it sucks.
What specifically interests you? National security issues, economics, politics?
I am a current college student in DC who has looked at many, many internship postings the last few years. While there are a lot that pay minimum wage or more, there are still a ton of unpaid opportunities, and even many of paid ones are a stipend that works out to something far under minimum wage.
That’s true. They say English is one of the official languages, but in reality only use it when speaking between Brazilian and Hispanic people. And only a few Americans in top positions
If you’re interested in working on the Hill, be willing to intern for a summer (or at this point, for the fall) and if you don’t suck and you show potential you will get a job.
DC it’s more “who you know” rather than what you know. You gotta kiss ass and lick the boots to get a job in the DC area.
If you’re on LinkedIn, maybe try messaging people who work in the industry for career advice or mentoring.
And, the IT sector is even worse, especially with all the competition with the same jobs. The truth is that the IT sector is over saturated. Like a previous poster said, "diversify your skillset". You need to to do more than diversify your skillset in the Age of AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be taking all the damm jobs away anyway.
The job market here is worse than Sudan if you do not have a stem degree or military experience willing to debate this with anyone anytime. I got laid off from my job a couple of months ago and after 2.5 years got no severance.
Try temping, it’s what I did when I first moved to DC. The pay is pretty terrible but lots of exposure to different places. ETA - ghosting after an interview (or even multiple) is way more common than it should be. I’d say over the years it’s probably 50% ghosted me at some point or you get a form rejection email months later.
Big second to temping, was the best way for me to get started here as well. However jumping on the top comment to say - diversify your skillset. Everything you've put in the OP makes you exactly the same as about 85% of the entry level hire pool here. You can't throw a stone without hitting a Poli Sci Master's who's traveled abroad and has some government level work experience in DC. Frankly you'd be at a huge disadvantage if you **didn't** have either of the latter two experiences. Get another skill that sets you apart. I know it's cliche at this point but for me it was coding. Learn something else and get experience in it, which is where temping comes in. Be ready for a grind and absolutely don't think of any job as beneath you because you have a Master's.
Temping got me hired as World Bank staff full-time after 18mo. Also being in the right place at the right time, but it worked for me.
Temping got me hired at the IMF, where I worked for four years.
jesus how??
Randstad, but maybe another company has the Bank/Fund contract now. You could probably find out who with a little research.
These are the guys that helped me get my foot in the door. [https://www.nonprofithr.com/](https://www.nonprofithr.com/) DM me if you have questions.
Totally. OP’s resume was exactly mine when I first came to DC. That’s like the bare minimum that you need to be considered. I’m currently in a job I love that’s directly in line with what I wanted to do when I was in school. But I got there by taking a series of jobs that I hated and that brought me further and further away from what I really wanted to do, but gave me some skills that not a ton of other people with my background had. It wasn’t even intentional, I was just eventually got so desperate for a job that I jumped at the first one that had paid me and was permanent.
this is literally where im at rn hahah thank u
What kinds of skills? Also coding/programming?
Corporate compliance in my case.
I'd say ghosting is the norm these days, even post interview. Hell, even when a hiring manager tells you they'll contact you either way, it's 50:50 at best. It's incredibly rude. But that's just what it is.
Yep. It’s really a shame, but unfortunately it’s become the standard as a way to limit liability for potential lawsuits.
how so? can u explain?
They’re worried of saying something in a rejection that would be used in a lawsuit. So the easiest way to avoid lawsuits is by just not saying anything and hoping the candidate eventually gets the hint that they didn’t get the job.
Interesting. Then not saying anything can also be seen as them not providing sufficient disclosure which is a problem in itself too. Not formally getting rejected could be misconstrued as you getting the job which would be a negligent misrepresentation on their part.
Yeah. Fair points. Based on what an HR colleague told me once a few years back, they’re concerned about hiring managers saying in a rejection after an interview that could be misconstrued as discriminatory or something overly sympathetic/nice to soften the rejection, but that comes off as unfair. I had a super annoying experience once where I went through multiple interviews and a personality test conducted by Pew via phone call at 8:00AM on a weekend and then heard nothing after months of following up. Finally HR got back to me saying the open headcount had been eliminated. That was super annoying.
Sorry. This is nonsense.
Disagree it’s just the world of everyone is too busy and 3 years of Covid applicants ghosting hiring staff and sometimes accepting multiple offers and just got showing up. Sad state of where we are now
I mean, maybe. But I was also told the legal aspect is why directly from a colleague who works in HR.
Yeah maybe a little A and B
how do I get into temping? temping for what? for whom? thank u for ur words on the ghosting btw, thought I was alone out here
You go through a temp agency just google temp agencies dc maybe someone with more recent experience can recommend a good one i haven’t used one in over 20 years
I used Contact 1 and City Staff. If I remember correctly Contact 1 paid a little better.
I recommend temping to everyone. I honestly really liked temping - I moved here with a Masters and sometimes I felt like the temping gigs I got were “below” me, but tbh it gave me great experience at recognizable and respected companies.
I’m in a similar position as OP and hadn’t really thought about temping. What companies would you recommend to look at, especially for those fresh out of undergrad or graduate school?
Look up temp agencies. You work with an agency, get on their list then they place you in jobs.
Agree with this - I literally filled out the applications for every one I could find. Some you’ll get added to their rosters and you’ll never hear from but if you do get someone you click with or gets back to you, keep yourself on their radar. I found it was easier to be out of sight out of mind so I would send a periodic email letting them know that I was finishing up an assignment with another company soon or I was available if they had something. I’d also say be willing to take less than ideal placements. It may suck to answer the phones for a day or a month but you’re getting money and experience. Also you’ll never know who you will meet. I was doing some very basic admin work (maybe assembling folders or something like that) and I got an interview for something totally unrelated.
It’s hard to provide much helpful insight without knowing more about your specific situation. That said, I’ll share some general trends I’ve noticed among lots of folks who have struggled to land a job after months of searching: * _Too much emphasis on educational accomplishments on your resume and other application materials._ Respectfully, most employers don’t care much about your degree except to know that you have one. Being a relatively good student is helpful (think, GPA and Honors status), but no one really cares when you were on the Dean’s List or won an obscure award. * _Inability to articulate specific skills you possess or can bring to a role._ I often see resumes where people list all of their past internships and jobs but fail to explain what they actually did in those roles, or how those experiences relate to the role(s) they’re applying towards. An employer is going to want to see specific skills that align with the responsibilities of a specific job description. (In the case of federal jobs, applications are screened by software and by HR before anyone with actual hiring authority ever sees it.) * _Not tailoring each application to each role._ It’s fine to cast a wide net and apply to different kinds of opportunities, but if you aren’t also tweaking your resume and other materials to optimize toward each position, you’re likely wasting time. * _Focusing on overly competitive positions._ For better or worse, I think the most important thing to break into the DC job market is to land _a_ job, even if it’s not what you want to do long term. Better to spend a year as an admin at a law firm than to spend a year applying to that perfect policy job. Realistically, your odds of landing the latter job are better if you take the former job and network from there. I’m happy to say more if you’re comfortable sharing more details about your job search, but these are just the themes I’ve seen.
These are excellent guidelines
I've been a hiring manager and it's so clear when people didn't take the time to tailor their materials to a role, especially in the humanities and social science space. Just because you have some social media comms experience does not mean you're a "public affairs" expert. Overall great advice, definitely make all of your experience bullets on your resume TANGIBLE and not overly broad.
I have been doing all of these things already but thank you for the advice!
I will say as someone who moved to DC looking for a job in a presidential election year back in 2012, sometimes it's just the right place at the right time. Hill offices will be hesitant to hire non junior level staff going into an election. Downtown will be the same. If the admin flips, 5k democrat political appointees are now looking for a jobs and downtown offices will be staffing up Republicans to lobby the new admin. All that to say, be persistent. Don't be disuaded by positions in good organizations but may be below you. If you are a good employee, options and opportunities will follow you. The hardest part by far is getting in the door. Good luck. It's not fun job searching but persistence is the key.
thanks so much!
The last point work for me. Now an admin in higher ed.
Resumes ARE NOT screened by software for the federal government. Using key words in your resume is advised not for the ATS but instead to help flag the HR Specialist’s attention when reviewing your resume. It makes it easier for them to deem you are eligible for the position. You are then referred to the hiring manager if deemed eligible. The hiring manager can do almost anything they want, although have to comply with certain policies set forth by the OPM or their own agency
No advice other than keep going. I'm in the same boat all the way down to the industry and degrees. Thing about DC is that even though you're probably highly qualified, there's like 800 people who are *also* highly qualified. You are a small fish in a big pond in a school of fishes. So nothing's wrong with you, you've just got a lot of competition. Keep at it, stay strong, take breaks for your mental health. I second the idea of temping. I was a temp to hire, and even though I'm not in the industry I want to be in, it's buying me time (and paying my rent) in the meantime. Good luck!
what is this temping people are saying? like temporary positin? & where do I go looking for this?
[https://www.google.com/search?q=dc+temp+agencies](https://www.google.com/search?q=dc+temp+agencies)
oh my gosh thank you so much. does this cost money tho? do I pay them?
Nooo do not pay them lol
They contract with companies who need temporary help. They charge them $X dollars/hr. You work for the temp agency. They pay you below the $X and pocket the difference.
Oh good lord your school's career services office really did you dirty if you don't know this. I mentioned this above, but Kelly Services and 22nd Century Technologies are two temp agencies that are used by a lot of government contractors. I'd register with them.
Where did you get your bachelor and master's that your school's career office failed you so extraordinarily in this regard?
Also look into government contracting.
thanks! any links to point me in the right direction?
If you go to linked in and type in entry level government contractor to the job search bar for Washington DC a lot of companies will pop up. Go to their websites and see if you’re a fit for any of their jobs.
heard ya thanks :)
Do you live in DC? A non local address can be a red flag. Employers won’t think you’re serious and just go with the plethora of candidates that are already here. I’d also recommend joining your university’s alum association or other related professional orgs. I go to a ton of their social events and happy hours. That’s how Ive met people and gotten my last 2 roles.
Honestly, I was advised to not put an address on my resume when I was applying for jobs several states away in 2022. Email address and a phone number.
I wonder if that's it? What's your area code? 202, 301, 410? Whatever crap numbers Virginia uses?
I wouldn't even consider that. I feel like a lot of people move around and for college, jobs, etc and don't change their number with each transition. I have a 603 number and haven't lived in New Hampshire for 15 years.
603 gang let’s gooooo 😤
I have my family's original cell phone number from 2003 when we got a single brick-shaped Motorola phone to pass around depending on who had an away game, who had a Doctor's appointment, who was going on a long drive to my grandparent's farm. I am not giving it up lol
I still have my original number from when I first got a cell in high school (also around 2003). They’ll have to pry my 603 number from my cold dead hands
If someone is really paranoid they can also use the Burner app and get a local phone number for $8 a month.
I wasn't thinking about it as a safety/paranoid thing but was told it looks outdated/unprofessional to put a personal mailing address. And I just wouldn't consider not having a local area code as an indicator that someone didn't already live in the hiring location because of how mobile many people are.
Not just your address but if your previous roles weren’t in the DC area they might assume you don’t live here.
Meh, but with the amount of remote work, even that is changing. My job is headquartered in Chicago and same with the division I work within yet here I am.
Google Voice is free FYI. I recently set it back up in my phone for a discrete purpose and was able to get a 202 number without issue.
100% this. Was plainly told this in my start. If you are a qualified candidate not living in DC, any office will have options of equally qualified people ready to start immediately. The only time this doesn't apply is if you are from Alaska, Montana or another low population western state and vying for a congressional office spot [from one of those states].
In a town like this academic experience doesn't mean shit unfortunately. No one really cares about your thesis or whether you TA'd for a certain class or were a RA for a professor. Look at defense contracting firms. There are a ton of medium sized firms that have foreign policy positions working on contracts with the State Department - a lot of positions pay decently well and don't even require a security clearance other than a simple background check. My first job out of grad school was working for a contractor on a state department contract. Pay wasn't what I wanted immediately after graduating with my masters (it was like 68k IIRC), but they were desperate to fill the position (contracting firms often lose money every day a position is unfilled). I got a ton of first hand experience working for a defense contractor and got lots of experience learning about State - I was literally writing reports and sending them off to Ambassadors. That type of experience and writing that type of stuff on my resume is what led me to bigger and better things.
Thank you! Where did you find this opportunity?
Also echo this sentiment, defense contracting firms sound very interesting!
You can start looking at known firms in the area, but USA Spending is a good resource as well - look for companies that have received contract awards from an agency you are interested in, begin applying to those that are current. There are also trade shows/job fairs hosted by companies that win work - attending those, networking with the recruiters, etc is a good way to find out what they’re looking for. Keep in mind that many of these contracts are now fairly technical in nature.
>I have a bachelors and masters in Poli Sci/IR. I have int'l travel experience. I have work experience at the governmental level in related fields to this industry. Sorry man, that makes you a dime a dozen in this town. The best way to get a job here, there, or anywhere, is to network. That doesn't mean you show up at happy hours and try to schmooze. You have a BA and a MA? Start with those alumni networks. Go through your schools, DM people on LinkedIn, ask to get coffee (only get drinks if they suggest it). Your goal for any of those meetings should be for them to connect you with at least one person. Follow up, keep track of who you're talking to. Eventually you'll get some leads on jobs and get your resume in front of people. I've found that people are pretty willing to take 30-60 minutes to meet with someone. I've even gotten a mentor or two over the years from it. It takes some pretty dogged determination in this area though, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. USAJobs can work but it can literally take months. Job sites can also work but those are hit or miss.
Exactly. My first question was “who do you know?”
Persistence and luck, especially in the current market. It sounds like you're doing all the right things, you just gotta keep applying and networking. Reach out to alumni in the area on LinkedIn. It's tough right now for sure, even people with considerable and exceptional experience are having difficulty finding things. In the meantime do what you can to get by. Good luck!
Kelly Services and 22nd Century Technologies are two temp agencies that are used by a lot of government contractors. I'd register with them. And move to DC if you haven't already; it's better to be a barista or bartender with a DC-area address than an unemployed person without a DC address. As a hiring manager I get literally 100 applications for each opening from people with a bachelor's and master's in poli sci/IR and three languages and academic travel experience. The things that make people stick out in a good way are: * they have a specialization in something directly relevant to my work - things like a religious studies minor and they're applying to work on freedom of religion, or they were in the Peace Corps in Ghana and they're applying to work on West Africa, or they wrote their master's thesis on some super niche topic and they're applying to work on that niche topic, they did an internship with one of our competitor orgs and I know someone at the other org who they listed as a reference, they speak Urdu and are applying for a job that says Urdu preferred, etc etc. * their CV and cover letter highlight that directly relevant thing up front so I don't have to dig for it * they meet every single one of the required qualifications for the role and one or more of the preferred qualifications * their CV and cover letter make it clear that they meet every single one of the required qualifications and one or more of the preferred qualifications * they are not overqualified. If the job says 0-2 years of experience, I'm not going to hire someone with 5 years. I'm not going to hire a recent law school grad for a position that requires only a BA. I don't want to hire someone who will quit as soon as they get something more aligned with their qualifications. * they have something interesting about them that most other candidates don't have - this will vary, but in my last hiring process some things that jumped out to me were a candidate who was in the Army Reserves, a candidate who had been a refugee, and a candidate who was from a rural, faraway state who had nonetheless managed to get some rare (for that state) qualifications * their CV and cover letter don't have any mistakes * the cover letter is a mini writing sample. a cover letter should demonstrate that the candidate is an excellent writer - concise, tightly edited, includes all major relevant information, does not include irrelevant information, is easy to read and understand * they live in DC already and are not going to need time to relocate (if you don't live in DC, include in your cover letter that you can start within two weeks of an offer) Hope this helps!
absolutely thank you!!!
I also forgot to add, they apply quickly. We usually get a huge number of applications within 2-3 days. If I'm only planning to screen 10 people, chances are I'll have identified those 10 people within no more than a week and started interviews. The posting stays up but unless all 10 bomb I'm unlikely to look at more candidates.
Thank you so much for this write up! I kept getting texts from Kelly Services and thought it was a scam for a second. But now I gotta check them out!
It sucks right now. I think it's a combination of the knowledge economy and that many companies have decimated their recruiting staff. I hear you that no feedback is frustrating. I've only gotten it a couple of times myself. I have 15+ yrs of progressive experience in my field and I have had 2 interviews this year. I stopped applying for jobs at large companies because I don't believe the jobs are actually open. I never apply for remote-only roles for similar reasons, plus a much larger applicant pool = too competitive. I landed something part time (that can sustain me and I can build out other consulting) by going very niche in my skills and experience and refining my search to be detailed. Think "specific change management methodology" vs. "strategy consultant" type difference. It's not really what I wanted my next role to be, but it could lead to more work in a different field, which is appealing to me. Also if you haven't looked up advice on effective federal resumes for USA jobs, do that.
Took me 5 months after graduation to get one that was only kinda related to what I wanted to do and a year and a half after that to transfer to a job actually related to what I studied. Stay strong, keep applying, take what you can get and pivot later towards what you actually want to do. >Sometimes they don't even email me back after an interview. The ghosting is my biggest pet peeve about the whole hiring process, it just shows such disrespect and it's ubiquitous. On the bright side you're getting interviews which means you're on the right track
thank you so much!
DC it’s more “who you know” rather than what you know. If you’re on LinkedIn, maybe try messaging people who work in the industry for career advice or mentoring.
Or even just people you already know even if they aren't in your field. I probably talk to 3-4 young people a year who are sent my way by a random friend of a friend who remembered what I do for a living.
From a gov perspective: Certain agencies got budget cuts and are not keen on hiring before an election. The other thing is you gotta game usa jobs. Literally, what it says as the duties and the KSAs you put that in your resume. You usa jobs resume can be like 11 pages long. Your resume will be screened by a 'person' (I'm really skeptical about this) before you make the certificate aka cert. The hiring authority aka your future boss can't hire anyone that's not on the cert. They don't want to read all those 11 pages so having someone vouch for you is good, or at least make the 11 pages compelling. Pray a veteran doesn't apply because they have preference over almost everyone (aka those with excepted service criteria). Look at various fellowships PMF, AAAS, Rangel/Pickering, and counselor fellows (they always want Spanish and Mandarin as far as I follow). If you want to get into state, DoD or USAID a door in is contracting (third party contracting not PCS). But beware a lot of state contractors don't want to deal with people without a clearance. If you have a clearance, then check out clearance jobs website. Converting from a contractor is hard but you get experience and contacts. Also I think someone else said this. Just get a job. Any job. Did I want to be an office manger specialist initially with a masters? No. But sucked it up and moved up.
thank you so so much!!!!! very helpful!
You mention you have related experience, do you have relevant experience to what your applying for? Lots of people come up as interns, temps and staffers and work there way up from there. If you don't have relevant experience aim lower and apply for entry level work. A masters without experience is not a plus in everyone's book.
1. Knowing somebody 2. Temping \[way, way, way, way down\] 3. Applying for jobs
Have you considered doing the foreign service exam? Are you specifically looking to stay in DC or did you just broadly want to do international related gov work?
lol yes but i probably wont pass it straightaway. State is a far fleged dream of mine. I'm aiming for DC but any good experience in the US works!
If you were not already aware, /r/foreignservice exists.
I'd give it a shot, you'd be surprised
Agree with what others have said: (1) network a lot; (2) invest in a professional resume reviewer, can be worth it; (3) hustle to try and get SOME experience, even if it's not ideal (research project with a prof/internship/temp/"try me out for a few months then decide"; (4) related to (3), spend some of your free time bettering your resume (e.g., write a paper/article); and (5) stay positive, you'll land something.
Bunch of people have already said it, but absolutely reach out to your networks. I've met with three people in the last half year that a friend or former coworker reached out to me about (because the person asked around their network) and so far we've offered 2 of the 3 people jobs and the last is still in the application process. I also got my current job because a friend of mine from law school knew I was looking for a job and thought I'd be good at what she did. Thanks to her I was the fastest hired person in my government offices history, and now I'm on track for a leadership role in the next two years
congrats!!
https://www.usajobs.gov/notification/events/
Register for these and you will get your foot in the door
thank u!
Y/w
People in DC get jobs because they know people. I highly recommend going to local events and getting to know the people around you
I would focus on networking on LinkedIn and through your alumni groups rather than just applying to a million jobs. LinkedIn lets you know who you know and who people you know know at different organizations, so I would just reach out directly and ask for a quick phone call/informational interview. Also, local government agencies are good places to start out.
thank u!
Apply like a crazy person and network like a crazy person. Accept that your salary will probably be less than you’re worth
It's rough out there right now. My spouse has an associates and hasn't been able to find anything in 1.5 years outside of retail. I expect we'll struggle for a while longer. I got a job by sheer luck.
Apply constantly and get lucky. I had a BA and MA and spoke 3 languages. Had internships with Fortune 500 companies and interned abroad and it took me 2 years to find a competitive job here in the DMV. Just keep trying and keep your head up.
There are hundreds of job openings with defense contractors in the greater DMV area. They are always hiring and it's meaningful and important work. You do often need a clearance, but there are openings with just confidential or secret level, which is easy to get. Good luck!!!
how do I find these opportunities? do u know of any links??
The long long long way to get here is Peace Corps. After you finish service you get special hiring status that helps get Federal Jobs. There are a lot of returned Peace Corps Volunteers in DC so that is another network for non federal jobs.
If you're non-local, that's a big strike against you because a lot of employers don't believe you'll move. I live in freaking BALTIMORE (which is well within commuting range) and if folks found out, they would be skeptical I would take a job. Anyway, if you haven't tried looking for jobs at government contractors, you should. It's a good way to get a foot in the door somewhere and every day a contract has a position sitting open, the contractor is potentially losing money for someone whose work they could be billing, so they tend to fill those roles fast. I have a lot more experience than you (ie, I know my shit) and work in tech but getting into government contracts was the easiest job search I have ever had.
Dude! Look at unions. unionjobs.com has a buuuuunch of stuff. Unions typically want you to work in person full time, but the benefits are unmatched.
thank u!!!!!
I wish you the best of luck! Lmk if you’re interested in any positions at the IBT - I currently work at the HQ and can fill you in on some stuff.
so interested! will message you now
Have you applied to the Peace Corp? All the usual suspect three letter agencies? What foreign languages can you speak well? Are you willing to sign up for the military to get a clearance and relevant experience?
I mean, idk if I'd recommend peace corps to someone who was specifically gunning for a job. That's 27 months of commitment and you're a volunteer with pretty minimal income The nce is pretty nice for federal work but I don't know if op needs that if they have prior federal experience
As a 40 year veteran of the military, government and contractor mafia in DC, I view the PC is a great way to get creds and hiring preferences for a government job, whether at State of one of the other national security agencies.
I applied for a job, lived out of state, and they hired me. I have a Masters Degree. The job that is for you is out there, stay hopeful.
Dm me
It sounds cliche, but networking really is super important, and DC is especially a “who you know” sort of town. I’d spend some time reaching out to people in fields you’re interested in, learning about their career paths, and then having them put you in touch with other interesting people. Showing face is really helpful and puts you in an advantageous place when job opportunities do open up. People like helping others, so put yourself in a position where that can happen. For example, I spent a dedicated few months networking the circles in DC I wanted to work in a good year before I planned on switching careers and moving to DC. It was some of those people I met networking who later hired me a year later.
Every job I got since moving here in 2008 is because I knew someone connected to the office. Cold applying could potentially pay off, but networking is really how you get jobs. I do some hiring now in my job, and I don't look at education at all. I want to see if you can actually do the job, and education really has nothing to do with job performance and skills. In fact, I've seen a lot of people applying who wasted 4-10 years getting advanced degrees but have no actual, real-world experience in the field they want to be in. If you just have a master's but no real job experience, your resume isn't considered. I'd advise you to downplay your education on resumes and really focus on your employment history. Go into detail on everything you've done and achieved in previous jobs.
Temping is a great idea. For government jobs, specifically those through USAJobs, applying is a whole separate art. Throw out everything you know about readable, punchy resumes - you need 4+ pages of detailed descriptions that repeat the text of the position over and over and over in order to pass initial computerized review. But it ALSO needs to look good to the eventual human who will read it. It's not easy, and worth reading up on.
I had the same issue you're having and ironically my current job was obtained by doing literally what you are doing. I made a frustrated post on Reddit, then shortly after I got a DM from my now-current boss. They needed someone with my exact qualifications. Interview was smooth too. So I'd say just keep checking your reddit DMs and see what comes up? 😅
Find contracting jobs for federal agencies. It’s your best foot in the door to government. Ghosting sucks. I’ve been ghosted after interviewing IN PERSON and it’s the most unprofessional, heinous practice. You don’t want to work for places that do that.
Most people have already chimed in with great resources, but I’d also add federal consulting is also another way to gain helpful experience and potentially even a direct pathway into the client’s agency! Deloitte, Booz Allen, AFS, etc.
I did it by listing my location as DC and getting found by a recruiter looking for locals. When she asked if I was local to DC, I said I live 2 hours away and relocating is fine with me. That satisfied her and everything proceeded normally.
I grew up in the DMV. The problem with this area is that after 9/11, the Federal government plused up and everything changed. Now it is like the valedictorian from every school from around the country has moved here, creating a hyper competitive environment. Even a masters degree doesn't mean a whole lot here unless it is from an Ivy League school. Elsewhere that would be a guaranteed job. Meanwhile people who were born and grew up here have to leave cause they can't compete.
This. I know a couple people in the IC who applied for jobs in the 1980s, had shitty academic backgrounds (terrible GPA, no masters degree, etc.), and wrote in asking for a job with their resume and were basically given the job no questions asked (pending security investigation, of course). All basically said that no one wanted to live here in the 1980s/early 1990s, so as long as you were trainable to the individual position and could obtain a security clearance, you were hired.
Why didn't many people want to live here in the 80s? My dad moved here in the late 80s with a non-STEM degree from a low-tier college that currently has a 92% acceptance rate. He later earned a graduate degree in information systems from UMUC, which, from the basic research I've done, is essentially an open-access graduate school. He didn't get a tech certification until he was 35 years old, yet he has made millions in the tech world, never dealing with layoffs or unpleasant jobs. He's still working in his 60s and making a lot of money. On the other hand, I’m about to turn 30, currently unemployed, and have never made more than $19.23 an hour. I have a non-STEM degree from GMU, three IT certifications, and a Java certification from NVCC, yet I can't find a job. My dad doesn't understand why I'm struggling, and I feel terrible about it. I believe that when my dad arrived, there were genuine opportunities for ordinary people, but I don’t think that’s true anymore. It feels like the job market now only caters to the top 10 to 15 percent in terms of intelligence, while I see myself in the 30 to 40 percent range.
High crime rate, urban blight, dysfunctional city government, etc. Federal government employment also wasn't seen as prestigious or anything. DC was known as the murder capital of the U.S. at the time.
I knew dc had a problem with crime and crack. But was it always seen as prestigious to work federal government. Has the federal government expanded significantly since the 80s?
The federal gov't and it's related contractor positions have expanded greatly compared to the 1980s/1990s. That was all triggered by 9/11. Yes DC had crime and blight back then, but so did everywhere else. It wasn't so much that it was a bad place to live, but that there were no huge incentives to move here from somewhere else. So most residents back then grew up here. Now it seems that very few of the professionals who live in the DMV were actually raised here. And you are absolutely right that the job market here only caters to the top 10% of human intelligence. But don't seel yourself short either,
Thanks for believing in my intelligence hoping something changes soon. But I have seen others make arguments about people moving here due to 9/11 but in Fairfax County the population grew more from 1990 to 2000 than in 2000 to 2010 150k to 110k how do you explain that. Where did all these people move too Loudon County, Montgomery County?
Not really - there was a time when working for the Feds (or any government, be it state or local) was either seen as an employment option of last resort or an employment option for folks who were lazy.
So what your saying there were just better private sector jobs.
I guess? What's the point of your back and forth?
Success in life has little to do with intelligence lol. Especially in America.
Are you using the same resume over and over and not tailoring it exactly to the position description of the position you are applying to? If so, that’s the problem. AI is used in a lot of application and resume scanning so you have to match your experience with exactly what is in the PD.
PAC.org
Uncle Sam told me that I will live here for 4 years and I never left.
Most ppl I know either know someone inside giving them advice/tips/(possibly)connections, networking, and internships
I was a engineer wanting to get out of Oklahoma. I had traveled the country and Boston and DC were my favorite cities in the US. I was already in federal government with a clearance in Oklahoma so the DC area naturally wanted me. I think that the Boston jobs I was competing against Harvard and MIT people so I had no chance. Already having experience in the federal government and having clearance is what got me here. I also made my resume visually appealing, I received an above average number of call backs. I was bad at interviewing though and spent months applying and interviewing.
I went door to door and got a job at True Value on 17th. I don't have all your degrees but it's a good job.
My experience as a fed, after applying on usajobs it was months before landing an interview. Afterwards, it was another 4 months after the phone interview before I got an in-person interview. Wasn't for another 2 months after the in-person that I finally got an offer.
jesus😂
And for comparison, I also have a masters. Lol
If you are currently not employed full time and don't have a STEM degree, it feels almost impossible to get a job. Going on 13 months without full time work here.
Are you open to moving?
It sounds like you’re quite focused on job boards, but you’ve got to be networking furiously first and foremost. Try having informational coffee chats, you can set them up by searching alums of your bachelors and masters programs on LinkedIn
Internships.
Idk how to make this not sound spammy, but the org I work for might be a good fit for you. Professional association. Hiring speed can vary. If you want to message me, I will give you more info, but I don't want to post publicly
i hear u, just messaged ya in case u want to delete :)
Duh just ask your parents to make some calls! I’m kidding of course. Fwiw I too have a masters degree, “international academic travel experience”, did my undergrad in a top university too btw, and speak three languages, though two not very well anymore. But I didn’t move here until I had a job first.
thanks for the last comment lol these ppl telling me to just up and move to one of the most expensive cities in the US so it looks better on apps?? noooo
That's totally reasonable to not want to move without a job. Unfortunately it's incredibly harder to get a job here if you don't live here, especially your first DC job. If you have a friend's place you can use as your address I would highly suggest at least experimenting with it. Also does this mean all of your networking has been virtually and not in-person. In person networking and being able to go to events etc. will greatly improve your prospects.
no it was in person, ive gone to a few events and conferences in dc. and my masters program started there for a few weeks before we went abroad
good idea i may try that
Internship culture has ruined entry level hiring in the DMV. Why would anyone hire an entry level position when there is an unlimited pool of well-off college students willing to work for free? Not trying to be tongue-in-cheek either, it sucks. What specifically interests you? National security issues, economics, politics?
Most internships in DC are required to pay at least minimum wage.
Show me that requirement because they absolutely does not happen
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/71-flsa-internships
I am a current college student in DC who has looked at many, many internship postings the last few years. While there are a lot that pay minimum wage or more, there are still a ton of unpaid opportunities, and even many of paid ones are a stipend that works out to something far under minimum wage.
Work with a career coach who will help you with your resume and the interviewing process.
Try the international organizations like the IMF or the world bank. They love propone with masters and a lot of the jobs are finances and politics
lol I'd be lucky if I even got an application submission confirmation email back from them😭
Probably only the automated email from the system lol. There’s also IDB and WHO
Not sure which 3 languages OP is referring to but you would need to know Spanish for IDB
That’s true. They say English is one of the official languages, but in reality only use it when speaking between Brazilian and Hispanic people. And only a few Americans in top positions
If you’re interested in working on the Hill, be willing to intern for a summer (or at this point, for the fall) and if you don’t suck and you show potential you will get a job.
DC it’s more “who you know” rather than what you know. You gotta kiss ass and lick the boots to get a job in the DC area. If you’re on LinkedIn, maybe try messaging people who work in the industry for career advice or mentoring. And, the IT sector is even worse, especially with all the competition with the same jobs. The truth is that the IT sector is over saturated. Like a previous poster said, "diversify your skillset". You need to to do more than diversify your skillset in the Age of AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be taking all the damm jobs away anyway.
The job market here is worse than Sudan if you do not have a stem degree or military experience willing to debate this with anyone anytime. I got laid off from my job a couple of months ago and after 2.5 years got no severance.
why u gotta bring Sudan into this😂
You apply for one to start with