STAFF NEWS: Your Boss Just Won. Or Lost. What Now For You?

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Matthew 6:30

Elections on Capitol Hill are always accompanied with anticipation and anxiety. The change that comes with it is easier to navigate for some than others. This election and the subsequent change of Congress portends to be even more noteworthy than we normally experience.  

Like the campaigns, congressional staff jobs are also won and lost in this season. Even on the winning side, the magnitude of the change itself is challenging. There are opportunities for advancement in the same office, as well as opportunities in other offices and committees due the expanding supply of jobs for the winning party.

  

For those on the losing side, implications are even more pronounced. There are fewer opportunities, yet we find this can give birth to even greater opportunities if we allow the Lord to use it for His divine purpose in our lives.  

The first order of business is to have the right perspective as we enter a season of change. Even in the change and disruption of our personal plans, we can find calm in the storm.   

I subscribe to the wisdom of Senate Chaplain Barry Black who said that the believer in any season of change, particularly times like this in Washington, should have an attitude of being grateful, optimistic, and satisfied. This is the truth we hold on to as we springboard into this new phase on Capitol Hill. 

When looking for a job in this environment, approach it from the standpoint of what makes a good staffer, and what is it my prospective employer is looking for. This means you need to be aligned with the beliefs, policy positions, and the strategy of the member, as well as a shared level of commitment.  

This approach will help you in any search process, as well as the interview process. And remember that in previous posts I’ve talked about the best resources and job leads in finding a job on Capitol Hill.  Your résumé,  getting in the door, and finally the interview. 

There are many resources for finding jobs on the hill, but the golden rule in finding a job is still very personal, even in this virtual world we live in. This means that personal connections to your prospective employer are very important. 

Your résumé, while important, is secondary to your relationship to an office. What I call the golden reference, for example, is someone who knows both you and your prospective employer and have both your best interests in mind. 

Your job leads are also going to be very personal. And, surprisingly, the best ones are typically not through senior level staff or hiring managers, but rather someone in your peer group. 

When you get the opportunity to interview, it is the time to make your best impression. And most jobs are earned or lost at this stage. The key is being relaxed and genuine. We all want to work with people that we like and can envision working with day to day.  

As you approach the days and weeks ahead, allow the Lord to use this time teaching you discernment and demonstrating his provision for all your needs.

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Bret Bernhardt served on the Hill as chief of staff to senators Don Nickles of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina. He is now a member of the Board of Directors of Faith & Law and the Conservative Partnership Institute.