Question:
I want to move to Los Angeles, California after graduating from GSPM. Do you think there are any political jobs there? If so, how would I find them?
Answer:
GSPM students and alums frequently ask me if --- “GSPM is a DC-only degree”? The answer is, “no” – you can use your GSPM degree to find a job in a lot of different places. I would expect it might be a bit easier to get a job in DC with your GSPM degree since there are more political/policy/public affairs jobs here, but it is certainly “doable” to get a job elsewhere and many GSPMers have successfully secured jobs outside of the DC area. One just needs to think a lit bit more creatively to find a job elsewhere. So where might one look/what resources would one use to find a job outside of the Greater Washington, DC area? Here are some ideas – I am sure someone will write to me to say I’ve missed something. This is in no way a complete list – rather – it is a starting point:
1. Make sure to write to GSPM’s Executive Director for Alumnae Affairs and Development, Jeff Aron, to ask if we have alums in a particular place, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
2. Set up your LinkedIn account if you haven’t already. List as much about your background as possible. GWU as a whole has a very “sturdy” Linkedin presence: Below are two resources we recommend to students and alumni to network. You will want to keep in mind the Career Advisor consists of alumni volunteers willing to offer career advice whereas the LinkedIn group consists of close to 11,000 members interested in professional networking. The GW Career Advisor Network –www.alumni.gwu.edu/networking
*The Career Advisor Network is a GW-only online network designed as a resource for students and alumni seeking professional development or advice on a particular career. I always recommend alumni using the system for their own career advice to also create an advisor profile. I am sure you have a number of career experiences which are extremely valuable to certain alumni and students. To create an advisor profile, please go to http://alumni.gwu.edu/
*GWAA LinkedIn Group – www.alumni.gwu.edu/linkedin/
We created an official GW Alumni Association LinkedIn Group so you can network with members of the GW community. I encourage you to explore LinkedIn and join the GWAA group.
3. Go online to see if you can find the list of registered lobbyists for the state you are moving to. Here is the link for registered lobbyists in CA:http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/
4. Check out possible job opportunities through the L.A. City Council:http://lacity.org/SubMenu/
5. Research job opportunities and leads through the L.A. Chamber of Commerce: http://advocacycenter.
6. Set up an indeed.com account for free and use buzzwords such as: “political”, “public affairs”, “legislative”, “government relations”, “lobbyist”, “policy”, etc. and put in your geographic preference. You will have job notices sent to you on a daily basis
7. Explore Hoovers.com and research the businesses in the greater L.A. area – write letters to the executives listed for some of the companies you might want to work for.
8. Look at the universities and not-for-profits in L.A. Try networking with some of the folks.
9. Research the “Encyclopedia of Associations” to find the associations in L.A.
10. Check out jobs with whichever political party you belong to – see if you Member of Congress/Senator can be helpful with a district job or referral.
11. Continue doing all of these steps until you get a job.
Good luck! Someone reading this might wonder how this question might apply to them if they want to move to a different city than L.A. Well, use some of these same research approaches and you will do well too.