Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
This semester, I have an internship in the offices of Sen. Russ Feingold. Aside from being my state's Senator, he's my favorite current member of that chamber as well as a personal hero. There's ten staffers in the office I'm at, as well as eight interns - I'm 6th in seniority out of those 8. Only three interns started this semester, and I began two days before the other two. My duties there are: - scanning the local newspaper, marking articles that fit certain criteria, copying & faxing them - typing up daily summaries of the issue calls that come into the office - putting together monthly franked mail totals - going through the backlog of constituent casework, making sure everything is at least in the system and taken care of/assigned to someone - or entering it new (which isn't often the case since it's a backlog) - typing up letters, declining the many event invitations the Senator receives I know my place, and it's not very high up. Probably not likely to change if I keep going. I graduate next month, but I was about to offer to keep coming in until they get a new batch of summer interns. But then I received a different offer Wednesday.
I have a guy in one of my classes with a staff position for a member of the state Assembly. He said he'd like me in that office over the summer if I'm interested. He says he can get me much more substantial duties - summarizing legislation, doing research, things like that... Things I'd never do in a Senator's home district office, and would probably be better for purposes of my résumé and/or professional development. Since the guy knows me already, I'm told I just have to go through the motions to get in. Not to mention that the state capital building is more conveniently located nearer to my home and work. This guy also says that taking a week off for Bonnaroo and the fact I might move out of town before the end of summer are not problems. By all counts, this offer at first sounded better than what I'm doing now.
I suspected there would be a catch to something that sounded this good, and I found it on Friday at the Assembly's website... It turns out that this is the office of a Republican representative. This obviously has some implications for me.
First off are ideological concerns. I would be working for ends that I won't likely agree with. Since it's only two months, I can rationalize that to myself that it's about enhancing my skills and experience. But last night, a friend made another good point while I was discussing this with him. He suggests that if I work for a Republican now and put it on my résumé, it will probably come back to haunt me down the line.
I have to have my decision (and, if applicable, résumé) for the guy who made me the offer by Wednesday. My dilemma is - do I want to? I'm still torn and would appreciate some perspectives. Thanks in advance.
I have no perspective for you - really - at first my thought was "why not? sounds like a good deal" but as you are very much a Democrat seems it would be an uncomfortable situation.
And - there is the consideration of how it might look further in your career - if it is a political career that you are after. I can't think that it would look good to the Democratic party that you worked for a Republican - maybe you could tell them you were acting as a spy?
Last Edit: Apr 20, 2008 15:52:57 GMT -5 by Meg - Back to Top
I can't see myself telling a prospective employer I was acting as a spy. I don't see how an admission I did it once would look good - they couldn't rule out that I'd do it again.
Post by chicojuarz on Apr 20, 2008 16:08:48 GMT -5
considering its only for two months I think the experience is probably more important than the party affiliation in terms of future employers. I'm sure they'll see where precisely you stand from all the other things youve been involved with.
Yeah. I'm kinda thinking my partisan leanings aren't a factor. This guy knows I'm in Feingold's office. He knows I volunteered on the Richardson campaign. I'd like to think this is more on the basis of my own merits (he's seen me in action for the better part of a semester) than because of an ideological fit.
considering its only for two months I think the experience is probably more important than the party affiliation in terms of future employers. I'm sure they'll see where precisely you stand from all the other things youve been involved with.
I agree with exactly what he said....I was going to add a few other things...but nah I think this covers it...experience is experience.....Hopefully other things you have done will stand out more later down the line than working for some republicans for two months.....And I mean it sounds like a great oppurtunity....I say go for it
Post by hoosierrooster on Apr 21, 2008 2:51:53 GMT -5
I think it's important to stay true to your ideologies.
That being said, I don't think either choice will harm you in the future. Experience is more important than affiliation, especially early in your career. While at Wellesley College, Hillary Clinton (then Rodham) served as the president of the College Republicans and worked an internship under Rep. Gerald Ford. She seems to be doing all right as a Democratic candidate.
Both choices sound like incredible opportunities. Good luck!!
Now you just told me that friendship is all I'm forced to repair the breech in my wall Illusions and dreams, as usual, it seems Sabra girl, they've been my downfall
Post by Darth Boo Boo Kitty @#*& on Apr 21, 2008 4:51:52 GMT -5
Since it's legislative work of an already-elected official I say go for the better experience. If you were campaigning for a candidate it would be different. Then I'd say you have to stick with your ideals.
At first, I was inclined to say that you definitely should not - that working for a Republican will definitely call into question your loyalties when you go for your next job. And if 10 years down the road you decide to run for office as a Dem, this could be brought up.
But then, it IS just for a couple of months and would be the perfect job for you. It's easily explained that this was the only opportunity for you for the summer.
I don't know. I still lean towards not taking the job. Especially knowing your political mindset and everything. It just seems better to keep doing the grunt work for the next two months than to work for someone you can't believe in.
then use it to your advantage in your next interview. you will have to tell them, upfront, about this position in a way that is clear, concise, and to the point. you don't want to leave an interview and have them wondering "well, why did this guy work for....".
for instance: "over the summer i worked for representative satan. I learned many valuable skills there and look forward to using them in a position that better reflects my own political beliefs".
plus, as the years go by and you gain more experience, just drop it from your resume.
I finally talked to the person whose input I most needed - Chip, my instructor for the Legislative Internship class which I'm taking in conjunction with my internship. He flies around on business a lot, and was in both California and Jersey this past week so I hadn't yet gotten a response on the issue. Plus, the guy making me this offer was taking this class until he had to switch to an independent study.
Chip's a corporate lawyer/lobbyist for Johnson & Johnson. He used to be chief of staff when a college friend was in the House, a Democrat representing a competitive district in southeast Pennsylvania. He's not only worked in Washington, but he's done the hiring/interviews and things like that.
He understood my concerns, but says that it should not be a hindrance down the line. If it's an internship, he says it's understandable; if it's employment, someone would definitely take that part of my history into consideration. So I should be good to go in accepting.
