job advice--- wwyd

[tabbycat31]

Ok here's my background. I'm a campaign staffer who most recently worked on a federal senate campaign (unfortunately the people drank the tea). I've been out of work since November and money is very tight right now. I consider politics my career and want another political job, which will not be too far off being that in my state we have elections every year. Our conventions are at the end of March and we should have candidates by then. (If I work in my own county, there is no Democratic incumbents in the races that are up this year). I love what I do and can't wait to go at it again. THe job is seasonal in nature (working 90 hours in the fall and nothing now) and it's just the nature of the beast. Ultimately I think I have to work for someone who wins and become a staffer. (I am sending the state party my resume this week).

Problem is I need work right now. My resume is not exactly tailored for the business world (which was not a good fit for me) and I want something where I can leave at a moment's notice as soon as a campaign opens up for me. That leaves me with two choices--- either temping or going back to retail (i spent years there). I've never temped before and I'm not opposed to the idea (I don't care if it's part-time, I just want a little to get by and keep me busy).

I'm also worried about interviews. My resume will clearly state my last job was with the STATE Democratic Party, which flat out says my political affiliation. Do you think that would cost me?

[Taverner]

1. Have you considered sales? nt

[tabbycat31]

2. horrible at them

and I could not depend 100% on commission.

[Taverner]

3. Don't - get one with a decent base

and how do you know if you haven't tried?

Politics is a lot like sales, but with much more pay

[tabbycat31]

4. I know from working in retail

that I am much better behind the scenes than flat out on them. My sales numbers when I was in retail were below expectations.

[Nikia]

5. Probably temping

Working for the Democratic party does not have to be a negative. Some employers might consider it positive. Do you know local people with the party who might be able to give you a job. I know in my hometown that many of them were in education or law but there might be some business types.

[Chan790]

6. Temp or freelance. (and some hard advice.)

(I wrote this and this as one post but it works better as two, it's two complete thoughts only peripherally related and I didn't want this one causing you to miss the other which is far more positive.)

Having been a hiring manager in a few jobs now (including managing a Starbucks and division-lead in a Sears store) and having worked campaigns, I'm going to tell you flat-out that if you were an applicant for my department, the job with the state Democratic party would not work against you, even if the boss were conservative (a tea-nut OTOH? Screwed. My supervisors are all conservative because I'm a business banker, mostly for NPOs...they've never been under any illusions that I share their politics or that many conservatives could do my job.) because it shows a great set of job-skills and strong civil interest is generally an indicator of moral-fiber (civic-minded people tend to commit less petty-crime like stealing from employers)...

but I'd be demanding a signed employment agreement forbidding you from leaving for campaign work for 1 year under penalty of civil legal action...or else I'd simply not hire you for more than a temp position. It costs time, resources and money to train someone, even for the crappiest retail job...and you're not worth it if you're just going to leave in March or April. Sorry, I'm simply not going to consider your application if I think you're likely leaving in less than 1 year. More so as time goes on because you'll be establishing a pattern of such behavior.

[Chan790]

7. Advice to freelance.

You might want to consider what other skills and skill-sets campaign work prepares you for and look into working as a freelancer in those skill-sets. You'll spend a lot of time chasing work (and building network. The main job of any freelancer is to build their contact network. Contacts lead to jobs.) but you'll be able to schedule gigs for around your campaign schedule for any future gaps (i.e. if you've learned about web-design or copy-writing or PR or project management or whatever, figure out how it's useful outside of campaign politics and hang a shingle.) You'll get good job leads off Idealist, Freelancer's Union and in your case especially JobsThatAreLeft. Most of the jobs you'll find off the first two might be national in scope because they just need contract work (ie. write this, analyze this, design this.) and don't care if you work out of a Starbucks or your living room as long as you do great work cheap and on-time.

www.idealist.org
www.freelancersunion.org
http://groups.google.com/group/jobsthatareleft
(or place Craigslist ads proferring your services as a...)

If you do go freelance, read a copy of Rework by Jason Fried, et al. It's a brilliant rather-non-conventional book about how to run a shoestring small business. I recommend it to clients at work constantly.

[charlie and algernon]

8. Try getting into the policy/legislative side of it

Now that the new year after the election has started, there will be freshman State legislators in need of a staff. Send your resumes to the incoming Reps and Senators, you might get lucky that one hasn't filled their staffing needs yet. Plus, getting into the policy/legislative side, keeps you active in the local and State political network in between election cycles.