Ask Cloture Girl – December 15, 2009
Posted on 15. Dec, 2009 by clotureclub in Ask Cloture Girl
Q: I am thinking about taking a job as a staff assistant on the Hill.
What does an average entry-level staffer make and is it worth it? -On the fence
Dear Fence-sitter,
I certainly appreciate your concern. Making it work in Washington on a staff assistant’s salary is difficult at best. In general, the Senate pays more than the House, but it varies greatly by office. I suggest comparing salaries on Legistorm (http://www.legistorm.com/). Of course, having an advanced degree or prior experience will make those numbers vary within any office, but it is a starting point.
Whether or not working on the Hill is worth it to you is a much more subjective question. Simply put, you will make more money in the private sector. If you have a passion for politics, policy, or serving, I believe you will find it to be worthwhile. Still, to sweeten the deal, I am going to tell you about some of the more practical advantages to being a Hill staffer, or government worker in general, that you may not have thought of.
Some offices and agencies are able to offer loan forgiveness for certain types of student loans. Permanent staff on the Hill are able to apply to the Naval War College which offers an very affordable masters in defense policy for certain federal government agencies.
Experience on the Hill in particular is a good resume builder, especially for those looking to stay in DC or in politics. In addition, the proactive will find many ways to advance intellectually and professionally. Both the House and Senate offer day-long and hour-long career advancement seminars in everything from the technical aspects of the legislative process to computer programs like Dreamweaver or Access. Not all may interest or apply to you but it is nice to know they are out there. Finally, the Hill is site of daily public briefings and hearings which, if you love learning about policy, can be very entertaining and informative.
Q: One of my friends got engaged after 7 months to someone he met on the Hill. Is this too soon? Do you recommend marrying “Hill people”. I’ve heard horror stories.
–Worried in Georgetown
Dear Worried,
Without knowing more about your friend’s situation and, as a lover of the Hill and its people, I am hesitant to judge them. Is your main concern that the engagement is too soon or is it your friend’s fiancé’s chosen profession?
In terms of the first concern, I would say that everyone lives life at their own pace. A lot of factors can go into how fast a particular relationship progresses. The length of time the couple knew each other beforehand, their age, their life goals, and their future plans can all speed up or slow down Cupid’s arrow. In this economy, your financial situation can increasingly become a factor in when you decide to get married. In addition, they might be considering staying engaged for a long time rather than dating for a long time and then having a short engagement.
In terms of the latter concern, I would say that you should try to see what your friend sees in this person as an individual and not judge them based on your own feelings toward a particular group. The Hill is a community made up of people from all around the country and has lots of different types of personalities. As is true with any large group, there are bound to be some people you like and some that you do not. My main advice to you is to tread carefully with your friend and their fiancé. People tend to be sensitive about their romantic choices and it is probably not worth risking your friendship with them over it. Good luck!
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