You dream of a career that means something. You want to change the world and get paid a fair salary while doing it. Public policy, politics, campaigns, national security, foreign affairs, international aid, environmental policy, social justice, advocacy are the types of fields that excite you.
So you did everything right…
- Got a degree (probably in political science, international affairs, or something similar in liberal arts)
- Made good grades
- Volunteered
- Worked
- Maybe an internship
- Held leadership positions
- Possibly studied abroad
Only one problem…you feel stuck. Despite doing everything right you can’t get a job after graduation, you have held down jobs but can’t get into your field, or maybe you’ve made it into your field but you can’t advance!
Overwhelmed, stuck, lost, angry, and confused are words people often use to describe how they are feeling.
Then something bad starts to happen…self doubt creeps into your thoughts. Am I good enough?” “Can I really hack it in a place like D.C.?” “Maybe I should lower my expectations for my life?
If This Sounds Like You-You’re in the Right Place!
And Guess WHAT?
YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. The strategy and tactics you’ve been given are the problem.
Cover letters, aimless online applications, buzzwords on resumes, messaging strangers on LinkedIN, informational interviews, networking events, job fairs, “professional” resume writers, elevator pitches, having people flag your resume, and making lists of places to work ALL have two things in common…
1) They don’t work for people like us (soft skills who want to work in public policy type world)
2) They are pushed on you by career centers, professors, and online gurus
What does work is the simple 4 Pillars to a Career of Impact…
Pillar 1: Dream Big with the Right Mindset
You have big dreams. What makes you special, and lets me know you belong in D.C. Hopefuls, is that your big dreams are not about money, fame, or prestige. Your big dreams are about a big impact. You want to make the world a better place. You dream of a career in public policy, politics, lobbying, advocacy, national security, aid work, etc. Simply put, you want to earn a nice salary while making other people’s lives better.
The problem is without the right mindset those dreams do not become reality. My hope at D.C. Hopefuls is to nurture a mindset shift away from the failed career center tactics of pitching yourself through cover letters, online applications, informational interviews, job fairs, and networking events and towards what has always worked.
Pillar 2: Network in way that has always worked
Networking is the action behind the right mindset. Networking works. It worked before the internet and it now works even better because so few people do it correctly.
It is not sleazy, awkward, only for outgoing people, outdated, or complicated.
Networking the right way leaves the other person feeling like a million bucks. Slowly they become invested and eager to help you because it gives them joy while providing you new professional opportunities. The type of opportunities that never make it to job boards.
Pillar 3: Consistency
The good news is this will NOT happen overnight. Wait…good news?
Yes because if it was easy and instant everyone would do it. The fact a career of real impact takes patience and consistency weeds out those without real passion.
However, at D.C. Hopefuls we believe just because it takes time doesn’t mean it needs to be difficult or frustrating. Building a career the right way will not be done by a sudden burst of energy similar to cramming for a test but built over time strategically.
We all know to get into great shape you can’t eat well 1 day a month and spend an entire day at the gym when you have time. Getting in great shape is making small weekly commitments for the rest of your life. We know working out for 30 minutes 16 times in a month is better for long term health than a 8 hour binge workout once a month despite it being the same amount of time spent at the gym.
Your career is no different. It is about dedicating small amounts of time consistently into the right places and in the right way.
Pillar 4: Community and support
Help is the ultimate sign of strength. You crave to help people through your work. Whether delivering aid to impoverished countries, bringing social justice to those who have been oppressed, cleaning up our environment for all of us, or keeping our country safe from threats, you want to help others.
But who is helping you? Ego and pride often is the biggest barrier to our dreams. We think getting help, admitting our frustrations, or discussing our insecurities make us weak when in fact it is the ultimate sign of strength.
When I was wasting four years of my life applying to 350+ jobs only getting 3 interviews I felt rejected and alone. Everyone else appeared to have it all figured out and I felt like I had to keep my failure a secret. I had to tamper down my dreams when talking with others and put on a “happy face” when catching up with friends.
It led me to horrible anxiety, stress, and confusion. I couldn’t do it alone because nobody can do this alone.
In pillar one we shift our mindset to understanding the role of other people in our career. In pillar two we learn how to network with others the right way. In pillar three we embrace consistency which is often best formed through other people holding us accountable.
The reason my private coaching group is a group and not individual clients is because we need our peers, we need support, we need a community. The reason D.C. Hopefuls has transformed from a website and newsletter in 2017 to also now include our thriving facebook book group as of December 2019 is because community and support are everything!
So now what? Besides checking out the site I HIGHLY encourage you to join our Facebook community by clicking HERE. This amazing online community is helping fellow impact makers by sharing tips, advice, opportunities, and resources everyday! When you join PLEASE fill out the 3 entry questions!
Welcome,
Tommy Pevehouse
D.C. Hopefuls, Turning Hopes into Reality
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