“The first step to solving any problem is to recognize that there is one. Many of us here (if not all us) have come to D.C. Hopefuls with hope of obtaining the ability to change our current job prospects and morph them into a successful landing of a job and or career. Perhaps some of you have already find yourselves in D.C. and are seeking advice and assistance in reigniting that once motivated flame in landing the perfect position in Washington. Regardless of your situation, Tommy Pevehouse’s proactive approach will be and is, life changing.
While D.C. Hopefuls is obviously designed to incorporate insight on networking within the Washington D.C. community, the information and advice that Tommy provides can be utilized nation-wide, and certainly within every facet of every industry imaginable. Make no mistake, networking in one city does not mean you can’t network in another; the skills that Tommy provides here are not mutually exclusive in a geographical sense, and ought’ to be practiced whenever and with whomever possible.
Take me for example. One year ago I joined D.C. Hopefuls Fellowship with my sights set high, ready to land that perfect job in Washington; after all, I’ve wanted to live and work there for my entire life. I began with a phone call with Tommy, where we discussed my aspirations and how best to develop a strategy in achieving them. During that time, I also began reading and listening to the modules in D.c. Boot Camp that provide information and guidelines on how to build resumes specifically suited for my skill sets, as well as on how to best network with others in my respective industry.
While landing a position in Washington was my primary focus, I quickly found that these skills and knowledge could be utilized where I currently resided. I began looking for an analyst type position here in Salt Lake City, Utah. By implementing my newly polished networking skills, and throwing my resume to the right people in the right places, I ended up landing a position Cushman and Wakefield as a Risk Analyst within three weeks of talking to the right person, applying for the position, interviewing, and eventually accepting a job offer.
Sure, I didn’t make it to D.C. (not yet anyways), but I used what I learned from Tommy and implemented it in my current stage in life … and it worked! Flawlessly! Not only have used this program to get to where I am today, I have absolutely total confidence that I can use to get anywhere I want. We have an obligation to walk in a direction that leads to a happy and successful life, the D.C. Hopeful’s program will give you the skills and knowledge to make that happen; I can’t thank Tommy enough for that.”
Stay Steadfast!
-Zach Bowling
Note from Tommy:
Several months ago one of my career mentors held a conference call for members of D.C. Hopefuls Fellowship and in the call he said “often the best way to make it in D.C. is to start somewhere else.” I honestly had no idea what he was talking about. For days I thought about what deep pyhlisophpcal meaning I was missing. Finally I called him and asked what the heck he meant. His advice was not pyhlisophpcal it was actually quite straight forward. He said often people get so focused on a location that they lose focus on what matters, which is people and opportunities. If someone wants to work in politics they are better off working in a competitive race in Ohio or working for the State Representative for a year than moving to D.C. and interning part time in an office that is not in their field. He couldn’t be more right! Someone working in risk analysis in Utah is getting better experience and developing better relationships than the grad student in D.C. working at Starbucks.
Too many young people mistake being bold and brave for success (check out my blog Bold and Brave Do Not Always Equal Success). Yes it is bold and brave to move to a new city like D.C. but that isn’t success. Success is doing something that gives your life meaning and changes the world. That type of career can take time and sometimes it doesn’t start where it will end……
Stay Steadfast,
Tommy Pevehouse