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| Congress's List: Staffers take networking online to help job seekers |
| The District Dish: Brad Traverse |
| A Wave for GOP Staffers? |
| Hill job seekers must be on the list |
| On the Hill, Job Quest Is Rougher Than Ever |
| Taking the High Road |
| Email and Resume Tips |
| The D.C. Job Market: Good News and Bad News |
| Advice for New Applicants to the D.C. Job Market |
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| Congress's List: Staffers take networking online to help job seekers |
The Hill
By Debbie Siegelbaum
January 23, 2012
Brad Traverse knows how hard it is to find a job on Capitol Hill.
The lobbyist first came to Washington in the mid-1980s as a congressional intern, moving his way up to legislative coordinator for then-Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), then later as a legislative assistant for then-Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.).
But outgoing employers left him scrambling for work.
“I’ve worked for two senators who retired,” he said. “Like anybody in this town, we’ve all been without a job … I’ve been out there and I know how difficult it is.”
It’s that experience that spurred him to begin sending out job leads to friends and colleagues via email in the mid-1990s. Soon Traverse was compiling a weekly list of job opportunities that would span 30 pages and go out to 1,500 people on a listserv.
Given slow Internet speeds and email limitations at the time, it would take Traverse an average of four hours to send out the job leads.
“Eventually, to make it more user-friendly and to justify the time, I went viral on it in 2006,” he said. “That’s when I made it Web-based and subscription-based.”
Today, bradtraverse.com has grown into one of the most popular Internet job boards in Washington, with more than 3,000 listings and up to 1,000 visitors a day.
Brad and his wife, Fraser, run the website, charging a $5-a-month subscription fee to cover expenses.
“I just did it as a service for friends and colleagues,” said Traverse, recalling the humble origins of his expanding enterprise.
“I started it because, like a lot of people who had worked on the Hill, you’d get phone calls from folks who would say, ‘My brother just graduated from college — can you visit with him and help him find a job?’ ” he said. “And I was like, ‘I don’t know what I can tell him.’ So I started putting together this list so that when people asked that question or asked my friends that question, they could just say, ‘Here, here’s a bunch of jobs that are available.’ ”
To read the full story,click here.
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| The District Dish: Brad Traverse |
| Watch Brad's interview about his job listing service on The District Dish! |
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| A Wave for GOP Staffers? |
by Daniel Libit
Politico
October 28, 2008
...
Of course, with fewer Republicans on the Hill, there are fewer needs for lobby shops to refill their GOP cartridges.
“It’s a double-whammy,” said Brad Traverse, whose staffing website, www.bradtraverse.com, is a popular destination for job seekers on the Hill. “You have more firms who are both looking for Democrats and eliminating the Republican lobbyist positions."
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For those leaving the Hill, Traverse advises a broadening of the mind in terms of what kind of job titles and salaries ex-Hill staffers ought to seek.
“Besides going back home and finding opportunities in the private sectors outside of D.C., there are state government relations. I think they need to branch out into public affairs, public relations, analysis, and consulting and research,” Traverse said.
Full Story: A Wave for GOP Staffers?
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| Hill job seekers must be on the list |
Politico
July 9, 2008
But if you want to actually land the job, you’ll almost certainly have to subscribe to one of the unofficial e-mail vacancy lists run by staffers themselves. ... After a string of jobs off the Hill, Bigelow landed her first Hill job in 2004 after seeing an ad circulated on Brad Traverse’s e-mail list. (Traverse, a former GOP staffer, has since converted his list into a website.)
Full Story: Hill job seekers must be on the list |
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| On the Hill, Job Quest Is Rougher Than Ever |
By Maureen Fan
The Washington Post
Monday, September 13, 2004; Page B01
Chiefs of staff are doing something they rarely do: forwarding job listings to their own staffs. ... And the 33-page list from S. Bradley Traverse ...
Full Story:On the Hill, Job Quest Is Rougher Than Ever |
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| Taking the High Road |
September 2009
By Brad and Fraser Traverse
As published in Miss A's Heartfelt Living eMagazine.
Yahoo recently published an article called, “10 Ways to Be Liked in Your Job Interview” by Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon that, though inappropriately titled because it actually gave warnings on how to be disliked in an interview, offered some good reminders to job seekers. The usual “don’t lie, don’t smile too much, don’t sweat, and lose the pop culture lingo” advice is the core curriculum for Interviewing 101. But I found recommendation #10 to be the strongest of the top 10 list presented by the authors: “Don't be a switchblade.”
Whether you’re a new politico or a decades-long veteran in DC, trash talking a former employer can and will get you in trouble. The “switchblade,” the authors explain, “is thought of as a backstabber … If you make it seem like your former workplace was hell on Earth, the person interviewing you might be tempted to call them to find out who was the real devil.” Despite its distinction as a major metropolitan city, life inside the beltway is frightfully small. And while that job working for the high-powered, high-maintenance, insecure, ladies man of a boss may have seemed like a lifetime of spinning your wheels, in the end, you got out, lived to tell about it, probably learned more than you think from him, and years from now, trust me, will look back, laugh a little and be grateful for the experience. If you burn the bridge in a moment of spite or over a few too many drinks, your honesty will come back to bite you. You don’t know who could be listening and thinks he hangs the moon, in which case he will likely here about your grumblings and, since he’s higher up the food chain than you, his retribution will be far worse than your innocent little lamb comments.
So my advice for the month is to take the high road! Find that silver lining – however small it might be – in your current situation and gush about it as if it’s the single most important driver in your career. Potential employers will love your positive attitude, appreciate that you have a plan forward for your career, and may, in the end, really like you.
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| Email and Resume Tips |
July 2009
By Brad and Fraser Traverse
As published in Miss A's Heartfelt Living eMagazine.
My inbox is filled each week with resumes from people looking for work in the DC area. So I see a lot of the good, the bad, and the ugly in cover letter and resume writing! Some of the things I have mentioned below may seem silly or obvious to many of you, but I think they bear repeating because I really do see these mistakes every single day.
Make sure your email address is professional. "Ladiesman1" isn't appropriate. Sign up for a new email address if necessary.
Don't use acronyms when communicating by email. "LOL" or using "u" for "you" may show the employer you are young and hip, but unless it's a company specifically looking for a social media guru, skip the lingo.
When responding to a job lead by email, do not simply send attachments. Although most companies have virus protection, many will not open attachments even if they get through company filters in the first place. Put the text of your cover letter and your resume in the email itself and attach the "pretty" versions as backup. Plus, simply saying, "My resume and cover letter are attached" is no way to introduce yourself by email.
Lose the generic intro language that doesn't separate you from the pack: "I enjoy fast-paced environments and challenging work. I am also a speedy learner and invite the opportunity to learn every chance I get." Boring!
Try to come up with an individually tailored intro sentence for every email application you send. "This is to communicate my interest to occupy the position as advertised" doesn't show me that you've even read what the position advertised is, much less thought about whether you are a good fit for our company.
Avoid run-on sentences, especially those that don't mean or say anything: "My goal is to secure a responsible and challenging position within a stable growth-oriented organization that will allow me to utilize excellent administrative, production, and interpersonal skills to maximize work performance and effectively promote positive customer relations." Huh?
It's probably best not to mention your faults up front in the cover letter, even if you are trying to be funny (this one missed the mark): "With respect to skills and experience, I do not type 75 wpm or 60 wpm or 35 wpm for that matter. Nor do I have two, five, or seven years of experience in a law firm or legal environment. "
Finally, I can't say this enough: proofread, proofread, proofread! This one really made me laugh: "I am very articulant and I think I would be a well fit for the position."
Obviously not all emails I get have been this bad. I have seen plenty of good cover letters and resumes too. Recently a gentleman listed his previous employers, his job titles, and then the results he achieved for each company in concise and straightforward language. His successes were impressive, yes, but his presentation was even more so and made even the least of his accomplishments seem monumental for the company he worked for.
I also loved one resume that had a very brief quote from a previous employer worked into the text. He gave the employer's name and paraphrased her recommendation of him, saying, "… works tirelessly … often under heavy pressure ... ably managing our communications program ..." This was a great way to work in a reference from, in this case, a top-level government administrator who wouldn't otherwise be available by phone for a personal reference.
Finally, a cover letter that caught my eye was one that clearly stated the person's credentials without being too wordy or too generic. An interesting summary of the person's resume left me wanting to read further: "I have experience writing press releases, bios, social networking, creating press packs, blogs, and contact databases. I worked for an international nonprofit assisting with youth advising in New York City while completing my degree. I have experience in education grant writing as well as program evaluation and analysis. Recently my research has taken me to Uganda, Mexico, Qatar and South Africa."
In short, whatever your level of experience, take the time to tailor your email and make as good a first impression as possible. Good luck and happy writing!
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| The D.C. Job Market: Good News and Bad News |
June 2009
By Brad and Fraser Traverse
As published in Miss A's Heartfelt Living eMagazine.
There's good news and not-so-good news in the D.C. job market these days. The good news is that there are a ton of jobs in DC. As I continue to add dozens of new job openings daily at my website (www.bradtraverse.com), I haven't seen any downturn in openings; in fact, there's probably been a slight upturn. Money Magazine recently listed DC in top three "Best Places to Find a Job" thanks to the government, defense, and nonprofit sectors. And while the unemployment rate here isn't great (around six percent), we fare better than the national unemployment rate of nine percent.
The not-so-good news is that the positions are getting filled really quickly. Employers are receiving resumes from more than enough qualified candidates within days of posting openings. This is especially the case with internships and entry-level positions, which can be filled in as few as 24 hours.
What this means is that you need to submit your resume as soon as you see a lead and line up any networking connections you have for the position. Studies show that as much as 60 percent of the jobs available are filled through this process. The average American knows about 300 people. If you know 300 people and each of those people knows 300 people, you instantly have 90,000 potential contacts! If your father's college roommate owns a business in the congressman's district, see if he'll call in your behalf. And if your new to the area and your network is on the slim side, do as many informational interviews as you can (and come to the Pink Slip parties!) to beef up your connections.
Second, explore the brave and wonderful new world of online social networking. It's a great way to link up with like-minded people and expand your professional and personal network. Among the leading sites for professionals and job seekers: LinkedIn; Plaxo; Twitter (with Blog or LinkedIn URL); Facebook; Indeed.
Third, tighten up your resume. Keep it to a page. Keep it concise. Save the long explanations for the interview! And don't forget to have two or three people proofread for you.
Fourth, plan your job search. Budget money and time and prepare to view it as a full-time job. Organize a work area and set up a message center to receive incoming calls; if you're using an answering machine or voice mail, make sure your recorded message is clear and sounds professional. And always be prepared to give your "elevator speech": Write a 'one-minute commercial' describing your skills and accomplishments. This is handy information to memorize so you can pull it out at a moment's notice on the phone or in person.
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| Advice for New Applicants to the D.C. Job Market |
June 2009
By Brad and Fraser Traverse
As published in Miss A's Advice Blog.
Dear Chloe,
First of all, welcome to Washington! Not only do I wish you much success in your job search, but I hope you will also enjoy all the great things our city has to offer to fill your nightlife and weekends.
You’re absolutely correct that DC is a great place to look for a job and the field of communications and P.R. is no exception. The key is to focus your search as much as possible. For example, you’re interested in animals and just today I posted a lead that the National Geographic Society has a variety of internship and entry-level openings. Check out their website for the full listing. Conservative? Target nonprofits that lean right or Republican officials seeking elected office. Love kids? Find the groups that advocate on behalf of children and families. Concerned about the environment? There are dozens and dozens of nonprofit organizations hiring right now. I have added many of these openings on my website in just the past few days.
Registering on the USA Jobs website is a good starting point if you have an interest in federal government jobs, and the application process will help you focus on your strengths and find your niche in the federal system. On Capitol Hill, look for press assistant leads, but also consider staff assistant or scheduler positions to get your foot in the door.
While you are looking for that dream job, don’t be afraid to take on an internship, even if it’s only a few days a week. Working for free (although some lucky interns are paid) may not sound ideal at this point, but it is a great way to make connections and keep yourself busy and in the work environment.
Finally, as frustrating as your experience was in Atlanta, don’t give up on your networking opportunities! Making those contacts isn’t primarily about asking each person for a job. It’s simply a matter of getting to know a company a little better and asking questions to see if it’s an industry that is a good fit for you. The big “ask” at the end of the conversation shouldn’t necessarily be, “Can you hire me?” Instead try, “Do you know anyone who is looking for someone with my experience?” Take those leads and keep going! It will work out, I promise!
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