Welcome Back!

Hello everyone! I hope the new school year is going well! Some of you are probably going back to classes, while others have probably secured really cool internships, and there are probably a few of you who are recent graduates and have been looking for jobs for what seems like forever and just aren't getting calls back. Don't worry, it's not you. The job market isn't doing very well, and on average it takes three months to find a job. And it probably won't be your dream job.

Especially when working in the government, it is important to remember that who you know is almost as important as what you know. Countless friends of mine have found jobs through networks. And I just forwarded a friend's resume to a co-worker this afternoon. When I was getting advice on looking for jobs, I was talking to someone who hires for the Government Accountability Office. She said she doesn't hire anyone who she can't find someone who knows someone who knows that person.

Now, I don't mean that to be discouraging either. That just means you need to find ways to network. A few posts back I game some helpful hints about networking. But another way to meet people who will be helpful to your career is by interning somewhere. I know COUNTLESS people who have had internships and then been hired on full-time. What happens is you are basically "trained" in how to do your job as an intern. And the office would rather hire you for two reasons. You have already proved that you are a good worker, and you already know the company.

So don't be discouraged. Just keep looking and don't be afraid to take a post-graduation internship. It will pay off sometime!