Networking Groups

OK, so I know everyone always stresses the importance of networking. And networking is a very, very good thing to do. However, if you have just moved to a new city and people aren't asking you to go to happy hours of Capitol Hill receptions with them after work, you probably are trying to figure out exactly how to network.

The best way to network is by joining an organization. If you are living in a more populous area (ex: Washington, D.C.) there are literally hundreds of organizations you can join. Here are some examples of organizations you can join:

• A casual sports team: I know a LOT of people who play kickball on the national mall weeknights after work or on Sundays.


• State Societies: Most states have a state society in Washington, D.C. These organizations are designed to link people with others from their home state, and people often find new jobs through these networks.


• Alumni Associations: Most schools have some sort of alumni organization in most areas of the United States. It is always nice to get in touch with people you may or may not have known while in college.
  
• Volunteer: There are all kinds of different things to volunteer for. You can volunteer to help with a walk for a cause, at an orphanage, or Habitat for Humanity.
  
• Professional Organizations: It is also fairly simple to look online for an organization for people in your professional focus. Some examples are Young Nonprofit Professionals, Women's Information Network (which leads you to endless other organizations), and the Public Relations Society of America. Here is a list of professional associations to check out!

If you are nervous about joining one of these organizations on your own, see if one of your friends or colleagues will join with you! Chances are you will have a lot of fun doing it!

Washington, D.C.

This weekend I travelled to New York City. And as I was taking my $10 bus ride back to D.C. I realized just how great the location is for our Capitol City.

It is technically considered to be a "southern city." So, basically that means it does not get too bad of winter weather and when it does snow, we get the day off work. Summer days do get hot, and we have "code red" heat days. And some days the humidy is pretty bad, but nothing too intense.

The location, as far as the eastern seaboard goes, is amazing. You are close to the beach, close to Maryland Crabs, a bus ride from New York City, and there are THREE airports to choose from when flying out on vacation (think $99 direct flights to the Bahamas).

But, also, Washington, D.C. has a lot to offer in the city itself. There are multiple monuments and museums (which are free to the public), great communities that are rich in culture and have great night life.

Working in Your Own Back Yard

Working in the government doesn't mean moving to Washington, D.C. and becoming a polititian on the Federal level.

It doesn't even mean you need to leave the state, maybe not even the county.



There are plenty of jobs available on the local and state level. For example, if you are interested in a career in emerency preparedness, you might be interested in working for FEMA. But, did you know that each individual state, county, and city has it's own similar agency?

While searching online today, I came across this Web site geared to helping people find jobs in local government. It is a very easy to navigate Web site, and I encourage all of you to go and check it out.