Professional Development (April 2012)

For four and a half hours every Sunday, they hold the attention of official Washington, D.C., grilling members of Congress, Cabinet officials, world leaders and occasionally the president. Collectively they are known as the “Full Ginsburg,” named for Monica Lewinsky’s lawyer William Ginsburg, who appeared on all five shows on Feb. 1, 1998 — a rare feat in Washington. 

Everyone is shaped by past job experiences, and for U.S. lawmakers, this sentiment is no different.

Moving to a new city can be a daunting task for anyone.

Shuffling in a disorganized line, disheveled men and women socialize on 2nd Street NW amid the drab buildings and chain-link fences that surround DC Central Kitchen, an organization that makes food for schools and homeless shelters. The neighborhood seems far from the U.S. Capitol, but is located only a mile away.

For some it’s a starting point — a stepping stone, a part of a plan. For others, it’s a career.

Geoff Schaefer hasn’t forgotten his first visit to Capitol Hill. While interning at the Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC) as a 21-year-old college student, his boss requested that he lobby members of Congress on behalf of an important bill — in spite of the fact he was wearing only jeans, sandals and a polo shirt.

Whether you’re changing careers, recently unemployed or a college graduate, finding a job can be one of the most stressful times of your life.