Junior Congressional Staffer looking for guidance
I am a junior congressional staffer in the U.S. Senate. Modernization and internal development have been on my mind for close to a year. However, it sucks here. It seems it could not be more obvious to me or I’m sure any normal person what the problems here are internally. Every day feels like trying to push a square peg through a circular hole and I have to ask myself how in the fuck is it that I am here on the generous payroll of the US Government to drag folders from one folder to another, hours every day.
The solutions I have imagined are all organizational. Build this, talk to this person, share information.
I primarily think of myself as a researcher, however. I know what the end outcome that I am thinking of should look like, but I’ve no idea how to get there. I have no experience, college or professional in actually getting people together and proposing things that are like what should we do to form a club or group. I can only envision what the end product should be. That’s why I can’t do this alone. I need/want someone in Congress who is just as interested in this as I am, but knows how to do what I guess you could call Organizing.
Consequently, I’ve been looking for mentorship. That would probably be really helpful, especially if someone senior in Congress would be able to consult and advise me directly...
So hence after desperation I’ve started to exhaust pretty much everything, coming to unfamiliar forums that may offer advice. I think that it’s needless to say that, altruistically, what’s good for Congress is good for the United States and beyond.
Despite the pain of being here I have refused to leave until I’ve at least given this idea the best chance that it deserves. That’s the only thing keeping me here.
Email me at the address here, I’m also based in DC and would love to talk.
Appreciated
Hello AffectiveEltruism,
Recently, EAforum has undergone DDoS attacks from an unknown source and we’re not capable of discussing sensitive material at all. I know it’s extremely inefficient, and believe me, you’re not the only one bearing the burden of the costs. However, it’s not a good idea to contact people right now for any career advice or networking unless it’s a 1-on-1 meeting and there’s proof of identity. Once EAforum goes back to normal, the chilling effect will stop and we’ll be able to exchange information the normal way.
For now, I recommend going to 80k’s career advisors. It is entirely free and by far the best place to go.
Please do not exchange information with any anonymous people unless you can verify their identity e.g. via a linkedin page.
Forum dev here. …I have no idea what you’re talking about? I would expect to know if someone was DDoSing us. And even if so, why would a DDoS mean you shouldn’t post looking for career advice? Do you mean metaphorically? If so I would also think this is bad advice. I am very confused.
The author of this comment has privately communicated to me that they believe someone is creating fraudulent Forum accounts. If someone DM’s you, please consider that they might be a journalist looking to quote you uncharitably, a scammer trying to get personal information, etc.
We have no evidence that we have suffered a breach of our security in the traditional sense of the word (e.g. database being hacked).
Noted, appreciated. 80k sounds like a very very interesting group.