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The On the Hill: Breaking Down DC podcast is a collection of sharing more about what’s happening in DC without the bias, ways for you to get involved with the US government, and interviews with friends, colleagues who can help pull back the proverbial curtain of Washington, DC. Katherine Getty, host of the OTH podcast, is a 10-year Washingtonian who lives and breathes politics.
Katherine Getty 0:01
Hi, and welcome to the on the Hill podcast with me your host, Katherine Getty. Each Thursday, I'll peel back the curtain of what happens in Washington, from breaking down current events without bias, to interviews with fellow political nerds, and even and maybe most importantly, ways for you to get involved with our US government. Welcome back to another episode of The on the Hill podcast with me your host, Katherine Getty. Now Kermit the Frog, I'm sorry, my voice is a little under the weather this week, you're gonna have to forgive it, but it'll be a short and sweet episode. Just been thinking a lot. You know, it's if you're listening in real time, it's May, there's a lot of interns that are going to be coming into Washington DC over the next few weeks, in over the summer. And it just really made me think about what some advice I wish I knew what if I was coming to DC to enter. And so for those in your life that you know, are coming to Washington, DC, and are interning to this episode to them. I would love that. And if you're not, I hope there are some nuggets along the way. You know, I am in my career. And I think these are really good reminders, even for myself. So I think the first one is, there's no perfect path. May you be interning on Capitol Hill, at a think tank at a lobbying firm on a campaign get started. That's all you have to do. Messy action is better than nothing. And internships are such a great way to better understand what do you like and what do you don't like? I think oftentimes, we think, especially for Type A personalities that come to Washington, DC, I know that comes as a shocker. But everyone thinks they have to know 10 steps ahead, while I'm gonna have this internship that will lead to that internship that will lead to this job and this job intended. And next will be precedent. And my experience and living in DC for nearly 11 years, it doesn't really work like that, you know, there is an imperfect path. You know, I started when I came to Washington, DC 11 years ago, I was interning at a law firm that had a public policy shop, a lobbying, lobbying arm, and I was going grad school at night. And I had done a little bit, I did a six week internship on the hill, I thought, oh, man, I really need more time on the hill. That's the only way I'm going to succeed in the city as if I'm on the hill, and kind of stepped led to another step. You know, I was interning there. And then I ended up getting a full time job with this lobbying firm that led me to a campaign that led me to my current job, which is in house. So at a company doing lobbying work, I say that because if you have a path in mind, and it doesn't work out that way, you're going to feel let down. So remind yourself, there's no perfect path, you're going to find your path, however it comes. And there's going to be probably some times where you're like, maybe I took a misstep, but that's going to clarify for you what you want to do next. And I always think about internships and in DC, and maybe even jobs, as you're learning what you do love, you're learning what lights you up, you're learning what doesn't. And that's helpful information. I think what comes along with this is my next point, is listen to your gut. I think so far. So often, if we're kind of locked into a path that we think we have to do, you're not going to listen to that little voice maybe in your head or in your guy that says, This isn't right for you. I encourage you as you do an internship in DC, listen to it. If something doesn't feel right, if someone asks you to do something that you're like, I don't want to do that. Now, if it's in the realm of what you're supposed to be doing for your job, you need to do it. But if you feel like it's crossing some line, then don't do it. I think that's very rare in DC, I'm not trying to make that seem like that's often but listen to your gut. And I think listening to your gut can also say, if you want to be in politics, if you don't, I can say if you want to be in campaigns, if you don't, you can say I want to be on Capitol Hill, or maybe I want to be within a company, listen to your guide, because it will be the most fulfilling thing for you long term. If you don't and you fight it, it will only feel uncomfortable. And I think the last little piece of advice, I would say is ask questions. If you're getting a project from someone as questions, you know, make sure that you say hey, these are the questions I have right now, I might come back to you. Things like that of ensuring that you're thinking through what are the next steps that planning that aligning, will really help your career long term, asking the questions showing the interest. You know, in it, it really shows you that that interim manager or the coordinator you have that you care, asking questions means you care now, I also say when you're asking questions, make sure you're listening to the answers. Take notes, you know, may that be written a that be you know, in your mind, may that be however you want to catalog it so that when you come to the next project, you're saying okay, I asked, insert internally coordinator this question last time and I handled it this way. If I think it's needs to be handled the same way, pursue it, if you want to follow up and say, Hey, I'm approaching this challenge, and I think I'm going to do it x. But I could do it why? I say that, because oftentimes, you know, if you're not showing that you're kind of building on the questions, it's going to be kind of sending your ability to grow in that role. So ask questions, be curious. And you'll rarely succeed. Like I said, this is a short and sweet episode on just some intern. You know, wisdom. I wish I knew wisdom. I appreciate and it was one no perfect path. Take the path as it comes to you and listen to your gut number two, and three as those questions. Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of beyond the hill podcast. As always, tune in next week, Kermit the Frog will not be the host. It will be Katherine Getty again. Thanks so much. Have a great day.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai