Dear Hecate:

I just graduated from college with a degree in political science and I’m interviewing for a job as an aide to a rank and file State Senator. I’m worried I’ll get stuck handling calls from old ladies complaining that the manager of their housing project won’t fix their air conditioner or sorting out and counting up emails about veto over rides. (That’s what the staff was doing when I dropped off my resume and had my first interview with the chief of staff.) I’m really more interested in analyzing the cost and benefit ratios of pending policy decisions and making recommendations for action to the Senator.

I’m willing to start out doing scut work, but I don’t want to get stuck doing it for the next two years. Is constituent work a stepping stone to more important policy analysis? Will taking such a job at least expose me to other opportunities in the State House, including the Governor’s office and the press?

~ Smart and Ambitious

Dear Smart and ambitious,

Take a deep breath and pray for a second interview where you can pretend you attended the Public Policy’s special on How to be a Great Staffer. I have attached some notes from a professional lobbyist below, but there a 2 important things to remember;

1. Elected officials value constituent opinions about pending policy decisions more than they value facts and research from their own staff.
2. Elected officials value loyalty and discretion more than they do smarts and ambition.

Finally, in your second interview show some enthusiasm for the job - DO you want the job?  If you really want to do something else, don't apply.

~ Hecate

How to be a Great Staffer - July 7th, 2009

PANELISTS: Michael Capuano, U.S. Congressman and former House staff; Robert Travaglini, former Senate President and former staff to Attorney General and Mayor; James Torney, First Justice to the Barnstable Juvenile Court, and former House Committee Research Staff; Howard Leibowitz, Principal at HL Consulting, and former Mayoral Press and Governmental Relations Staff; Mary Ann Walsh, Partner at Governmental Strategies and Former Governor's Policy Staff and Cabinet Secretary; Maryann Calia, Visiting Faculty at the Public Policy Institute and former House Policy and Research Staff

While the panelists shared valuable information for folks who wish to become great state house staffers, much of what they had to say is helpful to anyone working in any political environment, even those of us on the "outside."  In addition, it helps those of us advocating with folks in the legislature to be reminded of the desirable qualities of, and expectations that guide, the best state house staffers:

• • It's all about helping people, you have to be willing to take that call at 5:00 PM on a Friday afternoon, on a holiday weekend, from the elderly woman who has lost her heat and should have called you days ago and may have lost her heat due to her own fault.  You stick around and make sure she gets her heat back on.
  • Policy is important but it's not all about policy. Appreciate the distinction between the policy/professional side of the business and the political side.
  • Be on time for meetings with the boss and constituents. BE PREPARED with all the current facts and background history regarding the subject of any meeting with constituents and your boss.
  • Respect constituents always, whatever they think and have to say, treat them with consideration. LISTEN! Do less talking, and more listening. Must be intelligent but being personable is essential. Don't say your name unless you have to; it's not about you. Smart people listen to others. Avoid arrogance always.  
  • Leadership is plural, not singular, not an individual sport. All success is the result of TEAM work, not some lone staff hero saving the day. 
  • All credit for success goes to the boss
  • All responsibility for mistakes goes to you - the staffer, whose job it is to deflect all criticism away from the boss and to you.  If you are chief of staff in particular, the buck stops with you.
  • LOYALTY - the coin of the realm.
    
    • Your loyalty goes to your boss, even when you disagree. It's perfectly o.k. to disagree with your boss, but you must do so in a respectful manner and with the understanding that your boss may know something more about the subject.
    • You must be willing to tell your boss the bad news if need be.  Don't flatter or be a 'yes' person.  Your boss needs to hear the bad news first.
    • KEEP MUM!  Do not give away any confidential information or you will not be trusted.  If you are told to keep something confidential, do it. Don't say ANYTHING to ANYBODY in the State House or to your boss or if you don't know what you're talking about.
  • For chief of staff:  Always read the newspapers - state and local - before your boss does. Remember the big picture, don't micromanage; hire good people, trust them, empower them. Must have tremendous people skills, must be grounded, must be stable. You can get caught up in the crisis of the day, but need to remember that it's all about your principal (the elected official) and guiding the staff; guiding, directing and tending to the needs of your staff.In real estate it's location, location, location; in politics it's: loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!
  • Always be looking only to get it right. The 9 AM charge to the staff from a former Leader "This is temporary, we don't have a divine right monarchy here; do something good today!"
  • 4-6 years is the average stint at the state house - use that time wisely - go to law school or grad school AT NIGHT while you're working there to maximize your potential.