<p>I am currently a junior political science major at UC Berkeley and plan to apply to an MPP/MPA program after accumulating post-graduation work experience. My ultimate goal is to work in capital hill in the domestic, more political, sphere. So, I am less interested in international oriented programs.</p>
<p>At the moment, I am very worried about finding relevant interning and job experience, so I can transition from graduation to a meaningful job directly after graduate (May 2010). Due to financial issues, I am unable to work any unpaid internships or positions this summer and am forced to only consider the highly competitive paid positions largely constrained to the San Francisco Bay Area. While my GPA and EC work is above average, these positions are absolutely inundated with applications and with the economy there are less of them than usual.</p>
<p>If I am unable to find a paid internship/position (to pay rent in the Bay Area), I will be forced to return to my hometown where I can live rent free. I am looking into various county offices and plan to call regarding internship positions this summer. Though, my county is not exactly a metropolitan area (San Luis Obispo), would an internship with the country administrative office, board of supervisors, or other related offices be adequate work experience to leverage a more important DC area position after graduation?</p>
<p>I guess my main question/concern is about the type and quality of work experience expected of a successful applicant to the DC area.</p>
<p>Perhaps this is the wrong forum, but if anyone can shed any light on my situation, it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Are you asking about work experience for a future job, or for graduate school? If you need a paid position relevant to government, perhaps you should look into private firms such as think tanks or lobbying.</p>
<p>Political campaigns can be a great source of experience. They do not last too long, and you get a wealth of knowledge very quick, with great resume building.
Many of the DC area colleges offer immersion type programs on capitol hill.</p>
<p>^ Most of these positions are unpaid.</p>
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<p>I am asking for a future job, directly after graduation from Berkeley, to use as meaningful experience when applying to an MPP/MPA program. So, both really.</p>
<p>Well it is going to very difficult to find public sector jobs that are “temporary” which also pay. I know a few state legislatures pay their interns, otherwise perhaps you can contact your local representatives and ask if they have any paying internship opportunities for however long you want to do it. Otherwise, I would suggest that you look at private sector jobs that are related.</p>
<p>I recommend experience ‘on the ground’. Have you thought about Teach for America?</p>
<p>It is nearly impossible to get a political job in DC unless you have a connection or extensive experience or a higher degree. Here are your options: get an unpaid internship and work nights, jump on a political campaign this Summer, find the nearly impossible paid internship, or join the peace corps or teachforamerica, etc. I’m sorry if this is not the answer you wanted but I am from the DC area and graduated in '09 with significantly more experience and was still unable to find work. I ended up taking the unpaid internship, then worked on a political campaign (which I’m still doing today). Sorry to serve it to you blunt but it’s best not to sugar coat reality.</p>