Congressional Aides

Employers

Congressional aides are federal employees. There are 100 senators and 435 representatives who hire congressional aides. This number won't change without an amendment to the constitution or the addition of another state. For fair representation in the U.S. Congress, each state is allowed two senators; the number of representatives for each state is determined by the state's population. California has the most representatives (53). Many congressional aides work on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The Congressional Management Foundation reports that 44 percent of House staff and 35 percent of Senate staff find work in the home-state offices of their members of Congress.

Starting Out

Assistants are needed at every level of government. While in college, make personal contacts by volunteering on political campaigns. But be prepared to volunteer your services for some time in order to advance into positions of responsibility for candidates and elected officials. You should try to become an expert in a particular area—such as the environment, taxation, or disability issues—to increase your chances of landing a job. You can also gain valuable experience by working in the offices of your state capitol building. State legislators require aides to answer phones, send letters, and research new bills.

Become familiar with Leadership Connect's government database (formerly the Congressional Yellow Book), which is available at your library or online. Getting a job as a congressional aide can be a difficult task—you may need to regularly submit resumes to placement offices of the House and the Senate. An internship can be a great way to get a foot in the door. The Congressional Management Foundation publishes information on internships.