Paths to becoming a foreign policy advisor

[Gov2School]

When it comes down to it you're not going to get around the lack of Hill experience if you want to be a foreign policy LA. You're far more likely to be elevated to that position if you've worked for Congressman/Senator X for however many years and you've worked on foreign policy issues, or Congressman/Senator X trusts you and recommends you for that position elsewhere. A background (especially at a foreign policy think tank or something similar) and advanced degree would help you in that regard, but the experience matters more.

 

I think anything in the executive branch is rather different. For the White House, you can break into the west wing fastest if you worked for the campaign. On the junior levels you might be able to secure something that way, but even then you'd have to be a networker extraordinaire and it's far more likely you'd get a strictly political position. Obviously senior foreign policy advisers have distinguished diplomatic/intelligence/military careers and there's no way around that. If you're a "hot shot" and don't like delayed gratification, try becoming a White House Fellow while going to school. That's a tried and true way of getting onto policy planning staffs, whether at State or elsewhere. 

 

Everything this person says is very true.

 

I would add that if you don't want to work your way up on the Hill, another option would be to sign on to a congressional campaign of someone you believe in.  You have to start early, probably as a volunteer, work really hard, hope to get hired as staff, then work really really hard and hope your person wins AND hope they take you with them to DC. It's not easy, and I wouldn't recommend it just to get a job but more so because you want the campaign experience and you believe in the candidate.