July 21, 2011, Arlington, VA—Efficient social media, impactful journalism, conservative media trends, and relevant Op-Eds, press releases, and media advisories are all essential aspects of effective communication. At this week's largest-ever Leadership Institute Written Communications Workshop students learned how to acquire and apply these very tools in public policy.LI welcomed more than 114 current and aspiring political writers who had the pleasure of learning from expert faculty such as Lindsey Mask, communications director for Congressman McKeon; Amanda Carpenter, senior communications advisor for Senator DeMint; American Conservative Union CPAC Director Christopher Malagisi; and others.“LI provided me with training to improve my ability to communicate with our company leaders on a daily basis,” commented Scott McGeary, attorney and area manager at Washington Gas.Former LI staffer and the Daily Caller's Senior Contributor Matt Lewis spoke on the conservative media landscape and current trends.“Everyone has an opinion; everybody owns a megaphone and a ‘printing press'. You are competing against all who can press ‘print now,” Lewis said, referring to the waning practice of blogging and the movement from strictly opinion pieces to both opinion and fact-based writing. “People are looking for new information and substantial content: find your niche.”Lewis also exhorted students to be relevant and timely. “Be accurate, fair, and credible—and get it done five minutes ago! Timeliness in writing is so important—three or four minutes often make the difference. Be fast, accurate, and beat the other guy to the punch, but never sacrifice accuracy for speed.”Dan Graham, principle of Graham Associates, shared the importance of audience analysis, avoidance of logical errors in sentence structure, elimination of “deadwood” or ambivalent words, and comprehension and improvement of readability.Dan shared hints for capturing and holding the audience's attention: “The better you know someone, the better you can tell them what you do; present tense is conducive, as opposed to speculative future tense; when writing in the passive voice, you have readers guessing wrong.”Christopher Malagisi, director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) of the American Conservative Union, outlined the elements of an effective op-ed and Communications Director Lindsey Mask touched on the basic components and variance of successful press releases and media advisories.“The best writers are those who niche themselves in one or two specific areas,” Chris said. “A lot of people in politics are generalists—what is one unique thing that can set you apart? You may want to weigh in on the national political environment, but you are an expert on what is going on in your community.”Students enjoyed interacting with each other and faculty members, while gaining valuable insights into the current political writing scene. Areva Enrichment Services Project Assistant Jennifer Lundy described the training as “a great way to learn and network with fellow conservatives.”Intern Brianna Walden of the Family Research Council said, “Many concepts that I had floating around in my head were really defined and nailed down at this workshop. My biggest take-away: develop your own niche.”Brianna summarized her experience: “The Leadership Institute offers thorough and enlightening training sessions and the Written Communications Workshop was no exception. I gained practical tools that will help me throughout life whether I enter a career in communications or not.”She went onto conclude: “I am now better equipped to market myself online and have gained the tools to help my writing in everyday life.”Please click here to register for an upcoming LI training. >

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:.5in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";} We've given you advice on the resume, networking, preparing for the job hunt, and extreme makeovers for the interview. The next step: The actual interview! That can be the most nerve wracking experience in the whole job search process. No longer are you able to hide behind your resume, your computer, or even the phone. Your true colors are now going to be exposed and your potential future employer is about to see your real personality. Scared? DON'T BE!!! I'm about to give you some tips to make sure you have a successful interview that can help you land your dream job!1. Treat every meeting with anyone as a potential interview. You never know who is watching you!2. Dress properly. Look professional. A neutral colored business suit (navy blue or gray are best), with a nice white shirt, a nice pair of shoes (ladies, don't wear a super tall heel), hair out of your face, no over-the-top accessories (ladies, if you must wear earrings, wear a small pair of studs). You don't want your outfit talking for you. You want your words to be talking for you!3. Be slightly early. 5-7 minutes early is a good time frame. You NEVER want to be late! Don't be too early either. Be respectful of the interviewer's time.4. Have a firm handshake. One of my biggest pet peeves in life is when someone has a weak, limp noodle hand shake. You don't want to over-power or squeeze anyone's hand, but you do want to show that you have confidence in yourself.5. Maintain eye contact. When you can look someone in the eyes it shows that you respect them and have a healthy self respect.6. Turn off your phone before you even walk in the building. Enough said.7. Know what job you are interviewing for. Find out as much information as you can before you even walk into the office.8. Be friendly and cordial. The employer is taking time out his/her day to dedicate to you. They are also seeing if you can work well with others. Always have a positive attitude!9. Send a follow up thank you note RIGHT AFTER THE INTERVIEW! That will make you stand out among other job seekers.These are just a few tips, but they are very important. If you want to land your dream job, it is important to be as prepared as possible and be confident! >

There are so many job sites out there that are designed to assist you in your job search. But how many of them really work to match you with your perfect dream job? Stephanie Freedman, former LI intern and ConservativeJobs.com user, found her dream job with the help of Andrea McCarthy and ConservativeJobs.com. Here is an interview that I had with Stephanie to talk about her success as a job seeker. 1. For which organization do you work?I work at the Independent Institute. We are a policy think tank that works with 10 senior fellows to research the different political issues and produce tangible published works (op eds, books). We publish everything at the company, and promote the new development. 2. What is your current position?I am the Publicity Coordinator in the communications department. I am responsible for tracking media and where the seniors have been placed, post successes on the website and social media. I work with scholars and supervisors to edit pieces and reach out to the media outlets and tell everyone what's happening at the organization. I handle a lot of media calls and media relations.3. How did you find out about the job?I heard about the job through the Employment Placement Services (EPS) at The Leadership Institute (LI). I was searching for jobs for the website and came across it. I posted it on CJ.com, and then applied. Andrea assisted me in the research I needed and did a follow up call on my behalf. It was Andrea's follow up call that assisted in moving my resume to the top and eventually led to the employment.4. Did Andrea refer you?Yes.5. Did Andrea help you with your resume?Absolutely. We started working on my resume toward the middle of the internship. We sat down and Andrea helped assess my resume and strengths that I have. She had me read What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles and fill out the job flower which gave me different things to assess for my professional skills. Andrea walked through the whole job hunting process with me.6. How did having a ConservativeJobs.com profile assist in the process of locating a job?The website is very helpful. Seekers are able to search in the key words, titles, and areas in which they are looking. Seekers are able to sift through the jobs. The design of ConservativeJobs.com gives you the ability to fill out a good portion about yourself. The website also allows the employers to see even more about you than just receiving a resume. 7. What were the different steps of the interview process that you went through?I first had a short phone interview right after the internship, and I talked with my now direct supervisor. I was offered an in person interview where I sat down with the Communications Director and VP. They asked me about my background with LI, education, policy questions, etc. The interview was roughly 4 or 5 hours long. Finally, I sat down with the COL of the organization, followed by the President, and talked a lot about public policy. I was offered the job four or five days later. 8. How do you like your job?I love my job. It was a very good match. Andrea really listened to what my interests are. I wanted to be able to use both my degrees as well as be back in Northern California near my family. I'm very blessed to be here. Andrea and ConservativeJobs.com played a large role in my placement. 9. What is your favorite aspect of the job?I'm really enjoying being able to see what's going in the country and the world, and being able to correlate the work that we do with everything that is going on. 10. Do you think you would have discovered this job if it weren't for conservativejobs.com?No. I don't think I would have found the job if it wasn't for LI. If it wasn't for CJ and being under Andrea's wing I wouldn't have even known where to look. The website really helped streamline what I wanted.11. What advice do you have for job seekers using ConservativeJobs.com? About their profile? About their resumes? About using EPS?Genuinely assess everything you have done. Don't make your resume fit the cookie cutter. Make sure there are things on there that make you stand out, whatever that may be. You have to have the skill set, but it's the extra activity that does make you stand out. Understand the strengths you possess that make you stand out. Do the research; make sure you have the proper background for which they are looking. Reach out to whoever you can. (Hmmm networking really is important!) 12. Do you and would you recommend conservativejobs.com to other job seekers?I would definitely recommend it! It not only provides a large array of jobs, but it also gives you a full staff and support system around you. Andrea reaches out to everyone on the site, and takes the person's needs and matches them with their dream job. So there you have it. A real life story, with real positive results. Please do not hesitate to contact Andrea McCarthy. She really has a heart for helping people. Good luck on your job searching! >

June 27, 2011, Arlington, VA— Next week from July 2-8 the Leadership Institute's international programs department will go again to Mongolia to train around 500 key leaders in government, politics, and business, as well as those seeking public office and those who will run and contribute in the next presidential campaign.The Leadership Institute has currently trained more than 1,000 key Mongolian leaders in Arlington, Virginia, USA and in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.Leadership Institute International Programs Consultant Torey Hall met with Mongolia's President Tsakhia Elbegdorj last week when he was in town for meetings with President Obama and several conservative organizations. Mr. Elbegdorj was overjoyed that Mongolia has established democracy after 65 years of a communist government. “We will build a strong relationship with the USA and emulate President Ronald Reagan," President Elbegdorj said.President Elbegdorj, accompanied by his personal advisor and LI Graduate Mrs. Battsetseg Shagdar, was very happy to see LI's Torey Hall. He expressed great enthusiasm and thanked LI for training those who ran his political campaign, as well as other Mongolian business leaders and social entrepreneurs.LI's Director of International Programs Miguel Moreno and three other LI international speakers will address several audiences of key Mongolian leaders in the capital Ulaanbaatar next week. >

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} America's Future Foundation invites you to become involved in the nation's leading networking and professional development organization for conservatives and libertarians in their 20s and 30s. You can advance your career by attending unique programs, making connections with like-minded peers, and debating or writing your opinions at our events or in Doublethink magazine. To learn more, please visit this page (link to http://www.americasfuture.org) or sign up for free updates and event invitations here (link to http://americasfuture.org/subscriptions/)>

June 23, 2011, Arlington, VA— Conveying a message is more than the simple articulation of ideas; it involves stylistic and intentional verbiage, appropriate hand gestures and body movements, and a correct understanding of the audience. Last week, 15 students learned how to relay an effective message through persuasive delivery at the Leadership Institute's Public Speaking Workshop.Roncalli Communications President Dr. John Shosky discussed the importance of crafting goals for a speech based on the message and audience. “I know that I benefited greatly from Dr. Shoskey's discussion on the substance of a good speech,” remarked student Andrew Patterson from Monroeville, Pennsylvania.Ian Ivey, program expert for General Services Administration, taught four roles imperative to becoming an excellent presenter. “You must be an expert, an owner, a performer, and a teacher through preparation and practice.”Accompanied by energetic gestures and exclamations, Ian shared various tips for effective communication: “Know 10 times what you'll tell them; write good transitions that effectively relate things to one another; when your mouth is moving, you're looking at someone's eyes; intent is not result.”Student Caitlin Byrd, assistant policy analyst at the National Tax Payers Union Foundation, said, “Both speakers were unique and had different deliveries, but were equally effective and very influential.”Andrew summed up his experience at the workshop. “The Leadership Institute's Public Speaking Workshop provides public speaking tools that can be used by both the amateur and veteran presenter.”To learn how to receive this training and others, please click here. >

June 17, 2011, Arlington, VA- Last week, the Leadership Institute welcomed over 122 DC-area summer interns to the Conservative Intern Workshop. Representing numerous states and organizations, interns enthusiastically engaged in discussions with speakers and networked with each other throughout the intensive, day-long event.Topics ranged from learning how to navigate DC and making the most of an internship, to constructing an effective resume and building a valuable network.“Become an unforgettable asset,” said Steve Sutton, vice president of development at LI. “You want to be the ‘go to' guy. Show initiative and do more than the minimum.”Sutton encouraged interns to “press the advantage by always doing the job of the person ahead of you. If you want the job, do the job. And, never say no for someone else.”Students also learned how to translate first impressions into lasting impressions. Brian Bernys, national field director at LI, explained that manners are the hallmark of profession presence and that there is no end to making first impressions.“You need 60 seconds of information to position who you are, why you're important, and why people should remember you. Know yourself through self-assessment.”Andrea McCarthy, director of employment placement services at LI, shared tips on how to get your resume noticed. Student Bennet Opitz, intern of the American Legislative Exchange Council, described the training as “a great learning experience. I learned a lot about constructing a resume and forming it to fit my future career path.”The workshop concluded with CPAC Director Chris Malagisi of the American Conservative Union instructing interns that networking is not only helpful, it is critical. “Networking today equals opportunities tomorrow; it is an investment in your future.”Malagisi emphasized that following up on connections is the most important aspect in building an effective network. “In politics, most opportunities result from a single independent human being. The follow up can make or break a network.”“The networking talk was especially good because it shared how to take advantage of more opportunities while in DC. It really matters who you know,” commented Kevin Schafer, intern of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.This year's annual workshop was the largest yet. Students enjoyed the energy, relevance, and interactive nature of the speakers. Intern Stephanie Jaczkowski of the National Taxpayer's Union summed up her experience: “This was nothing like any other workshop I've been to. The speakers were respected professionals and captivatingly witty. It exceeded my expectations a hundredfold!” >

If you've attended any of my resume workshops, you have heard me say repeatedly, ‘demonstration of excellent writing skills is critical to landing your dream job.' Especially if that dream job happens to be on Capitol Hill. But really, recruiters everywhere are looking for qualified candidates who know how to write, regardless of the position. Managers make it very clear to us that they do not have time to be someone's editor-in-chief (unless that's actually their job), so they ask us to find competent writers. And not only people who can string words together properly and use punctuation when and where needed, but people who can turn around and use different channels to get their writing in front of the reading public. Jobseekers who not only write well but effectively use new media outlets, write press releases and op eds, and understand what a media advisory is and how to use it are absolutely golden to recruiters and hiring managers.So how do you achieve this golden status I'm talking about? Start with the Leadership Institute's newly revamped Written Communications Workshop on July 19-20. At this two-evening workshop, you will learn the different professional writing techniques for publication, critical grammar and usage skills (so very important!), what a good press release or media advisory looks like, and how to use new media to get your work noticed. Jobseekers really shouldn't miss this training! We're bringing in conservative heavy hitters such as Matt Lewis, Lindsey Mask, and Amanda Carpenter to help you find your inner writing guru.The class runs from 5:30-10 pm each evening. Mention this blog when you call to register, and you may even receive a discount off the already reduced price of $40. Dinner and class materials are included. I hope to see you there..and to see this class listed under additional trainings on your resume!>

We have always heard, “It's not what you know, it's who you know.” But how many of us have really thought about the legitimacy of that statement? Throughout our years of schooling, we have been trained to believe that our education is the most important asset in our future careers. We are never taught to connect with other students or adults, especially while in high school. Since being in DC this summer, I have realized just how important it is to network, especially if you want to eventually work in politics. And even if you don't want to pursue a career in politics, you will be amazed at how people have connections to prominent businessmen and women all around the nation. So, why is networking important? The obvious reason is it can help you get a job. But it goes deeper than that. You never know how the person you meet today will help you tomorrow. From helping you secure a job, to helping you find a good physician in your new place of residence, to giving you a ride at 3:00 AM, your network will always have something great to offer you. How do you network? Christopher Malagisi, the director of CPAC, is the master networker. He has developed a fool-proof process of networking that is guaranteed to help any person who is struggling with meeting people to become one of the greatest networkers around. First step, develop a game plan. What are you trying to accomplish? Where do you want and need to be in order to meet people? Who do you need to meet? These are questions that are very personal for each person. One person may want to meet fellow interns at the Young Republicans meeting every other Tuesday in order to make more friends for the summer. Another person may want to meet prominent political activists at the Heritage Foundation every Friday night in order to get a job in the future. Whatever the reason behind your desire to network might be, develop a game plan. Even if you are just interested in making friends, that's fine! Meet different people, and get introduced to even more people. You never know if these people will be helping you in the future.Second step of networking: Make contact! You have 30 seconds to make a good first impression. Utilize those 30 seconds to not only make the conversation about you, but figure out who the person is and how you can connect with them on a more personal level. When you make someone else feel important, they will be more willing to open up to you and establish a great connection. Some tips for making contact: #1 Network by Sector (Capitol Hill, Think Thanks, Media, Government). #2 Develop a goal (I will get 5 business cards tonight, and I will set up lunch meetings with each of those 5 people). #3 Write the day, the place, and a couple interesting facts about the person that can help you in the future. (I met a lady in church the other day, through another person in my network, and I wrote on the back of her card where I met her, where she works, and what day I met her. And after meeting with her, I will include a couple more notes that will help me make a stronger connection with her in the future).A really impressive and important date I would try to obtain when networking is the other's birthday. Use that date to call them, email them, or send them a birthday card! They won't expect it, and you will stand out! The last step to networking is the follow up. The first thing you do when you get home that night, or into your office the next morning, is add your new contacts to your address book. You can maintain your contacts in Outlook, Gmail, an Excel spreadsheet, or an old fashioned rolodex. Make sure you include their name, number, email, address as applicable, and a couple notes you can use in the future. Email your new contact within 48 HOURS of meeting them. If you met someone who is very prominent and can help you beyond what you can expect (VPs of a company, a well-known activist, etc.) write them a personal note that you can send in the mail. People always love receiving personal mail, and you will stand out beyond the hundreds of other people they meet on a daily basis. Definitely write a “Thank You” letter after the follow up interview/meeting! So, now you are equipped to get out there and start networking and making great connections! Your DC internship, your job search, and your overall relationship building is about to get better! Just use these tips, and you will be on your way to a building a successful and strong network! >

June 14, 2011, Arlington, VA—In a society where technology relays messages in a matter of seconds, it is critical to actively control and structure the political images portrayed. “Your message is what your image is,” explained Blain Rethmeier, senior vice president of public affairs at the American Insurance Association, to an eager crowd of close to 40 students at the Leadership Institute's three-night Public Relations School. “You must mold your digital footprint.”For Jennifer Lundy of Areva Enrichment Services, efficiently managing social media is becoming increasingly important. “I have worked in politics a lot, but not in social media and crisis management. This school gave me a better outlook on social media and showed me what can be done better in a crisis situation.”As Lindsay Mask, communications director for Congressman Howard P. McKeon, said, “Perception is reality and crises management is critical—come out fast and clean, short and sweet.” She went on to conclude that “the minute something happens, technology won't hide it.”Students also learned the importance of utilizing social media professionally. “Social media does not change the business process or the organization's goals; it allows follow-up, awareness of what people are saying, and the ability to respond immediately,” said Abigail Alger, director of digital communications at LI.“Learning ways to track traffic and better use Facebook and Twitter was helpful and new to me. Also, it was good to learn how to better use the information on these sites,” explained Heather Rameau of the Inspector General's office.The practical and informative nature of the talks resonated with many. “Hearing an actual press secretary apply concepts to real life circumstances made everything more relevant,” commented student Grant Miller. “The quality of the presenters was unparalleled and their willingness to engage and assist students in their professional pursuits is exemplary.” >

Internships are the best way to get introduced to a professional job setting. One is able to learn proper business etiquette and protocol. An internship helps one realize what is and is not acceptable in an office setting without the fear of being dismissed for one minor fault. Internships are filled with great learning experiences. You might wonder, “When is the right time to start applying for and accepting internships?” Speaking from personal experience, the summer right after your freshman year of college is the best time to start interning. Employers are really impressed with a job seeker who is motivated enough to pursue internships so early on. Even if you are not necessarily interested in the field in which you are interning, you will always learn valuable lessons that you can apply to your professional life in the future. You may ask, “Is it ever too soon to intern?” I believe it is a case by case basis. Personally, if you just finished high school, and haven't lived on your own before, internships can be a little difficult, especially if they require you to move away from home. There are local internships that allow a new high school graduate to live at home and slowly get introduced to the professional world. If you are fresh out of high school, and if you have not had experience being on your own, you may want to look into internships that are close enough to home so that you can commute. I am so glad that I chose to apply for, and accept my internship at The Leadership Institute. In the first two short weeks of being here, I have learned many new things, I have made mistakes, I have realized what it means to live on your own, and I have made friendships that will only continue to grow. When given the choice between an internship, and, say, working at Applebee's for the summer, definitely go for the internship. Not only will you be marketable in the future, but you will also grow more as a person, and have experiences that you will never get in the local hang out. >

While other kids my age put themselves through college by tending bar or waiting tables, I spent my formative years selling men's suits back in my native England. Years spent selling formal apparel have taken their toll, and now I cast a critical eye on the sartorial judgment of job-seeker and interns.Do clothes matter in this age of open-necked shirts and casual Fridays? Put simply, yes. Granted, captains of industry, and even some politicians like to dress down (step forward, Barney Frank) but when you are at the bottom of the pile, you have to look like you are heading for the top. Even if the business you are hoping to work for has a casual dress code, only those who look polished will likely get the attention of management. If you dress like you are applying for a job in Buffalo Wild Wings, do you know where you'll probably end up working? You guessed it, Buffalo Wild Wings. If you are looking for employment, you should dress as if you are ready to start your dream job. If you are interning or just embarking on a new career, you should dress as well as, or better than, your boss. These are not personal preferences, but established strategies for advancement. With that in mind, here are ten quick tips to give your image an important makeover. There are many more pointers for success, which is why I urge you to attend the Leadership Institute's Intern Workshop and Conservative Career Workshop – perfect finishing schools for people looking to embark on a successful career in the nation's capital.1) Own at least one good suit. And take note guys, the navy blazer and khakis combo is not a suit, it is the uniform of the perennial intern. You need an outfit with matching jacket and pants. Try and find a suit with a neutral color with which you can match many different shirt and tie combinations (if you are a guy) and different blouse and jewelry combinations (if you are a girl). 2) Learn to love Goodwill, or any other Charity Shop where you can pick up a nice outfit for little money. Washington is full of well-paid lawyers and lobbyists who cast away last seasons' garments without compunction. You should be ready to cash in on their mistakes. Looking for a job, and interning, can be a long process which requires frugality. A trip to Goodwill will not only bolster your wardrobe but provide some much needed retail therapy. 3) When picking your shirt and tie combinations, following the Two-out-of-Three rule. You can match a striped suit with either a patterned shirt or patterned tie, but not both. On the other hand, feel free to wear a patterned shirt and tie, but only if the suit you are wearing is plain. Two out of the three components of your outfit can have a stripe or pattern, but never, ever all three. Trust me, your outfit will be so loud the interviewer won't hear a word you say during the job interview. 4) Ladies, when putting together an outfit, you don't have to dress like your grandmother. But you do have to dress like you are about to go visit your grandmother. Washington is full of seedy politicos with bad intentions, so to be taken seriously, dress seriously. 5) And don't forget the 13-point rule, girls. That is, from the waist up your outfit should have (at most) 13 points of interest. For example, if you wear a jacket with three buttons in the middle and two on each sleeve (for a total of 7 points) you have 6 points to use on jewelry. A necklace is worth 2 points, as is a pair of earrings. Of course, you don't have to reach 13 points, many women don't, but you should never go above this magic number. Like the poor guy wearing too many stripes, your outfit will be louder than a Michael Bay movie. 6) Wear outfits of that show off your skin tone at its best. People with olive and dark skin look great in light colors, and people with pale skin look good in dark colors. Women, wear makeup by all means, but please remember point number four. 7) Here's one I wish I had know during my adolescence: guys, cologne is intimate apparel. If anyone other than your wife or partner tells you how nice you smell, it is not a compliment. You've put on too much cologne. 8) A note on shoes. Ladies, getting to the metro sometimes takes a lot of walking, and cabs can be pricey, so wear something that reflects this reality. Guys, rest assured, girls look at your shoes. So when next you head home without getting that girls number from the bar, take a look and see what you've got on your feet. You don't need to wear white patent leather next time you go watch the Caps play, but make sure you're wearing something that matches the new suit you just bought. 9) Happy Hours and other events where you can meet the next potential employer are a minefield of potential social faux pas. With so many people in town with big egos and even bigger stories about how they have President Obama's cell phone on speed dial, you might be surprised how far a handshake and a smile can get you. When starting conversation, stick to something non-controversial, like transport or the weather. From these tentative beginnings, you can take the measure of the kind of person you are speaking with. 10) Lastly, a note on bearing and how you present yourself to others. Looking for a job can be soul-destroying, but keep a positive attitude at all times. People are far more inclined to support a job seeker who keeps upbeat. If you look like someone who is going places but who happens to be without a job, you will be treated like someone who is going places. If you instead use the local happy hour or worse, facebook, twitter, and gchat to complain about how the world is against you, don't be surprised if offers of support start to dry up. People don't want to spend their valuable time helping Debbie Downer. Dan Whitfield is a faculty member for the Leadership Institute and a copywriter at Eberle & Associates, one of America's largest conservative direct mail fundraising agencies.>

Learn how to stand out at your summer internship with the Leadership Institute's free Conservative Intern Workshop on Thursday, June 9. The free, full-day workshop will teach you how to contribute to your organization, how to stand out to staff, and how to advance your careers. Last year, more than 26 organizations sent 93 interns to attend.You will learn:how to write an effective resumehow to build a network in D.C.how to secure a full-time positionhow to dress for a professional officehow to manage your financesYou'll also receive a complimentary lunch, refreshments, and a networking dinner, so you can make connections with other interns as well as LI faculty, who are established political professionals. Register today at http://bit.ly/jQImSr!The Conservative Intern Workshop is an opportunity to advance your professional development at no cost to you. There's no better way for you to start your career in Washington, D.C.! >

Often jobseekers ask how to get more employers to look at their profiles on conservativejobs.com. Not only am I going to tell you how to do that, but I'm also going to give you some tips on making your profile impressive to employers once they do look at it.A few ways to ensure recruiters look at your profile during their search for applicants include filling out the public policy questionnaire fully, updating your profile regularly, and entering key words when prompted.First, you should fill out the public policy questionnaire. And fill it out thoroughly. Often, jobseekers cannot see what your ideology is based on what you have or have not responded with, so they will skip right over your profile. This isn't the case with all recruiters who use the site, but it is with many. So increase your chances of being matched with an employer who shares your philosophy by answering all the questions with strong opinions.Second, update your profile on a regular basis. The longer you go between tweaking your profile or updating your resume, the further to the bottom your profile goes when a hiring manager starts a resume search. The most recently updated profiles are the first to pop up. Make sure yours is there!Third, when you initially fill out your profile, almost as important as filling out the ppq is filling in the lines under Areas of Interest/Experience. If you fill those out with what you are very interested in, or what field(s) in which you are truly qualified to work, an employer will see your profile when they type in those key words as they search for resumes.Additionally, once an employer has opened your profile, you want to make it easy for them to see why they should hire you. To do this, you need to pay attention to a few important details.The absolute most important thing you must do, and I cannot believe I'm even having to say this, is upload your resume! If it's not on there, you are not going to get a second look, let alone a call. And do not just upload it, but also copy and paste it into the resume box. You should make it as easy as possible for the recruiter to see your credentials. Make sure the file you upload is one that can be opened and that the resume is flawless. If you are not sure what that looks like, send it to me at amccarthy@limail.us. I will help you create a resume that recruiters will actually read. And take the extra time to make sure what you copy and paste looks nice. You may have to do some manual formatting, but do it. Your resume is your first contact with employers. Put in the time to make sure it is attractive and informative without being overwhelming.Another important thing to remember when creating or updating your profile is to fill in every section, particularly the job preference, skills, and additional comments sections. I see so many profiles where these are not filled out at all. That makes it more difficult for a recruiter to determine whether you would be a good fit for a given position.Always upload a writing sample. It does not have to be 20 pages long. In fact, it should never be that long. Two pages will suffice nicely for most recruiters. They want to see that you can write well, not how many big words you know.As I mentioned before, update your profile regularly. As your interests and experiences change, the Areas of Interest/Experience section of your profile should reflect those changes. You should be updating your resume at least every six months, so be sure to upload the new version of that every time you change it. If your contact information changes, immediately note those changes on your profile. Simply replace the old with the new and continue.Finally, this is personal and a matter of common courtesy: always email or call to let me know when you accept a position you found or were made aware of through conservativejobs.com. I want to know that the website is working for you, but you have to follow up with me. So just shoot me a quick note when you accept a position. Who knows? We may feature you in one of LI's news releases as a success story for conservativejobs.com.>

The Leadership Institute's Advanced Public Relations School offers hands-on instruction for tackling communications problems, from organization and planning to presentation. Attendees are divided into communications teams and are given fictional crisis situations to work through strategy and message development in a mock press conference setting.The next Advanced Public Relations School is April 11-13 from 6:30-9:30 PM. Topics covered include:• How to deal with an adversarial press• The key to recognizing “hooks” in the day's news• How to develop, pitch, present, and defend your message and visionAs one past attendee remarked, “It really helped to hear from professionals in the same work environment I am in. I got a lot out of their advice, stories, and warnings!” To learn more and register for the training, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/APRS0411. >

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The Leadership Institute invites you to attend the fourth annual International School of Fundraising: How to Raise A Lot of Money in Your Country for Your Causes from April 5 to April 9 at Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire in the United Kingdom. Register now before all the 100 spots are filled.At the training, you'll receive lessons from expert faculty on personal solicitation; adapting the principles of direct mail fundraising to your culture and country; how to fundraise for corporations; vital research on donors and prospective donors; building strong donor relations; how to make strong presentations; writing a fundraising plan and budgeting for long-term success; how to write a successful fundraising letter; social media for fundraising; informational mailings and newsletters; how to build a house file with strategies for strong renewals; and many other topics.The cost for the week-long training is US $750 and includes lodging, meals, materials and training in state-of-the-art facilities with top-notch expert faculty from around the world. Scholarships are available. However, this seminar will be limited to 100 delegates.Register for the International School of Fundraising right now.If you have any questions, please contact Director of International Training Miguel Moreno at mmoreno@limail.us or 703-247-2000 ext. 345.>

March 17, 2011, Arlington, VA—The Leadership Institute's Director of the Employment Placement Services Department (EPS) Andrea McCarthy rarely has a slow day. She oversees ConservativeJobs.com, the nation's premier free, online solution that connects conservative job seekers with potential employers.In LI Founder and President Morton Blackwell's Employee of the Quarter announcement, he said, “Andrea has worked tirelessly for the last three months to meet with dozens of job seekers, quickly post new job positions to Conservative Jobs, and to review individual resumes to recommend top-talent to employers seeking conservative employees.”Accepting the award, Ms. McCarthy felt both “honored” and “surprised.” “This award is a motivator to keep meeting with folks. A motivator to place conservatives in their dream jobs,” said Ms. McCarthy.The Leadership Institute has placed over 1,300 conservatives in over 500 organizations nationwide. In addition to maintaining ConservativeJobs.com, Ms. McCarthy also quite frequently meets with conservative job seekers; answering questions, offering advice, and aiding in resume writing. Ms. McCarthy feels she has done her job “when I get a thank you card from someone I met with. We talked. We made some edits. And they got the job they wanted. The goal is for them to go from job seeker to employee.”Looking to the future, Ms. McCarthy has many plans. One includes a cell phone application for ConservativeJobs.com so that “we can make the services readily available,” she said.Having been with LI since 2006, first as a recruitment coordinator, then as the director of recruitment and now in her current position, Ms. McCarthy draws on her extensive knowledge, wide experience and contacts to aid conservatives and organizations in the search for the perfect match. “This award is a strong reminder of why I do what I do,” she said.Being the ultimate encourager, Ms. McCarthy is always ready to help anyone who contacts her. No matter how tough the challenge or how busy she is. She has one suggestion to all LI grads and conservatives: “Utilize the free sources!”To learn more about ConservativeJobs.com and set up an account please click here or contact Andrea at 703-247-2000.The Leadership Institute is an educational foundation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. LI trains and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media by teaching them how to succeed in the public policy process. To do that, LI offers 40 types of training programs, works with more than 1,465 conservative campus groups, and helps employers connect with conservative jobseekers. Since the Institute's 1979 founding, more than 91,600 students have been trained. Alumni include U.S. Senators, Members of Congress, city council members, local mayors, state legislators, and conservative activists and officeholders at every level. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadershipinstitute.org-30->

As we are rolling into a fresh race cycle for 2011, jobs are starting to pop up on the campaign trail. If you are in any way politically inclined there will always be a certain allure to working on a campaign at one point in your career. When I graduated college I had this vision of being staffed full time on a campaign. I was envisioning rallies, debates, and late nights eating pizza sessions while listening to Led Zeppelin. Do not get me wrong, these things did happen during the campaign (minus the Led Zeppelin tunes, even though we did throw in Journey a few times) but there were many holes in my vision that were quickly filled in once starting my first campaign job. My first job after college was a Congressional campaign, and it was one of the most intense, yet rewarding experiences of my life. But it takes a certain personality to truly enjoy campaign work. It is not for everyone. Before you embark on a search for a campaign job, here are a few things that I observed being campaign staff. This is not a job for the weary of heart.Be flexible: This job is in no way your structured, 9 to 5 scenario. In fact this might just be the antithesis of your typical job. Campaigners never sleep; there will always be an early morning news article that needs to be read, late night events that need to be hit, and weekends free are just a distant pastime on your life B.C. (Before Campaign). You may have a schedule planned for the day, and an article may turn up in the local paper that morning that will turn your whole day upside down. A last minute event opportunity may present itself that you cannot ignore. Having structure but being able to roll with the punches is a priceless craft to master on the campaign trail. Be open-minded: A campaign job is a job with many hats. While you will be hired for a specific job, be prepared to be doing everything under that job's spectrum. You will be in a suit one day and jeans and a T shirt the next. You will find yourself dressed up for a gala one night and pounding the pavement going door to door the next morning. You might even find yourself running to put out signs in your professional attire. Anything is possible. Be prepared to have your comfort zone pushed as far as possible.Assess your stress threshold: Before you embark on the journey to seek out the campaign job, sit down and be honest with yourself about how prepared you are to handle the stress of the campaign thrill ride. People told me that working on a campaign was like working in a pressure cooker and I could not think of a better way to explain it. There will always be more doors to knock on, there will always be another hundred calls to make, there will always be volunteers that need to be recruited, and there will always be media alerts to assess. Everyone wants to say that they handle stress well, but for the sake of your sanity and your potential colleagues' sanity; if you tend to not react well to stress, this may not be the job for you.At the end of the day be able to let your hair down: While the stress is high and the tasks are at times arbitrary, the point of campaigning is your ability to connect. This is a job strictly contingent on creating personal relationships. While there are a lot of things on the table, you still need to be able to have fun, and allow yourself to truly enjoy the job opportunity you are experiencing because it is truly one of a kind.Recognize that once you solidify your position on a campaign, you are surrendering yourself to the ride of your life until November 3rd. The only way to see if you're truly cut out for the work is to throw yourself into one headfirst. It may be the worst experience you've ever had, or the best experience you've ever had, but at the end of the day it will be an experience you will never forget. >

Florida campaign manager Andrea Penton, Vancouver CEO Julian Haigh, Texan entrepreneur Trent Derr, and more than forty other conservatives came to the Leadership Institute for its Campaign Management School (CMS), a week-long, intensive "boot camp" in campaign management last week.The school teaches students the ins and outs of campaigning through intensive training and real life stories, and in doing so, give students the how-to knowledge they need to succeed. As CMS student Gus Leventis of Addison, Illinois said, "The [CMS] will teach you how to win!"The week-long school drew future campaign managers, campaign staff, and several potential candidates. Among the candidates was Lynda Fairman (photograph below), a candidate for a Virginia State Senate seat. "I was visiting our state senator and every question I asked, the current state senator answered, ‘We'll just have to disagree on that,'" Lynda explained. "I asked about an education issue, since it is a field I am well experienced in, and it was an issue I was certain everyone would agree was a state issue. He claimed it was a district issue, looked at me then said, ‘We'll just have to disagree on that.' As we are about to leave, he sarcastically says, ‘Hmph. You should run for School Board.' I turn around, and blurt out ‘Actually, I think I'll run for your job!'" Lynda laughed. "He [the senator] just looked at me, then says, ‘Get in line.' With this training, I feel I have been given the tools to succeed. Not just for my campaign but for the movement as a whole."Emily Lucier, a contract documents paralegal in Richmond, Virginia shared her experience: "This has been such a plethora of invaluable information that has given me ideas for my candidate all week." She attended the school because she'll serve as campaign manager for a local government race in Richmond this fall. "This training has helped me to first consider the skills I have and how to use them, and also has given me a strong, organizational frame in how to go about planning a campaign. Learning these tools and processes will allow me to go forward with confidence."The CMS featured experienced, expert faculty members who brought many years' experience with campaigns -- and a willingness to share their knowledge with eager students."The campaign management training was an intense, one-week experience packed with the best practices and wisdom of the most impressive group of consultants I have met," said Trent Derr of Texas."Just this week alone, the training has been successful," said CMS attendee Dr. Lolita Mancheno-Smoak. She teaches graduate and undergraduate business at the University of Phoenix and Strayer University, and is an at-large candidate for the Fairfax County (VA) School Board. "What [LI] teaches is not just theory, but application. When you know you can immediately apply it, you know it is valuable," as she had already put the training to use by crafting a coalition of support for her candidacy.Lolita praised the training as teaching "the good, the bad, and the ugly of real campaigning based on real-life experiences." She added "fundamentally I think everyone should take this school. Not only campaign managers, but candidates, as well. I am ecstatic! We learn the right questions, the proper techniques, and bottom line you could never get this from a book. This is good!"Sharing this sentiment, Lynda Fairman added, "And not only is the training itself good, but the dinners at night and being able to stay in the dorms allows us to network and connect with each other. This is definitely worth my -- and the donors' -- money...Most of the lasting connections are made after class."After a week at the Campaign Management School, the more than 40 students are ready to contribute to the conservative movement as campaign managers, campaign staff, or future candidates. Perhaps Lynda explains it best: "Prior to this school, I felt like I was jumping off a cliff into a pit. Now, I'm ready!">

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the Leadership Institute hosted a job fair with 18-plus employers recruiting for conservative talent from a great pool of 495 jobseekers. LI also provided free one-on-one resume consultations. This kind of quality care toward jobseekers and employers is not unusual from the daily experience at LI. Director of Employment Placement Service Andrea McCarthy makes sure to connect with jobseekers in person, over the phone and by email to help them in their job search. Ms. McCarthy also works to identify and support the hiring needs of conservative organizations, Capitol Hill offices, campaigns, and media outlets.Through www.ConservativeJobs.com an employer and a jobseeker can create a profile, upload their resume, submit their references, and upload writing samples. Unlike many other job placement services, Conservative Jobs hosts a robust public policy questionnaire that evaluates an individual's view on particular issues. Ms. McCarthy and her department have held thousands of resume consultations and placed hundreds in conservative jobs.“The CPAC Job Fair was a great success! Several organizations found excellent candidates for summer internships, and the Leadership Institute hired the new Donor Relations Officer directly from the fair,” Andrea said. “Danielle Savoy joined the LI team on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, ten days after the job fair took place.” Employers that were present at CPAC's job fair hosted by LI included:Accuracy in MediaAmericans for ProsperityAmericans for Tax ReformAmericans United for LifeFreedomWorksHSP DirectIntermarkets, Inc.Judicial WatchManhattan InstituteNational Taxpayers UnionPrison FellowshipTerra EclipseThe Heartland InstituteThe Leadership InstituteTownhall.comWorld Journalism InstituteYoung Americans for FreedomYoung Americans for LibertyFor more information on LI's employment placement service, please click here. www.conservativejobs.com For free resume consultations, please call Andrea McCarthy at 703-247-2000.>