How would you tackle this industry gap in an interview?
Hey guys, I'm a senior graduating this December. So my sophomore summer I had a PWM internship with a small shop where I go to school. However, after that I got heavily involved in politics and worked for numerous local campaigns, one presidential campaign and a non-profit. However this summer I got an internship in energy, which is the industry I want to actually work in.
How would you guys explain the gap? Usually I just say I realized I still had a passion for markets and energy specifically. I didn't like who I was becoming as a person working in politics. I also tell them all of the cold calling and door knocking I did is some of the best sales experience I have ever had because you're selling a candidate and their ideas, and I can talk to anyone etc..
How does that play?
Another question that comes to mind. I worked for a fairly aggressive political non-profit that is considered far right, do you think this hurts my application at all? Some people really drag this non-profit through the mud, will be happy to provide more info privately, but want to stay as anonymous as possible publicly.
Thanks!
Anything?
I have faced similar issues. Working on political campaigns as a student is no problem. Except, what you doubtless know already, it counts for zilch careerwise unless your candidate wins; then the savvy interviewer will wonder and maybe ask why you didn't get a FT job with the pol or get them to find you some other happy landing.
Re the ideological non-profit on your resume, this can be a problem, or an opportunity, depending on what it does and how you spin it. I had a series of ideological jobs, but all prestigious so it was clear to non-ideological potential employers I wasn't some partisan hack, and had valuable experience and insights from being in the political space. Nevertheless, I learned my current employer was worried I'd be "too political" before I was hired 6 years ago. I almost wasn't hired because of it. I've given him nothing to worry about on that score ever since.
It's a very relevant issue these days, because a lot of people who take jobs with the Trump Admin. are going to be blacklisted for many major league jobs for decades. Democrats, and even some Republicans, are openly talking about enforcing this. So, if you yourself worked for some controversial nonprofit like say the NRA, that's no big deal and you can leave it off your resume (and as a college job, it should come off your resume before long); but if your first job out of college were communications asst. in the White House, a good many career doors would be closed permanently.
In the end, your character, knowledge, judgment and the quality of your network are what really count in developing your career. Also, you want the energy industry, of all finance niches probably the most hospitable to right wingers, except precious metals brokerage -- "we love goooold" LOL. There are plenty of right wingers in all professional careers, even the Hollywood movie industry. Being an "out" right winger (which includes having flaming right wing jobs on your resume, now that all resumes effectively are public) probably hurts sex life more than career. I don't know how many times I talked myself out of getting laid when the subject of abortion came up with girls I knew in college. But I've gotten several great jobs over the years from connections in my ideological network. You will too, if you chose your associates and friends well.
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