Advancing up the ladder on Capitol Hill begins after gaining experience in an entry-level position. Typically, a new hire as a Staff Assistant will work anywhere from six months to a year and a half before taking the next step (although advancement can come very quickly or not at all). Advancement often depends as much on chance as it does on talent.

There are two ways to move up on Capitol Hill: Promotion from within or finding a new position with another Member's office. Both paths offer specific benefits and pitfalls.

Advancement from within

Moving up on Capitol Hill is a function of your initiative, abilities, and rapport with the Member and the rest of the office staff. There also needs to be an appropriate opening. Often, the most frustrating barrier to advancement for the ambitious hill staffer will be the lack of movement in the upper ranks of the office. As already discussed, Congressional offices are relatively small. In order to move up, someone above you must either move up or on. And while turnover can be high within an office, the timing will be completely out of your control. Even when an opening appears, there will be no guarantee that you will be promoted to fill it. Still, in many ways, promotion from within can be the best way to advance your career on the Hill.

There are many reasons to work your way up within your Member's office. For one, most Members of Congress value loyalty in their staffs. Remaining with the same Member will allow you to build trust with your boss -- a critical factor in future advancement since Members must to some degree entrust their political careers to the work of their staff members. The more the Member trusts and likes you, the greater the chances for future advancement into the senior ranks of the staff. However, it must be noted that advancement can take time. Senior staff are not created overnight. The path varies from office to office, and the variability can be quite large. In some offices, a staff Member may rise from a Staff Assistant to be Chief of Staff within five years. In others, the same climb might take ten or more.

Additionally, the longer you remain with a single Member, the greater you will benefit as that Member assumes greater responsibility. Nothing can change a staffer's position faster than her boss's advancement within the Capitol Hill hierarchy. Careers have been made by a boss's ascent to a committee chairmanship or a leadership position. The promotions arising from a Member's newfound powers are usually based on the tenure of the employ and the level of trust the staffer enjoys.

Advancement with another office

Despite the advantages of remaining with one Member during your tenure on the Hill, there are many good reasons to pursue advanced opportunities with other Member's offices.

For starters, looking for positions with other Members will give you a greater sense of control over your advancement. By applying for positions with another Member, you can test the strength of your experience and credentials on the open market, rather than waiting for an opening within your current office. You have the opportunity to sell your credentials, and can create your own career path.

Another reason to change offices is to work for a Member that more closely matches your philosophy or that you personally feel more comfortable with. As noted, offices are very small and can often feel like a family affair (particularly in the House of Representatives). Therefore, it is not unusual for staff members to feel out of step with his or her Member or to not necessarily fit with the management style of the office. For these individuals, it is natural to look at other positions outside of their current offices.

Additionally, there may be issues that you wish to cover that your current Member doesn't emphasize. If you're primary interest is Transportation, it is only natural to seek out a Member who sits on the Senate or House Transportation Committee.

This article is excerpted from the Vault Guide to Capitol Hill Careers.
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