Behind the headlines on any given day in the nation's capital there are a thousand sub-plots taking form: the Member of Congress and her staff working at breakneck pace to prepare a bill to reform Federal education programs; a last minute compromise to pass a key piece of legislation; a House member positioning himself for a run for even higher office; a reporter about to break a big story about a new scandal. The environment is continually changing and the confluence of national politics, local interests, ambitions and personal agendas creates a sense of constant flux and excitement.

In any position on Capitol Hill, an employee's first responsibility is ultimately to serve the interests of his Member (and his or her constituents). And all of the 535 total Members of Congress have very distinct interests. Some love the national spotlight, and spend what seems to be a majority of their time before a news camera (or in search of one). Others are masters of the legislative process and use their position to propose and advance legislation. Many style themselves as hometown heroes who keep a low profile and focus on directing federal benefits to their districts.

Despite their style, certain elements mentioned above will be true of all Members of Congress: all will attempt to direct federal resources to their districts and attend to their constituents needs; all will use the media to communicate their messages and build (or repair) their images; and all will be involved in the legislative process to some degree, either as legislative technicians, advocates or simply as voters.

Each Member of Congress also has his or her own distinct management style. The organization of a Member's office greatly reflects the individual personality and goals of the Member. Some offices are very formal, requiring business attire at all times, while others are less traditional. Some Members are very hands-on in running their offices, while others delegate much of the decision-making to their senior staff. Some have track records of keeping loyal staff, while others turn over staff at a championship pace. All of these factors -- and many more -- contribute to the pace of life on Capitol Hill.

Nonprofit careers

Imagine what it might be like to say:

• "Today at work I helped to provide a safe place for 100 teens in my community to go after school to receive tutoring and homework assistance."
• "This year at work I raised a million and a half dollars to fund a program that promotes better early education for young children."
• "Throughout the course of my career I helped to clean up my city's most depressed neighborhoods and developed hundreds of new affordable homes for disadvantaged families."

This need for more and better trained nonprofit administrators is fueling the development of many well respected degree programs at universities and colleges nationwide. At the same time, more people, particularly college age and recent graduates are showing an interest in pursuing a career in nonprofit administration.