By Caroline Jenkins (WIIS Member since 2008)
In every job-seeking pursuit, there comes a point—usually after spending countless hours sifting through job postings, perfecting resumes, writing cover letters, sending follow-up emails, and painfully long periods of waiting, frequently reciprocated by no reply–that one realizes open-job postings often prove to be fruitless ventures. It is perhaps something we all must experience for ourselves before we can fully appreciate the real opportunities of already being “in” the so-called network. Only after experiencing the advantage of having inside connections, something that may enable us to forge a direct route to landing a job, do we begin to see the true value of developing and maintaining a strong network. Cultivating a set of professional relationships, however, is no easy task—and yet by far one of the most important ingredients of success in the professional realm.
In preparing to take my first step into the working world of Washington, D.C., I was aware of the importance of turning to my professional and personal networks. Yet I knew that breaking into the field of international relations at the center of the nation’s capital would present new, diverse challenges. More importantly, I was from Toronto, and recognized that I could no longer rely on my paper rolodex replete with Canadian colleagues and acquaintances; I would need to invest in a Washington, D.C. rolodex, otherwise known as the Blackberry, to which I would need to add a vast array of political and policy contacts. Recognizing that creating such relationships could take years, and having sent my resume to dozens of individuals, organizations and corporations without receiving a positive reply, I knew I had to find a new way to forge connections with people quickly and in a productive manner. The end goal was simple: to schedule a handful of informational meetings with people who might hold the key to certain job opportunities. The means to that end, of course, began with how to find those people who held such keys.
I started where most people looking for a job begin: online. I browsed the internet in search of organizations related to my pursuit, and quickly came across Women In International Security (WIIS). Having two common links to this group, firstly being a woman, and secondly being interested in international security, I decided it would be worth the membership fee to join for the year. While I was excited to have become a WIIS member, I soon realized that many of the networking perks of the organization revolved around free events, meetings, and happy hours all set in D.C. As I was still based in Toronto, I had to find another way to utilize the network from abroad. So: I decided to simply write to every person in the database who seemed to share similar interests or goals that were related to my academic and career pursuits. Although strapped for money, I knew it would be in my best interest to head to D.C. for as long as I could afford to meet with anyone who responded to my emails.
I decided that my approach should be nothing short of ambitious, so I targeted roughly 100 women within the WIIS database, and wrote individual emails inquiring about informational meetings upon my arrival to D.C. With no expectations other than to perhaps receive a few responses, I was utterly surprised when my inbox started flooding with emails. Several WIIS Women started responding, letting me know that they were more than happy to take the time to meet with me and be of help in anyway they could. Indeed, over 55 women not only responded to me, but also made generous offers – from offering career advice, to sharing the lessons they have learned along the way, putting me in touch with others, offering to forward my resume, setting up phone interviews, and agreeing to meet with me in D.C. to convey pieces of wisdom that might relate to my own future aspirations
I arrived in Washington, D.C., and checked into the first of many hostels. I was anxious and nervous to get going, and would soon realize how overwhelming it was to coordinate so many meetings in such a short period of time. Some days I met with more than six or seven women, and hence tried my best to navigate the city and arrive on time, as I was well aware of how lucky I was to have even a few minutes of these women’s time. Within a six-day span I met with more than twenty women for quick coffee chats or much appreciated dinners and drinks.
At the Project on National Security Reform, I had the pleasure of meeting Frances Hardin, who not only introduced me to nearly everyone at the organization but insisted I sit in on one of the regular meetings on the Pentagon’s security issues. On Capitol Hill, I sat in on a lunch meeting on healthcare with Allison Adams-Alwine and her colleagues. Being my first experience on the Hill, I am most certain they could not have imagined how excited I was to be included. Other highlights of my trip included a full round table meeting at the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) with Chrissy Hoffman, Laurel Kemper, Sarah Polaski, and Brandy Brooks, all of whom took the time to listen to my mission and lend me their advice. I was fortunate enough to have dinner with Erin Marks the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). I met with Junko Kobayashi from the Stimpson Center and Kezia McKeague from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I had meetings with Chris Lindborg at the British American Security Information Council, as well as Marie Laure Poire at WIIS who spent over an hour giving me more connections and advice than I can thank her for. These experiences served to reinforce my excitement and strengthen my resolve to be in D.C.
I also appreciated all the other WIIS members, many who are not named here, who took the time to respond to my emails and offer whatever help they could. While timing did not allow meetings with everyone, I am thankful to members, including Pauline Baker, Denise Bertholin, Alice Bernardi, Brooke Darby, Alix Boucher, Kathleen Durkin, Deepti Choubey, Jodi Liss, Kalsoom Lakhani, Ariana Monti, Sarah Platts, Kristina Kempkey, Melanie Greenberg, Anne Harrington, Caitlin Potratz, Peggy Knudson, Marina Ottaway, Kristina Jeffers, Jennifer Park, Erica Marat, Emily Goldberg, and Chantal Oudraat, who took the time to correspond with me and assist me in countless ways.
In the wake of my whirlwind tour of D.C., I spent about a month composing follow-up emails, investigating the plethora of suggestions I received, and sending my resume around as much as possible. At the end of the month, I received an email from the Truman National Security Project (TNSP) requesting a phone interview after having received my resume from a Truman contact. I was excited beyond words that something tangible had come of my long quest. It was at that moment that it became quite clear to me the power of the network: WIIS gave me the opportunity to make associations with professionals in my field of interest, and allowed me to forge a network in a city, which I neither physically located in nor had even visited. I would recommend to anyone who is looking to get started in the field of international security, who desires a change in their career path, or who is simply interested in making new friends with shared interests, to utilize this expansive network of exceptional women and men. I cannot thank WIIS enough for leading me to a summer internship in D.C. with the Truman National Security Project, an outstanding organization, and for the opportunity to have met with so many impressive, influential, generous WIIS leaders.
I am sincerely grateful to the whole WIIS community and am eager to build and expand upon this incredible network of wonderful people who make up this unique organization.
Caroline Jenkins is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations with a concentration in conflict security from the Graduate School in International Relations at The New School in New York. She recently completed a summer internship at the Truman National Security Project where she worked as an associate to the Director of Membership and Director of Development, helping to plan, organize and manage their largest national security leaders Annual Conference. Prior to her Truman experience, Caroline served as Research Coordinator for McWhirter & Associates, Media and Public Relations Associate at Vanessa NK Media and PR Inc., and Development Associate at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Filed under: Networking
