How Do I Get a Job in the White House?

By: Jonathan Strickland  | 
The White House isn't just a presidential mansion -- it's a base of operations for the executive branch of the U.S. government. See more pictures of Washington D.C.
Paul J. Richards/AFP/­Getty Images

­Americans have the chance to affect the course of the United States by voting in elections, but what if you want a more hands-on opportunity? How can you convince the government that you've got the skills, knowledge and drive to join the team in the White House?

That depends upon what you bring to the table, i­ncluding your ambitions. There are three different kinds of job opportunities you can pursue at the White House: non-career positions, internships and career positions. Non-career positions are temporary. Once a new administration enters the White House, your term in that position will end. It's possible that the new president will keep you on staff, but you shouldn't count on it. An internship is an unpaid position. Instead of getting paid, an intern's compensation includes on-the-job experience and networking opportunities. Career positions are competitive, non-political jobs. They're similar to jobs in other industries.

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As of November 2008, the first step to landing a non-career position at the White House is to visit Barack Obama's change.gov Web site. When Obama became President-elect of the United States, his team of advisors launched the Web site to begin the process of choosing federal government appointees.

­Assuming you want one of these non-career positions, you'll need to submit an expression of interest. The change.gov Web site has a simple online form you can fill out. The required information includes your name, address, phone number, citizenship status and your most recent employer (or school, if you're a student). After submitting your information, it's time to wait. The Obama-Biden Transition Project, which oversees the applications, will contact you within a few days with further instructions.

When you receive the e-mail, you'll find a link to another Web site. This is where you'll get your first indication of what's in store for you. You'll have to fill out an online application that spans several online pages and asks for a lot of information. If you get through that phase, you'll have even more questions to answer -- some of these questions are of a very personal nature. In fact, some people consider the application process controversial and troublesome.

Let's take a closer look at non-career positions and what the Obama administration wants to know about you before bringing you into the fold.

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Non-Career Positions

President-elect Barack Obama and his economic team hold a press conference.
Brian Kersey/­Getty Images

­Some of the most important government roles in the United States are appointed non-career positions. There are four main kinds of appointments: presidential appointments that require consent from the Senate (PAS), presidential appointments that do not require confirmation (PA), Non-Career Senior Executive Service positions (NC-SES) and Schedule C positions.

Congress determines how many PAS and NC-SES appointments the president can make. But the president decides how many PA and Schedule C positions will be in his or her administration. Positions in the PAS category include high-ranking cabinet roles and judiciary appointments. PA positions include the president's executive staff. NC-SES jobs are senior management positions -- typically with titles like deputy undersecretary or bureau director. And a person in a Schedule C job is responsible for determining policies and working with the key appointments in a confidential manner [source: Progressive Government].

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According to the Progressive Government Web site, the White House can fill 6,478 appointed positions during a term. That sounds like a lot of jobs, but it's nothing compared to the number of applications. According to The New York Times, the Obama-Biden administration received more than 200,000 résumés within three weeks of launching the change.gov application site.

That brings us back to the application process. Here's a summary of the information you must include when submitting an application to change.gov:

  • Your name, address and citizenship status
  • A résumé
  • Y­our educational background
  • Your managerial experience
  • Your public speaking experience
  • Your private sector, government, non-profit and political experience
  • The desired position
  • At least three references

­

There is another section in which applicants can submit optional information such as their gender, race and political party affiliation.

If you get beyond this first round, you'll have to answer more questions. Time Magazine reports that the seven-page personnel application includes 63 questions -- some of a very personal nature. That's because anyone holding a political position comes under intense scrutiny. The most intimate personal details sometimes take center stage -- things you considered private become topics of public discussion.

That's why the application asks tough perso­nal questions about your lifestyle and interactions with other people. It even grills you about your online activity. For example, it asks if you've ever sent e-mails or instant messages to other people that could become embarrassing to the administration if they were revealed to the public.

­One of the more controversial questions addresses gun ownership. The question asks if the applicant or an immediate family member owns a gun, if the gun is registered, if the registration ever lapsed and if the gun has caused personal injuries or property damage. Some gun advocacy groups claim that this question indicates the Obama administration is against personal gun ownership [source: Buckeye Firearms Association].

Even after passing the application, the journey isn't over. The applicant can expect the FBI to perform a full background check, including visits to friends, family, neighbors, schools and workplaces. And some positions then require the applicant to appear before the Senate for approval before getting the post.

­What if you don't want to go through this process, but still want to work at the White House? We'll look at internships and career jobs next.

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White House Internships and Careers

A group of White House interns gathers to wave goodbye to President George W. Bush as he departs on Marine One.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/­Getty Images

­The White House Internship Program gives people the opportunity to gain experience in a political environment and network with important people. All internships are unpaid and interns must provide for their own housing and transportation. But the benefits of working in an internship can potentially offset the lack of compensation. Depending upon the internship assignment, you might spend your days around powerful political figures as they guide national policy. On the other hand, you might end up sitting at a desk all day or filing paperwork.

Under the George W. Bush presidential administration, the White House would select 100 interns to work during the spring, summer and fall semesters. To become an intern, you had to meet the following criteria:

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  • You had to be at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United States.
  • You had to be a current student in an undergraduate or graduate program or you had to have graduated the previous semester.
  • You had to fill out an application form, which included questions about your party affiliation and whether or not you voted in the previous election.
  • You had to respond to four essay questions.
  • You had to submit a résumé, three references and a cover letter.
  • You had to agree to a background security check and take a drug test.

Applicants could indicate which offices they'd most like to work in but were not guaranteed a spot in those departments. They didn't have to interview with anyone -- the White House selected interns based solely upon the applicant's submissions. The internship program may or may not change under the Obama administration.

If you want to pursue a career at the White House that isn't a political appointment, you'll need to keep an eye out for job postings. You can find those at the Office of Personnel Management's USAJOBS Web site. You can expect a highly competitive job application process. These jobs include working for specific agencies and departments in non-managerial positions. Unlike management, these jobs tend to remain unaffected during changes of administration. You can work your way up the ranks and build experience. Who knows? It may even lead to an eventual non-career position with a future president!

One thing you should remember before you apply for any position within the government is that you'll be opening yourself up for a thorough background check. But if you've been on your best behavior, display a talent for leadership, have ambition and possess the drive to help the U.S. government lead the nation, you may land yourself a job at the most famous address in America.

To learn more about politics and related topics, take a look at the links that follow.

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White House Jobs FAQ

How do you get a job at the White House?
As of 2008, those who are looking for a non-career position can visit change.gov. You'll need to submit an expression of interest along with the required information, such as your name, date of birth, phone number, address, citizenship status and the name of your last employer. You can also apply to be a White House Fellow or join the current administration by visiting whitehouse.gov
What are the positions in the White House?
Overall, there are three types of job opportunities available in the White House. These include internships, career positions and non-career positions. Non-career positions at the White House are temporary.
Are White House interns paid?
The White House internship program is an unpaid program and provides the opportunity to work in the Executive Office of the President. Interns also take tours of sites around Washington, D.C. and get opportunities to volunteer, attend special events and take part in speaker series.
How many permanent employees does the White House employ?
There are 377 full-time employees in the White House. These employees carry out their duties in the fifteen executive departments of the White House, each of which is led by a member who has been appointed by the President's cabinet.
What does a White House staffer do?
Staff report directly to the President, along with the President's senior advisors and West Wing staff. All of the staff working at the White House Office are political appointees by the president.
 

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

More Great Links

  • Bonorden, Lee. "Obama, I'll come with you." Austin Daily Herald. Nov. 20, 2008. (Nov. 21, 2008) http://www.austindailyherald.com/news/2008/nov/20/obama-ill-come-you/
  • Buckeye Firearms Association. "President-elect Obama's Employment Application Form Demands to Know if Applicants Are 'Registered' Gun Owners." Nov. 14, 2008. (Nov. 20, 2008) http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/6260
  • Change.gov. http://www.change.gov/
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  • Hicks, Melissa. "How to become a White House Intern this summer." AskStudent. (Nov. 21, 2008) http://www.askstudent.com/career/how-to-become-a-white-house-intern -this-summer/
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