How to Get a Job at the White House
How to Get a Job at the White House
Working at the White House is one of those “impossible” dreams that actually is possible—but only if you understand how people really get there.
There isn’t just one “White House job.” There are:
Political appointees chosen by the President
Career civil servants and detailees from federal agencies
Military staff and security
Interns and fellows
Support staff (IT, chefs, calligraphers, ushers, maintenance, and more)
This guide breaks down the main routes and what you can start doing now if you want to end up working at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue someday.
1. Understand the Different Categories of White House Jobs
Before you can aim at a job, you need to know what kind of job you’re aiming at.
A. Political Appointees (White House Office, Senior Roles)
These are the people most people imagine:
Senior advisors
Communications staff
Policy advisors
Directors of offices (e.g., Domestic Policy, National Economic Council, etc.)
They’re usually:
Chosen by the President and senior staff
Deeply involved in campaigns, party politics, or policy circles
People with strong networks, years of experience, and a track record in their field
This track is not an entry-level path. You usually get there after you’ve built a solid career in politics, policy, law, or a related domain.
B. Career Staff and Detailees
The White House also has many staffers who are:
Career civil servants temporarily assigned (“detailed”) from federal agencies
Specialists in law, budgeting, cybersecurity, national security, public health, and more
People who got into government first, then moved to a White House role later
Typical path here:
Get a job at a federal agency → perform well → build expertise and connections → get detailed or hired into a White House office.
C. Military and Security Personnel
Some roles come via:
The U.S. Secret Service (protective details, uniformed division)
Military units assigned to the White House (communications, transportation, medical support, honor guard, etc.)
Those are usually:
Join the military or Secret Service → excel in your field → be selected for a White House assignment.
D. Support and Operations Staff
The “White House” is also:
Chefs and kitchen staff
Ushers and residence staff
Calligraphers, florists, and event staff
IT, maintenance, and logistics teams
These jobs often involve:
Specialized training or unionized trades
Prior experience in high-end hospitality, events, security, or technical support
Hiring through regular government or contractor channels, not just politics
E. Interns and Fellows
For students and recent grads, internships and fellowships are one of the most realistic entry points.
White House internships typically:
Are competitive but not impossible
Require strong grades, recommendations, and a clear interest in public service
Place you in specific offices (communications, scheduling, policy teams, etc.) for a semester or summer
They rarely turn into automatic jobs on the spot, but the experience and network can launch you into political or government roles that eventually lead back to the White House.
2. Big Picture: The Three Main Paths
For most people, these are the three realistic routes:
Politics and Campaigns
Work on campaigns, Hill offices, or party organizations
Build a reputation and relationships
Get brought into the White House with an administration you helped elect
Career Government / Policy Expert
Build expertise in a policy field (law, economics, health, national security, tech, etc.)
Work in federal agencies or think tanks
Move over to the White House as a detailee or policy advisor
Start with an Internship or Early-Career Program
Earn a White House internship or similar early opportunity
Use that experience + contacts to move into government or political roles
Come back later for a staff or appointee position
You don’t have to pick a path forever, but you should choose a starting direction.
3. Education and Background: What Actually Helps
There’s no official “minimum” degree that guarantees anything, but in practice:
Many professional staffers have at least a bachelor’s degree
Many mid-to-senior policy staff have law degrees or master’s degrees (public policy, international affairs, economics, security studies, etc.)
Technical staff (IT, cyber, data) may have specialized degrees or certifications
What really matters beyond the diploma:
Strong writing and communication skills
Ability to digest complex information quickly
A track record of public service, leadership, and responsibility
For policy roles: depth in at least one topic (health, climate, national security, economy, etc.)
For support roles (chefs, residence staff, calligraphy, maintenance, security):
Professional training, certifications, and experience in those trades
Outstanding references and reliability
Comfort working in extremely high-standard environments
4. Security Clearance and Background Checks
Almost any serious job at the White House involves:
A detailed background check
Review of your criminal history, finances, foreign contacts, and more
In many cases, a security clearance
You can’t “pre-buy” a clearance, but you can:
Stay out of legal trouble
Manage debt responsibly
Avoid shady online activity that would be hard to explain later
Be truthful and consistent in all government applications
Living a generally stable, low-drama life is a long-term investment if you want to work in sensitive government roles.
5. Path 1: Politics and Campaigns
If you imagine yourself as a press secretary, senior advisor, or political aide, this is the most common route.
Step 1: Get Active in Politics
Volunteer for campaigns (local, state, national)
Intern or work for a member of Congress or a state legislature
Get involved with party organizations and political clubs
You want to:
Learn how campaigns and offices actually run
Prove you’re reliable, hardworking, and discreet
Start building a reputation as someone who gets things done
Step 2: Build a Specialty and a Network
Political staffers remember:
People who showed up early and stayed late
People who solved problems without drama
People who brought useful skills (press work, digital media, policy research, scheduling, data, etc.)
Choose something you’re good at:
Communications and media
Policy research and writing
Digital organizing and social media
Field organizing and voter turnout
Data and analytics
Then deliver on it consistently.
Step 3: Help the Right People Win
Most White House political jobs go to:
Loyal staff who worked on the President’s campaign
People who were key to building coalitions, raising money, or shaping messaging
Policy experts and trusted advisors from the campaign and party infrastructure
The blunt reality: to work in a political White House role, you usually need to be part of the team that got that President elected.
6. Path 2: Policy Pro / Career Government Staff
If you care more about substance than electoral politics, this may be a better fit.
Step 1: Pick a Policy Area
Examples:
Foreign policy and national security
Economics and finance
Climate and energy
Health care and public health
Education and labor
Technology and cybersecurity
Civil rights and justice
Commit to becoming very good at one of these.
Step 2: Get the Right Education and Experience
Possible building blocks:
Degrees in relevant fields (policy, law, economics, STEM, security, etc.)
Jobs or fellowships at:
Federal agencies (like State, Treasury, HHS, etc.)
Research organizations and think tanks
International organizations
State governments or big-city governments
Step 3: Join the Federal Government
Look for:
Entry-level analyst roles
Honors programs, legal fellowships, junior staff positions
Special programs for recent graduates
Once in, focus on:
Being extremely competent in your niche
Writing clearly, quickly, and accurately
Building a reputation for reliability and good judgment
Step 4: Move Toward a White House Role
When you’re known as a strong performer with specialized knowledge, you can:
Be detailed to a White House office
Be recruited into a policy or coordination role
Be suggested as a candidate when a new administration forms
This route is often slower but more stable, and many serious policy staff follow some version of it.
7. Path 3: Internships and Early-Career Programs
For students or very recent graduates, internships are the most direct first step.
What White House Internships Typically Expect
You must be a current student or very recent grad (depending on the program rules)
Strong academic performance
Clear commitment to public service or community involvement
Good writing, references, and a polished application
Ability to pass a background check
You’ll usually be placed in a specific office (communications, digital, scheduling, policy, public engagement, etc.) and do a mix of:
Research
Event support
Administrative tasks
Drafting memos or correspondence
Helping with visits, briefings, or outreach
How to Position Yourself for an Internship
Before you apply, stack your resume with:
Student government, campus organizations, or community leadership
Internships or volunteer work with:
Local government
Nonprofits
Campaigns
Policy organizations
Evidence of writing and research skills:
Op-eds, student papers, policy briefs, blog posts
Your application should tell a clear story:
“I care about public service, I’ve already been doing it at my level, and this internship is a natural next step.”
8. Support and Operations Roles: An Overlooked Route
Not everyone at the White House is doing policy memos.
If you’re in trades or hospitality, possible paths include:
Culinary careers → high-end kitchens → eventually the White House residence kitchens
Event and hospitality work → high-level hotels or institutions → residence or East Wing event teams
Skilled trades (electrician, HVAC, carpentry, painting) → government buildings and facilities → possibly assignments in the Executive Residence or complex
IT and cybersecurity roles → federal agencies or contractors → assignments supporting White House systems
These roles usually require:
Certifications and professional experience in your field
Strong references
Comfort working in highly secure, protocol-heavy environments
A spotless record and professionalism (you are in the President’s house, after all)
If you’re not a political or policy person, don’t assume the White House is off the table—your craft might still get you there.
9. What You Can Start Doing Now (Practical Steps)
No matter which path you lean toward, here’s what you can do immediately:
1. Strengthen Your Foundation
Keep your grades solid if you’re in school
Work on your writing—the ability to write clear, concise emails and memos is huge
Practice speaking confidently and clearly (presentations, debate, teaching, customer-facing jobs)
2. Get Real Experience in Public Service
Volunteer for campaigns or community organizations
Intern in a local council, mayor’s office, or state representative’s office
Join student government or issue-based student groups
You’re not aiming for perfection, just momentum.
3. Build a Clean, Professional Online Presence
Assume that anything public may be seen in a background check
Avoid inflammatory or reckless posts that are hard to explain later
Use your online presence to show interest in public affairs and constructive engagement
4. Network the Right Way
“Networking” here means:
Being helpful and reliable in every job or volunteer role
Staying in touch with mentors, professors, and supervisors
Asking good questions and listening more than you talk when you meet people in politics or government
The people you meet on a campaign or in a local office may be the ones calling you years later about a job in an administration.
10. Common Myths About Working at the White House
Myth 1: You need to be rich or well-connected from birth.
Reality: Connections help, but many staffers come from normal backgrounds and built relationships through hard work in campaigns, agencies, and internships.
Myth 2: You have to go to a specific “elite” school.
Reality: Brand-name schools can be a plus, but performance, experience, and reliability matter more. Plenty of people at the White House did not attend the most famous universities.
Myth 3: You have to be a genius or a prodigy.
Reality: They need people who are smart and practical—people who can meet deadlines, keep confidences, and handle pressure without falling apart.
Myth 4: There’s a single application portal where you just click and get in.
Reality: The path is almost always a combination of:
Past work
Relationships
Good timing
A strong reputation
11. A Simple Long-Term Roadmap
If your dream is “Work at the White House one day,” think of it as a 5–15 year project, not a single application.
Here’s a sample long-term arc:
Years 1–4
Get your education.
Do internships in government, campaigns, or NGOs.
Build leadership experience and a clean record.
Years 3–7
Work in politics (campaigns, Hill offices) or in policy roles (agencies, think tanks).
Develop a specialty and become known for being excellent at your job.
Keep in touch with people as they move up.
Years 5–10+
Apply for or get recruited into a White House role:
As a political aide after a big campaign win
As a detailee or advisor from an agency
As a specialist or support staffer in your professional field
You might get there earlier or later than this sketch, but the pattern holds: consistent public service, growing responsibility, and a strong reputation.
Final Thoughts
Getting a job at the White House isn’t about a magical one-click application. It’s about:
Choosing a path—politics, policy, or professional support
Building real skills and experience over time
Serving well wherever you are right now
Being reliable, ethical, and excellent at your work
Staying ready when opportunity opens up
If you treat “White House job” as the result of a decade of smart choices and public service—not a lottery ticket—you give yourself a real chance of eventually walking through those gates as a staff member, not just a tourist.
