Connecting on the Hill: How I Learned the Power of Professional Outreach

Benny O’Connor interned at the office of Congressman Eric Sorensen. He gained firsthand knowledge of the legislative process and developed essential communication and writing skills. He learned the importance of balancing professionalism with personal connection, which helped him build confidence and improve his outreach abilities. By overcoming his fear of reaching out and engaging in networking, he made valuable connections and grew both personally and professionally.

During my internship in D.C. with a congressional office, I was able to not only learn about the legislative process and how certain aspects of the federal government work, but I also built skills fundamental to future jobs. Mainly, I developed communication skills by working in a busy environment with many different kinds of people, and I improved my ability to set goals.

Referring to more technical skills, I learned to write in different styles; for example, letter writing is very different from memo writing, and I had to do both. As I’ve already said, I learned a great deal about the role of the legislature in American politics through this internship. However, my greatest gain was understanding what it means to be a professional and the importance of outreach.

Professionalism refers to my expected behavior, how it impacts the way the office is perceived, and the importance of balancing the rigid idea of professionalism with the personal aspects of my character. Someone who cannot include these personal touches may sometimes be viewed less favorably, even if they meet the expected standards of their office. To maximize your professional image and best reflect your office, you must maintain a delicate balance between these two things. This balance makes you more effective in outreach and, by extension, better at networking. Being both professional and personable can lead others to see you as a valuable part of a broader network.

Regarding outreach specifically, it was a skill I had to improve as the internship progressed. Not being afraid to ask for things or approach someone with questions—while still being respectful of what they’re doing and their time—is an incredibly important skill to build. I used platforms like LinkedIn or reached out to my existing connections to find people to talk to about specific topics, which helped me engage more effectively in outreach.

Overall, about half the time things would fall through, or I wouldn’t get a response to my request or question. But when it worked, the payoff was great. Many of the conversations I had this semester were with people I cold-contacted—meaning we had no prior connection—and I was able to learn a lot from them about the work they do.

This growth was thanks in part to learning to overcome my fear of reaching out, which was encouraged by the Illinois in Washington Program and its required biweekly coffee chats, but also by the work itself. Much of what I did during my internship was basic—like callbacks, scheduling tours, or setting up inauguration ticket requests—which required reaching out to constituents on behalf of my office. Building those outreach skills was similar, but instead of reaching out for Congressman Sorensen, I was reaching out for myself.

Overall, it was a great experience, and I see many of the skills I built here helping me in the professional world when I graduate next semester.