A lot of people have been asking me lately, “Should I give up on my dream of working in the federal government?” The short answer? No. But you do need to be realistic — especially right now. With hiring freezes, shrinking budgets, and uncertainty across agencies, getting in the traditional way just isn’t going to happen for most people. hat doesn’t mean the dream is dead — it just means you need a smarter path. In tonight’s video, I talk about what that looks like: how to get real experience and connections through contracting, how to build relationships that open doors later, and why networking — real networking — matters more than ever right now.

This isn’t about giving up on your goal of impact or service; it’s about understanding the system and positioning yourself the right way so when hiring ramps back up, you’re the easy “yes.”

If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure how to move forward in public service, you’ll want to watch this one.