Job Opportunities on Capitol Hill for American Muslim Citizens

MPAC Announcement

Due to the political transition taking place in Washington, D.C., there are unique opportunities for young Muslim Americans to become involved, both in the Obama Administration and in Congress. With new senators and House representatives looking to staff their offices and committees, the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association (CMSA) is creating and disseminating a Resume Book to help increase diversity on Capitol Hill.

It is an objective of the CMSA to increase diversity on Capitol Hill through the recruitment, retention and promotion of Muslims and people of color in staff positions throughout congressional offices and committees. With the transition to the 111th Congress, CMSA is calling for resumes to be included in the CMSA Resume Book. MPAC has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association and urges Muslim Americans to continue to engage in the political process by submitting resumes and applying for jobs.

The Congressional Muslim Staffers is an organization of more than 40 staffers of different backgrounds working towards education, networking and professional development. Additionally, CMSA organizes the weekly Friday prayer at the United States Capitol which brings a unique group of Muslims from the Hill, federal agencies, local communities, and non-profit groups together in worship.

Individuals interested in submitting their resume to the CMSA Resume Book should follow the instructions below.

Eligibility for Resume Submission: Resumes are requested from individuals who:

• Are U.S. Citizens
• Display strong educational, professional, and social experiences relevant to a career in a fast-paced, policy-focused, constituency-responsive work environment
• Are able to easily attend in-person job interviews in Washington, D.C., and to start work immediately upon hiring

Resumes must be submitted to cmsa.resume@gmail.com by Saturday, November 29 at 12pm. Resumes should be no longer than two pages in length and display your full name and contact information on both pages. Please attach your resume to an email as a Word document.

Congressional Positions: In the subject heading of the email, please include your full name followed by the position you are seeking. Example: Subject: Fatimah Hassan, Legislative Director

Please use the following titles to classify the position you are seeking:

• Chief of Staff
• Committee – Professional Staff
• Committee – Counsel
• Legislative Director
• Legislative Assistant
• Press
• Scheduling
• Legislative Correspondent
• Staff Assistant

If you are considering more than one position, please state your top choice in the subject heading and your preferences in order of “1st Priority” and “2nd Priority” in the body of the email.

Please note the following:

• The Congressional Muslim Staffers Association’s role is limited to the distribution of submitted resumes through the CMSA Resume Book.
• There is no guarantee that all submitted resumes will be included in the CMSA Resume Book.
• The Congressional Muslim Staffers Association will send the CMSA Resume Book to new Members of Congress, Committees, Leadership Offices, and other Congressional Member Offices and administrative offices in Congress (CAO, Clerks Office, Sergeant at Arms, etc.) upon request of such offices.
• The Congressional Muslim Staffers Association will request that employers not release the information in the CMSA Resume Book except for employment related purposes.
• The CMSA makes no warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of resumes.

The CMSA also highly recommends that job seekers submit their resumes through established methods:

• Electronically submit resumes to the U.S. House of Representatives by clicking here. 
• Submit at least 60 hard copies of your resume to U.S. House of Representatives (B-240 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515).
• Electronically submit resumes to the  U.S. Senate by clicking here.  

We look forward to your participation in this effort! Please send an email to   cmsa.resume@gmail.com with any questions. To learn more about the CMSA, please read the One Nation feature “Muslims on Capitol Hill: Congressional Muslim Staffers Association.”

[CONTACT: Government Relations Director Safiya Ghori, 202-547-7701, safiya@mpac.org