Here’s a checklist for winning an appointment to an administration position or a seat on a state board or commission. Seeking an appointment is like a campaign. The more prestigious the appointment, the more intensive the campaign, unless one has a direct personal relationship with the appointing power.
Why are you seeking an appointment?: Is it for the purpose of career advancement, personal prestige or public service? Once you have clarified your purpose, it will help you determine what type of appointment to go after. High-profile policy-making appointments will likely require relocating to Sacramento.
Research what appointments are available: For state employees and influential friends of the governor, news often travels by word of mouth. For the general public, information about appointments and applications are available through the website www.governor.ca.gov; there is a link called “Appointments,” and within that link is “Serving in the Schwarzenegger administration.”
What makes a candidate competitive?: Once you find a suitable appointment, carefully evaluate your qualifications and credentials. Is your professional background and expertise related to this appointment? What type of support can you generate that would influence the appointing power?
How broad is your base of support? Would you be able to generate support from community, regional, professional, political and special-interest groups?
Have you been able to cultivate some name recognition with groups who would be impacted by this appointment?
Many are appointed as a result of their work on campaigns on behalf of the appointing power. Some appointees bypass the above steps because they have sponsors who are very influential with the appointing power.
Getting the appointment: Once you have filed your application, alert key individuals and organizations who can provide you with a credible support base. for the Individuals you select should have some type of relationship or influence with the appointing power or staff. Recommendations from elected officials can also be helpful especially if they have a close relationship with the administration.
You must do your homework to find out as much as you can about the appointing power’s key interests and about organizations and individuals who have strong relationships with the decision maker. And yes, major financial contributors can be helpful. Bottom line, if qualifications are about equal, appointments go to candidates who can provide the most benefits to the administration and the governor.
If possible, establish a link with someone in the governor’s office or appointments office who can advise you about the process and your candidacy’s progress. Do not be afraid to inform as many people as possible who work closely with the process. The more your name surfaces in discussions among staff, the more attention your application will receive.
Some don’ts: Do not use ethnic-parity criteria in any of your application materials. Let organizations or individuals argue this issue on your behalf. This should not preclude you from highlighting your participation in ethnic community issues or organizations.
In gathering support, either through letters or personal phone calls, do not overkill by having people send hundreds of letters of recommendation. And most important, please do not use form letters.
APA state employees seeking appointments or promotions have the advantage of joining the Asian Pacific State Employees Association (APSEA), which has an appointment subcommittee currently chaired by Mary Phillips. The APSEA provides advice and guidance through the appointment process. It also has an invaluable working relationship with the governor’s staff. My appointment to the State Personnel Board was mainly due to the APSEA’s 10-year crusade to get the first APA appointed to this board during the Davis administration. Information about the APSEA can be obtained at www.apsea.org.
If you are called in for an interview, do not hesitate to ask about what types of subjects staff would be interested in discussing. You may even be able to solicit the name of the interviewer. It is important that you have a firm grasp of the responsibilities of the agency, department and appointment. Be prepared to discuss what value your candidacy would bring to the administration and the governor.
Finally, whether or not you succeed, always remember to express appreciation to everyone who helped with your effort. One never knows when another opportunity will surface and the important connections you made in your first attempt will be that much more valuable.