Alumnus Robert Efrus tried to dispel the bad reputation that can come with being a power lobbyist in Washington as he described his job to students Thursday night.
Efrus, vice president of the D.C. lobbying firm The Implementation Group, encouraged students to consider the industry and listed specific paths to become a lobbyist and skills that would put prospective applicants ahead of the pack. The speaker also addressed recent scandals and the effect they have had on the industry.
"(Lobbying) is a very well established profession and it's one that's not going to go away," Efrus said Thursday night. "Despite these scandals, the lobbying profession and the role it supports… is protected by the constitution of the United States."
Good lobbyists, Efrus said, present both sides of an issue and are "honest brokers." Lobbyists who misrepresent the issues they advocate do not, according to Efrus, last long in the profession.
According to Efrus, there are over 30,000 lobbyists in Washington alone and he presented the profession as a multi-faceted one where lobbyists alternate between roles as advocate, sales person, analyst, relationship builder, planner and entertainer.
Additionally, good lobbyists must be well spoken, experienced, knowledgeable, persuasive and able to keep their egos in check.
Efrus underscored the importance of remaining centered and controlling ego, interpreting recent scandals and the conduct of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff as "ego gone unchecked".
Though the address presented many different routes available to follow in Efrus' footsteps, he said the best way to break into the field is through unpaid internships, particularly on Capitol Hill and in political campaigns.
"The unpaid internship is a huge secret weapon," Efrus stated. "And many careers in this town have been made through (internships during) presidential campaigns."
At times more important than personal convictions, money, according to Efrus, is essential to the political process.
Efrus, vice president of the D.C. lobbying firm The Implementation Group, encouraged students to consider the industry and listed specific paths to become a lobbyist and skills that would put prospective applicants ahead of the pack. The speaker also addressed recent scandals and the effect they have had on the industry.
"(Lobbying) is a very well established profession and it's one that's not going to go away," Efrus said Thursday night. "Despite these scandals, the lobbying profession and the role it supports… is protected by the constitution of the United States."
Good lobbyists, Efrus said, present both sides of an issue and are "honest brokers." Lobbyists who misrepresent the issues they advocate do not, according to Efrus, last long in the profession.
According to Efrus, there are over 30,000 lobbyists in Washington alone and he presented the profession as a multi-faceted one where lobbyists alternate between roles as advocate, sales person, analyst, relationship builder, planner and entertainer.
Additionally, good lobbyists must be well spoken, experienced, knowledgeable, persuasive and able to keep their egos in check.
Efrus underscored the importance of remaining centered and controlling ego, interpreting recent scandals and the conduct of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff as "ego gone unchecked".
Though the address presented many different routes available to follow in Efrus' footsteps, he said the best way to break into the field is through unpaid internships, particularly on Capitol Hill and in political campaigns.
"The unpaid internship is a huge secret weapon," Efrus stated. "And many careers in this town have been made through (internships during) presidential campaigns."
At times more important than personal convictions, money, according to Efrus, is essential to the political process.
