ELGL’s mission is to connect, communicate, and educate. In this ongoing series, ELGL members tell their story including how they got into local government. Today we hear from Justin Tramble (LinkedIn and Twitter), Administrator of Membership, State Bar of Georgia.
My most frustrating experience in local government was…
Before I had my first job, I volunteered with a local grassroots campaign. I thought it’d be a good experience, a way to get my feet wet in the political world. I was still in undergrad and I really had no idea how the machine worked. I showed up all bright eyed and ready to lend my hand. My mom definitely packed my lunch that day… PB&J (cut in half, hold the crust) maybe some lays too.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the 4 mile walk through an unfamiliar neighborhood doing door to door campaigning for a local politician I had no clue about (and who had zero support in the area). I think I knocked on 50 doors with very little feedback. … I went home pretty frustrated, but realized how much work goes into this stuff. You have to be passionate about it.
Helluva learning experience. The frustrating ones are the ones we learn from.
My top three career accomplishments are…
- Working for the former Governor of Georgia, Roy E. Barnes
- Landing my current position at the Bar
- Assisting and helping plan this press conference
When no one else is in the car, I… go full on Carter Beauford on my steering wheel.
I aspire to… show up to work every day and feel like I am making some sort of substantive change. I want to feel involved and want to inspire people around me. That’s what drives me. I want to lead!! (I think I just inspired myself!)
I am afraid of… being stagnant and boring. That scares me.
Right now, I am working on… Applying for my masters degree in public administration.
Here are three tips for interviewing…
I am in no way an “Interviewologist,” but here are (3) tips that have helped me:
Networking is a big deal. You (I) get kind of tired of people who name drop when you are out at the local watering hole on a Friday night. In the interview, it’s okay to name drop. This is especially the case if you’ve done your homework and really do know people within the organization. Your interviewer will probably talk to the person you know… who will then say GREAT things about you.
- Be confident – People like to be around others who are confident. That’s who they’ll hire. Don’t go to an interview unconfident. You won’t get the job.
- Practice – I stood in front of the mirror and faked out an interview. You can do this with another human too.
In terms of telling the local government story, I think local government…
I think local government is the strength of our country. It’s the easiest way for people to get involved. In this cynical political climate, we need more people engaged and involved.
If I could start a non-profit to assist local government, I would focus on…
The environment. Pay attention to what is happening down in the Everglades National Park. There are groups that are doing all they can to protect such an important place. I’d start one like the Snook Foundation.
You should know that…I love live music.
For the next person that you interview, I would ask…What is your spirit animal?
My Story – Archives
- Aimee Kane, City of Boulder, CO
- Jessica Beise, City of Victoria, MN
- Emily Vincent, City of Olathe, KS
- Toy Beeninga, City of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Heidi York, Person County (NC) Manager
- Barack Matite, City of Eudora, KS
- Cathy Wilson, Town of Carrboro, NC
- India Adams, Albemarle County, VA
- Derek Matheson, Kent (WA) Chief Administrative Officer