The Local Government Fiscal Note Program typically hires staff for legislative sessions. If you have an interest in applying for a position for the 2010 legislative session, please continue to check this page or contact Research Services Program Manager Steve Salmi. Informational interviews are encouraged.
Job positions typically include:• Professional-level, temporary research positions • Research internships• Work/study positions that either assist with research or program administration.
Professional-level positions receive compensation commensurate with experience. Interns must be enrolled students or within six months of graduation. Work/study positions require a financial aid commitment from a college or university.
What do fiscal note analysts do?
Fiscal note analysis draws upon an unusual combination of interests and aptitudes. In a sense this is policy analysis, in that you can apply your keen eye for analyzing legislation and writing clear, concise and relentlessly objective prose. This work also has a lot in common with journalism, because you are a hunter who – under heavy deadline pressure – tracks down all manner of information by talking to people with varied political agendas. It just so happens that mostly what you collect are numbers. You don’t need to be a statistics whiz, but an affinity for reading, manipulating and presenting quantitative data is necessary. Knowledge of the legislative process, local government operations, and the nuances of at least one or two policy areas make your learning curve much easier. So does the ability to manage a challenging workload and stay cool under pressure. High attention to detail – and a zest for learning something new every day – are an absolute must. A sense of humor is a big plus.
Analysts are assigned a portfolio of fiscal notes that generally fit within their assigned issue areas, such as taxes, social services or growth management. We produce more fiscal notes than any other state agency because we cover almost all issues of relevance to local governments.
Most fiscal notes are researched and written on an individual basis, but teams of analysts may work on larger and more complex bills. This is why we place a high priority on hiring staff with strong interpersonal and organizational skills. Entry-level staff members are mentored by senior researchers with decades of experience in local and state government.
Why become a fiscal analyst?
Our alumni often report that being a fiscal analyst was the toughest job they ever loved. Make no mistake about it, the workload can be intense. However, the rewards are great. This is an unusual opportunity to observe the law-making process up close while providing an important service to policy makers. Fiscal note analysts have gone on to a variety of positions with the Department of Commerce, other agencies, the Legislature and local government. Some of our analysts have stayed with us in year-round, professional-track positions that produce fiscal notes during legislative session and work on contracted research services the rest of the year.
What kind of experience do you need?
Professional-level research positions require people who can hit the ground running. Staff members typically possess at least a bachelor’s degree and one college-level course in statistics. However, credentials matter less to us than talent, experience and enthusiasm. We need resourceful researchers with strong writing, organizational and interpersonal skills, along with a nuanced sense of public policy in their assigned topic areas and a relentless attention to detail and commitment to objectivity. Sound intriguing? Show us your initiative and interviewing skills – let’s talk.