I applied in September of 2024 and had one interview in October. My interview seemed pretty standard but the people who interviewed me were oddly obsessed with their time working on Capitol Hill, and one seemed very hung up on the fact that I have not worked for a trade association.
That was my last contact with the organization. I recently surfed to their website and saw they hired a Communications Coordinator. Did this role replace the Press Secretary? I have no idea of knowing because the organization ghosted me.
Advice to AAJ: Working on the Hill is not a requirement for successfully fielding press calls or implementing media relations plans. If working for a trade association is also so important, make that a requirement in the JD. Also, be mindful of the hard work applicants pour into the process and treat them with actual respect by providing updates on the process instead of ghosting them. It literally takes five minutes to send a polite "thanks but no thanks." Also, be friendlier to your interviewees and stop using your own experience as a reference point--diverse organizations are stronger ones!