By Sarah Schafer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 25, 1998; Page F09

So, you got your foot in the door, but now it's stuck.

Sound familiar? You're not alone. This summer there will be as many as 30,000 interns -- mostly college-aged, working in temporary positions -- in the Washington area, many of them vying for full-time positions, the Washington Intern Foundation reports. Add thousands of other workers, including secretaries and administrative assistants, many of whom are looking to move up, and it makes for a competitive environment.

While the job market may be favorable, breaking free of the intern stereotype and landing a "real" position can take some deft maneuvering.

Notice that says maneuvering, not brown-nosing. "We can always see right through it," says Sen. Charles E. Grassley's (R-Iowa) legislative director, Jim Jochum, who often weighs in on intern hiring decisions.

Before you wear out your kisser, then, take a look at what these employers and former interns have to say.

A Touch of Gray

Investment banks often worry that recent college grads won't have the seasoning to woo big clients or keep their composure under intense pressure. "This is a field where a few gray hairs might be an advantage," one broker says.

Knowing this, Caron asked to tackle cold-calling -- -the dreaded task of interrupting folks during their dinner hour to ask them to buy something. When you first start as a broker, Caron says, "that's the fire they put your feet to."

As an intern, Caron impressed the higher-ups with his ability to plow through lead lists (lists of potential customers) with the tenacity of a veteran.

Which tasks will impress your superiors? Caron says he discussed every action he took as an intern with his mentor. In most investment banking internships, Caron says, you're either paired with a broker or designated a floater who moves around the company. Caron was the latter but sought mentoring from the branch manager, who became an important adviser. It was a relationship that would pay big dividends. Together they chose work duties similar to those of brokers in training. "Every discussion focused on this being [my] career," he says.

Acting as though you already are in the position you want doesn't only work for interns.

Mary Geraghty, vice president and human resources coordinator for Ferris, Baker Watts in Baltimore, recalls a recent hire who took a clerical job in the hope that he could burrow his way into an analyst position. Afraid the young man was a bit naive, Geraghty told him straight out, "You'll be doing a lot of data entry."

Unswayed, the young man took the job and quickly moved up, to an associate analyst position, and then out -- to Legg Mason Inc. Like Caron, this person acted as though he were already in his coveted role. In fact, he took the Series 7 -- the certification test for brokers -- on his own, paying for studying materials. His return on investment: He went from a job with a salary in the low $20,000s to one that pays almost double in the space of a year.

Wondering if a certain firm is likely to promote from the lower ranks? Check out the resumes of the executives. Geraghty notes that one senior vice president of Ferris, Baker Watts started as a sales assistant. Chances are, this type of VP may give you a shot.

King of the Hill

The important thing to remember on the Hill, says James Jochum, legislative director for Sen. Grassley, is "there's more work than staff."

Jochum, now 32, interned for Grassley a decade ago before going to law school. When he became an environmental lawyer, Grassley's office was short on expertise in that area and Jochum became the de facto consultant. When a position opened up on the staff, Cunningham called him.

Jochum says in his office and in most others, "If someone's willing to pick up the ball and run with it, we let them." For example, one current intern learned of a floor debate on an issue close to his heart. Unprompted, he wrote a floor statement for Grassley. "The senator will probably [use] it," Jochum says.

Of course, not everyone has the confidence to play Senate speech writer. But doing menial tasks well can also land you a plum position. Don't do the grunt work too well, though; your boss may hesitate to move you out of that role if you become too valuable.

But on the Hill, everyone's expected to pitch in. Says Cunningham, "There's nothing I would ask an intern to do that I don't do on a daily basis." In fact, he notes, interns who thumb their noses at the copy machine only look foolish.

A final note for Hill climbers (and ladder climbers in other fields): If you're bent on brown-nosing, turn your charm on the constituents who call or stop in the office. When Mr. and Mrs. Bigwig say, "You've treated us so well, is there anything we can do?" tell them to put the compliment in writing. Letters of praise from constituents translate into employment chips -- sooner or later you'll be able to cash in on them.

'What Can You Do for Us?'

He would rather hear which reporters they've formed relationships with and what technology expertise they've gleaned.

As on the Hill, impressing customers is key.

A month ago, Victoria Davis, an account coordinator at Mitchell & Associates Inc. in Bethesda, parlayed her administrative assistant skills into her current job by doing that. At the 12-person agency, it was easy for Davis to participate in meetings and soak up information on various clients. For example, she learned that one client was a stickler for timetables. Davis spent a few hours making an Excel chart outlining when and where the company should advertise each month. The client was delighted.

Soon, Davis used her knack for organization in other areas. She constructed a detailed media list of contacts, addresses and notes about which clients liked which publications. "I kind of just ... made it easier for everyone," she says. When an account coordinator left, Davis was the natural replacement.

Landing the job is your goal. But once you move up, make sure you shed the intern stereotype. Stackig advises you to ask for a new desk. Also, make sure your boss sends out a company-wide announcement of your new status. You don't want people asking you why you're still around. And get a written job description. You may not stick to it forever, but if someone asks you to make copies, you can say it's not part of your job -- and show the proof.

Questions about getting ahead? E-mail Sarah Schafer at schafers@washpost.com.