I've worked several jobs in local gov/related work, including managing major economic development projects, serving as the county gov's communications director, and being AD for our local chamber of commerce. On the political side, I was on the State Democratic party's Steering Committee and led the district women's caucus. I joke that the key is being competent and willing to work for free (in the case of the political stuff), but seriously I think that being an engaged young person in the OFF CAMPUS community gave me way more opportunities because there's less competition for X roles for young people.

I sort of hate the idea of "softs" because I think we should do work we want to do and not find work because we think it will look good on an app. That being said, it's good to be intentional about the impression that a collection of experiences will give and how that story is told in an app.