Worked to demonstrate a portfolio of skills early on (mainly research and writing, including published articles in center-right media). Got an internship in a congressional office and then a full-time job on a presidential campaign. From there, it became extremely easy to land a permanent gig. It's amazing how many valuable connections you can make - and quickly - through working your butt off. Have been with my current company over 4 years now and have gotten several unsolicited job offers since - none of which ever bothered to ask if I finished college. The truth is that hard work and having pride in one's work are rare commodities in D.C. You can get just about any job you want - from comms director positions on The Hill to journalism, PR, lobbying, and think tank analyst roles - without a degree if you're willing to work your tail off to perfect your craft, prove your worth, and set yourself apart from the rest. Develop an ownership mindset -- you're not completing tasks on a checklist; you're performing an art that you should be proud of. Set your standards 5x higher than anyone should expect from you. Don't be afraid to work "after hours" (whatever that means), work on the weekend, and do whatever you need to do to become the most valuable player for your organization that you can. And all of this goes for any employee, not just ones that decided to skip college.
Tommy@TDSPublicAffairs.com