Getting a Foot in the Door for Students and Emerging Evaluators by Kylie Hutchinson

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026

Hello, AEA365 community! Liz DiLuzio here, Lead Curator of the blog. This week is Individuals Week, which means we take a break from our themed weeks and spotlight the Hot Tips, Cool Tricks, Rad Resources and Lessons Learned from any evaluator interested in sharing. Would you like to contribute to future individuals weeks? Email me at AEA365@eval.org with an idea or a draft and we will make it happen.

Hello! I’m Kylie Hutchinson, an independent evaluation consultant with Community Solutions Planning & Evaluation, author of several books on evaluation and program planning, and frequent creator of free evaluation resources.

For many years, I was one of the go-to evaluators in my area that new and emerging evaluators called when they wanted to get more involved in evaluation. These were often newly graduated students looking to start a career in evaluation, evaluators new to independent consulting, or experienced evaluators who had recently moved to my area. In all these conversations, I found myself sharing the same ideas. So, I scribbled them down on a little post it note that I kept by my computer.

Here then, are my four tips for moving your evaluation career forward if you’re looking to get your foot in the door.

Hot Tips:

• Volunteer with your local evaluation association chapter. This is not just your standard call for volunteers. Time and time again I’ve seen how those who have stepped up have made extremely valuable career connections with other local evaluators. These connections can pay off in many ways including establishing your reputation, raising your local profile, and/or being asked to join project teams.
• Propose a partnership. Many seasoned evaluators are looking for other evaluators to add to a project team. Don’t be shy to approach them once you determine what unique value you might bring to a team. Examine your skills and experience for what you could contribute, e.g., expertise in quantitative analysis or experience doing research with children and youth. If you reduce your initial salary expectations, you will also make yourself more attractive budget-wise as a sub-contractor.
• Take on a pro-bono evaluation, or two. As a new or emerging evaluator, you need experience. As a new independent consultant, you need a client list. If you can reduce your salary expectations temporarily, you’ll see your client list, and credibility as an evaluator, grow faster.
• Find a mentor. Seasoned evaluators have a wealth of information to share with newbies, as long as you: a) ask thoughtful questions, b) be quiet and listen to what they have to say, and c) don’t take up hours of their time. Find an evaluator who might be a mentor, screw up your courage, and approach them with a minimal request for their time.

One of the nice things about working in evaluation for forty years is I have been able to observe people’s actual progress in the field over time and how these ideas work. Good luck, and don’t give up!

Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org. aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators. The views and opinions expressed on the AEA365 blog are solely those of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the American Evaluation Association, and/or any/all contributors to this site.