So You Want to Work in Politics

How to Get Your Foot in the Door

So you are an undergrad majoring in political science or a recent grad wondering how to launch your career in politics? There is no one hard and fast answer or secret, but here are a few tips and suggestions from someone who has been there, done that and learned the ropes.

The starting point of any career begins with creating a resume. This goes for both recent grads and those still in school. The guidelines for creating a political resume do not particularly differ from that of any other resume. However, some things to be sure to include on your resume are political organizations and associations you belong to, any political-oriented volunteering, and any sales and database experience. The reasoning behind the first two should be obvious. The purpose for including sales experience is that much of politics and campaigns is about persuasion -- persuading voters or legislators to x, y, or z. Database experience is also key because politics and campaigns are all about lists -- and those lists are maintained and updated in a database. If you do not have these kinds of experiences or skills, work on getting them.

You do not have to wait until you graduate to begin your political career. You can gain invaluable experience and make crucial contacts for the future by interning or volunteering on campaigns or for political organizations. Prepare a cover letter and resume and cold send them to campaigns and organizations in your area. People are the greatest political resource and campaigns are always in search of more hands to get everything done. There is nothing like working in an actual campaign office to get a true feel for the reality of the world of politics.