How to Make a Career in Politics
Many of America's leaders enter politics from other arenas-business and law being the two most common. As a profession, politics has fallen out of favor over the past few years, but it is still the heart of a democracy. Learn how to fashion a political career. Perhaps you can become a generation of professional politicians who run things differently.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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Learn about the legislative process beginning in high school. Pay particular attention to history, social studies, and English. Participate in high school activities such as debate, school elections, and Boy's and Girl's State. Check out the websites that describe American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary activities.
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Get a bachelor's degree. While earning the degree, study not only political science, government, public speaking, and writing, but also the newer venues of Internet advertising, blogs and political activism. While in college, also become active in the political party of your choice. In America, the political system is a two party system-almost exclusively. To have a political career, you will need a party affiliation.
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At all times, network. Networking may be more important in politics than any other profession. The networking should be not only person to person, but also through establishing your name and reputation with party officials at a local, state and national level.
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While in college, find a candidate at some level and work to help get that candidate elected. At the lower the level, you will have responsibility. For example, you may learn much more about campaigning while working for a candidate for county commissioner than stuffing envelopes for a presidential candidate. Do not shy away from learning the skill of fundraising.
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At all times, identify yourself as someone who is interested in a political career. Doing so sets you apart from others who are "interested" but not dedicated in a professional sense. Make it clear that you are looking for employment opportunities. This further sets you apart because entry level political jobs are low paying and aggressively seeking one is a sign of dedication.
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Begin your career in the best position available. Realize that a political career will almost certainly involve a degree of transience. True political professionals may work in a number of states across the nation. Even if one is fortunate enough to have a consistent home state, working for a congressional representative or senator means spending half your time in that state and half your time in Washington.
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Consider specializing in one of the newer venues of the political process such as the Internet and niche political groups. Electing a candidate is no longer just running an organization in a traditional fashion
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Move up through the ranks of your party, taking on an ever increasing degree of responsibility. An example of such a progression might be: volunteer, full time staff member during a campaign, ongoing staff member for party or for elected official, party official at a state level, staff member for member of congress or a senator.
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Tips & Warnings
At some point, you will need to decide whether your career will be as a political operative or whether you wish to run for office. Sometimes, the siren's call of being a candidate comes early, and a person's political career is determined by his or her ability to get elected.
