How to Become a Presidential Aide

By eHow Careers & Work Editor

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Presidential, or political, aides often work as advisors and personal assistants to the president. They represent the president when interacting with the public. Aides work with constituents, and they also must stay up to date on the latest political trends among policymakers. Learn the career path of a presidential aide.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Step1

Take courses in politics and political science at a four-year college or university. Study topics or issues in American Government, International Relations and Local Economic Development, to name a few. A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for presidential aides, though some pursue graduate degrees.

Step2

Develop your skills in writing, creative thinking, time management, decision making and communication. These skills are needed for the presidential aide position.

Step3

Apply for your first job in a government office or in private industry, or volunteer to work on a political campaign. This is how you can gain experience to become a presidential aide in Washington. It's likely that you may get started by working in your home state on a local or state level. Some aides also start off by acting as a liaison between a Washington politician and their state's capital.

Step4

After college, get a job as a presidential aide by doing an online search of political-related career opportunities. Your volunteering, private industry or government work experience can be good resume builders. Try researching your school's career center for leads if you are a college graduate. Establishing connections with key political insiders during the course of your work may also get you into the White House.

Tips & Warnings

You may start as a legislative assistant before landing the presidential aide position. Aspiring aides must learn the technical and legal aspects of their field. It's important to form relationships with journalists and colleagues, and expose yourself to high-profile politicians as this will help your advancement.
You must be efficient, outgoing, ambitious and organized in order to thrive in this job. Being shy or impatient is not an option.
Many presidential aides work irregular hours, usually 40 to 50 per week. They are always required to arrange meetings, prepare reports or do a lot of reading at any time of the day or night. Since this is a competitive field, it may take anywhere from five to 10 years to land a job working for the president.