I want to work in politics
Working in politics means more than just running for office. With your role in politics you are serving as the voice of the people. There are many ways that you can get involved in politics. You can work for a non-profit doing advocacy work, work on campaigns, work with legislation and so much more. A great way to get started is to network with people already working in the field. Working in politics involves interesting work, excitement and opportunities to make a difference.
Career Snapshot
- Political Scientist - Median Pay $117,570 per year, $56.52 per hour. Work full time in an office. Long hours.
- Administrative Assistant - Median Pay $38,880 per year, $18.69 per hour. Work in an office setting.
- Legislator - Median Pay $46,350 per year. Local government- $45,900. State government- $51,250
Things to think about
Top qualities and skills needed for political careers:
Communication
Being able to speak to others to convey information as appropriate for the needs of your audience is a very important skill to have. In politics you are constantly interacting with people and must do so effectively.
Decision Making
In politics people rely on you to make important decisions that will benefit communities. Therefore one should know how to choose between possible solutions to a problem that would have the best positive impact.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, is a big part of what politicians do. They often take time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and refrain from interrupting at inappropriate times.
Persuasion
Politicians use persuasion when looking for support from companies and individuals for their campaigns and projects. You also want to be able to convince others why your views are the ones they should share. Therefore persuade others to change their minds or behavior
Top Five
There are a variety of majors at ²ÊÃñ±¦µä that can help prepare you for the future.
Most Surprising Majors
Handshake Search Terms
- Campaign
- Coalition
- Lobby
- Election
- Advocacy
Things you can do
Seek opportunities on campus to start developing skills.
Get Involved
There are many student organizations or groups that center around politics. You can also get involved in student government to make changes on campus. whose passions align with yours and get involved.
Get Connected
Shadow a local politician. Ask questions about how they got their start and how you can help. Find ways to make these connections at Career Services.
Get Experience
Search for opportunities to get connected with the community, a local political campaign or nonprofit. Find opportunities through:
- - Login and search using keywords like “politicsâ€
- Handshake - Login and search by industry, job function or keyword
- Volunteer Resource Center - Search the calendar or organization database
Get Engaged
There are many ways to be engaged such as conducting research on political theory UROP website, studying in another region to gain perspective through or doing a semester in Washington through
Get Informed
Researching companies and the industry you’d like to work in is an essential step to narrowing your interests while in school. Use to learn more about careers in politics.