I Want to Work in … Politics

 

Becoming a politician is far from being the only way into a career in politics. There are many opportunities related to politics, and many of them do not require a politics degree.

What you will need is an interest in politics and (for work with a political party and for public affairs consultancy) some grassroots involvement in local or student politics.

Types of work involving politics usually involve one or (often) more of the following:

Administration

Civil Service:-

Local Government administrator

See the Prospects Sector Briefing: Local, Regional and National Government for background to these employers and the roles they offer www.prospects.ac.uk/links/GovernmentSB

You may also find our more general page “I Want to Work in the Public Sector”www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitesgov.htm useful

Research

Think-tanks

See the Prospects Occupational Profiles on Social Researchwww.prospects.ac.uk/links/InfoSocRes and on Lecturing in Further & Higher Education www.prospects.ac.uk/links/EduLectFHE

PROFILE: Political Researcher

INVOLVES: Monitoring the press, Hansard etc. Researching background to political issues & campaigns, Writing reports. Assisting with constituency business. General gofering.
EMPLOYERS: MPs, MEPs, political parties, political consultancies & lobbyists, pressure groups, public affairs departments of large organisations in the commercial & voluntary sectors.
RELATED JOBS: Civil Service Fast-Stream, EU administrator, public relations, journalism, House of Commons library clerk, academic research.
SATISFACTIONS: Involvement in the political world. Good background for moving into other career areas.
NEGATIVES: "Low pay. Dogsbody work. Limited long-term career prospects. A few politicians have egos the size of Belgium & the charm of a trapped nerve."
SKILLS: No set career path. Many researchers move on into political lobbying or journalism. MPs researchers may find their career develops alongside that of their employer, if s/he achieves high office. One or two researchers have gone on to become MPs themselves, but this is relatively rare.
DEGREE: Any, but politics, law, economics degrees useful.
VACANCY SOURCES: The House magazine, Guardian on Mondays or Wednesdays. Few vacancies are advertised - make speculative applications using the following sources: Hollis Press & PR Annual (political consultancies), Directory of Volunteering & Employment Opportunities, Website: The British Politics Page www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk.htm Competition for entry is intense - any advertised vacancy is likely to attract 1000+ applications.
TIPS: "Everybody who works for me has come first to my constituency office, as a volunteer, answered the phone to a constituent & dealt with their request for help. That's the best training" (Simon Hughes, LibDem MP) Contact MPs or other organisations. Offer to work as a volunteer.

 

Communication and persuasion

Journalist

See the Prospects Occupational Profiles on this career at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PubJournal

Politician

Unlikely to be a graduate’s first career post and one that usually lacks any job security!

How to Become an MP

 

Many jobs combine two or more of these elements. Most of them recruit from any degree subject .... although an interest in and enthusiasm for politics will help

Other information resources

Useful links

 

 

Last fully updated 2011