Overview
A career in politics at the entry level most usually involves acting as a legislative assistant in a politician's office on the hill. These jobs are often hard to come by, not often advertised and include a lot of administrative work as you work your way up from the bottom rung. Offices differ dramatically in their size and structure. Because of this, the type of work you do can vary and job responsibilities may change regularly. Flexibility and a willingness to do "grunt work" are important characteristics in this career field.
Working in the field of politics, whether it be for a campaign or on the hill requires sacrifices. Most internships do not pay and full time entry-level jobs are often low paying compared to other fields. However many internships are flexible and allow part time work so that you can secure another part time job. Also consider fellowships to financially supplement your work experience; start by visiting International Education and Fellowship Programs. There are no set requirements for an internship or job in politics, however writing and administrative skills are among those most often cited as being particularly important in this career field.
Getting Started
Because so few jobs on the hill are advertised formally, networking is especially important. Don't worry if you don't have any contacts at the start, interning, (besides providing great real world experience), can help you build those. To begin, find your local representative and fax (do not send via email or postal) your resume to their office. Oftentimes, you will have to call their office to get their fax number and you should always call afterwards to follow up. They may get dozens of resumes a day, what sets you apart is your follow through. It is also important that you truly understand your reasons for applying to that specific politician's office. Know their politics and also some bills they have worked on, etc. As with any paper you write, do your research beforehand! View a list of centralized websites to help you identify organizations that match with your interests.
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