Career Paths

​​​​​​​Getting a Job on Political Campaigns: Advice from an Expert

Quotation Mark

Getting a job on a political campaign is to master the art of being aggressive with potential employers without being offensive. Political campaigns like assertive, outgoing people who will call, email, send notes, and just show up at the office while being nice doing it. They also like people who can travel to say, Iowa, on a moments notice to help start up a fledgling campaign. ​ Use whatever network you already have (i.e. teachers, friends, family, alumni, high school & college classmates) to spread the word about you. Use them to get you informational interviews... that is, an interview with a person that can identify others who may be looking to fill a position. ​ Don't be afraid to go on interviews in places that may not have any jobs in DC available. At the very least, you should ask them for 3 or 4 people that you should go see. And remember, this is Washington, there are elections every two years and always campaign jobs to fill.

David Jones, Class of 1989

Graduate and Professional School

Many college graduates choose to continue their education beyond their bachelor's degree by pursuing graduate or professional education such as law school. Admission to graduate and law school is competitive, and fiercely so at the top institutions. Your grades and scores on standardized admissions tests, such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), are typically the critical determinants of whether or not an applicant is admitted.

Is law school right for you? Prospective law students may wish to consult the Boston College Law Locator, which allows you to see how your GPA and test scores compare with those of the recent incoming classes at law schools across the country.

Career Resources on the Internet

Examples of Careers in Political Science

Investment Officer

CIA, Advanced Concepts Staff, Office of Research and Development

Program Evaluator

Newspaper Special Events Coordinator

Director, Division of Policy Studies

Publishing Company Account Executive

Public Affairs Research Analyst

Corporate Manager of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs

Senior Criminologist

Deputy Secretary for Administration, State Welfare Department

Plans and Review Officer, USIA

Labor Relations Specialist

Assistant Deputy Secretary to Governor

Financial Consultant

Private Foundation Program Director

State Senator

International Research Specialist

Corporate International Analyst

Senior Editor

Vice President, Account Group Head

Principal Secretary to Prime Minister

Survey Analyst

State Department, Director of Policy and Coordination

U.S. Army, Strategic Planning Specialist

Veterans Administration Adjudication Unit Chief

City Housing Administrator

Associate Research Director, Advertising Firm

Publisher

City Housing Manager

Mayor's Office, Legislative Coordinator

Advisor to Chairman of State Energy Commission

U.S. Supreme Court, Judicial Fellow

Attorney

Senior Advisor, Department of Treasury

Corporate Senior Advisor for Governmental Relations

Investigator, OPM

City Project Coordinator

Vice President, Market Research

Librarian

Director, Public Affairs

Federal Commission Senior Policy Analyst

Corporate Economist

State Department Officer

Research Supervisor

Director of Political Information Products

Manager of Political Programs

Campaign Finance Analyst

Chief of Staff, Committee, U.S. House of Representatives

Executive Director, Special Interest Association

U.S. Senate Office, Legislative Director

Consultant

Director, County Economic Development Office

County Clerk

Senior Employee Relations Analyst

Administration and Policy Development

US House of Representatives, Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant in State Sales Tax Bureau

Principal Program Evaluator

Assistant Budget Examiner

Political Commentator

Minister for Development

Director of Regulatory Compliance

Management Analyst

Journalist

University President

President, Research Consulting Firm

FAA Personnel Officer

Director, Intelligence Operations

City Office of Planning and Community Development, Staff Assistant

Press Officer, US Embassy

Credit Research Manager

Governor's Office, Director of State Operations

Traffic Courts Coordinator

US Congress, Staff Assistant

Deputy Secretary to Governor

County Treasurer

Corporation's State Legislative Issues Manager

Vice-president, Governmental Affairs, Engineering Vice-president / Account Executive

Director, Cost Containment, Insurance Company

HUD, Senior Legislative Specialist

Member of State Assembly

State Chief Purchasing Officer

Foundation President

Director of State Archives and History

Library of Congress, Specialist

Bank Vice-president, International Division

State Personnel Officer

Senior Public Opinion Analyst

Supervisor, State Department of Education

Bank Issues Analyst

County Council member

Systems Analyst

Deputy Manager, Political Risk Insurance Division

City's Coordinator of Federal and State Aid

Television Network, Director of Surveys

Assistant District Attorney

Information Manager, Corporate Planning Department

Transportation Specialist

Chief, State General Government Services Office

Mathematical Statistician

Commissioner, State Department of Human Services

Assistant Chief of Police

Publishing Company Account Executive

Juvenile Justice Specialist, State Department of Justice

Corporate Public Affairs Advisor

Marketing Research Supervisor

US Consulate, Principal Officer

Corporate Information Manager

Chief, County Bureau of Labor and Training

Issues Analyst, Corporate Social Policy Division