With the political scene heating up in preparation for November’s midterm elections, now is a good time to consider the possibility of becoming an employee for a political consultancy, Political Action Committee (PAC), or advocacy group.
For positions that are directly related to campaigning or to the mission of a specific party, you must clearly indicate your political alignment. In this case, even though we generally advise against including political alignment, your political views and experience are important to highlight on a political resume.
For positions that are more local and issue-oriented (for example, school board member in a small town), you must have a clear stance on the issues. Mentioning your political party affiliations may be irrelevant or an actual drawback.
Most political positions move forward from local volunteering or college politics into real-world campaign experience and then into a paid political position. If you are aiming to join a PAC or advocacy group, then it would be helpful to demonstrate prior interest or work experience in that group’s mission. For example, work in a pharmaceutical company might be good preparation for a position with a pharmaceutical or healthcare PAC. Volunteer work at a homeless shelter might be good preparation for applying to an advocacy group for the homeless.
Your relationship with known political figures or your contribution to previous political actions should be spelled out in your political resume. This is not a time to be shy about your connections or experience. Make sure you provide numbers wherever possible to quantify your accomplishments: “increased turnout 3%” or “increased funds raised by $200,000.”
In any political position, a demonstration of soft skills such as leadership, communication, organization, or negotiation is valuable. Experience in IT, administration, legal, and finance is also a boon. You should consider volunteer positions or certifications—for example, in mediation—that are related to the political position you are seeking.
For help in creating your political resume, please contact Robin’s Resumes® today.