Start Your Search for a Political Campaign Job
When I started looking for a political campaign job on the campaign trail, I was lucky enough to go through the Campaign Management Institute where I became focused on political campaigns and met great mentors like Peter Fenn, Richard Smolka, Bill Sweeney and Peter Lindstrom through college programs and internships.
Meeting folks who had made their careers out of politics encouraged me to set aside my mom’s vision of me becoming a professional chef and instead pursue a career in politics and find a political campaign job.
During my senior year of college, I did an independent study, and my research evolved into an FEC complaint. It was through that project that I met the incredible journeyman researcher, Peter Lindstrom.
Despite pleadings from relatives on "getting a real job," I knew all I wanted to do was to work in politics. Peter Lindstrom connected me to Jim Jontz, who, in turn, hired me on as a Field Representative. I found my first political campaign job, surviving on $1,100 a month and free food brought in by campaign volunteers. I was hooked and determined to stick with it.
Every year, campaigns are looking for cheap campaign staff who are willing to work long hours for low wages. If you want to enter the field and you're smart and driven, you should be able to find a job. To be clear, it will likely take some time, and your first political campaign job might not be the exact job that you wanted. You will probably be required to travel, eat bad food, sleep in a house with way too many people, and work in an office that should have been condemned long before you arrived. Sound like fun? Then get on the road!
Here are some tips to begin your search for a campaign job:
Define your political niche: Before you start firing off resumes, take some time for introspection. Politics is a large field with a lot of different niches. If you’re interested in data, you might be a good fit to work at a polling firm. If you’re wonky and interested in the nuances of public policy, you might want to work at a think tank. What parts of politics excite you? Knowing your niche will help you focus your job search. You might not find that perfect job right away, but knowing where you want to go is a great place to start.
Sign up for the Listserves: At the beginning of your hunt, you should make sure you sign up for and are regularly scanning the Listserves so you can get a sense of what’s out there. There are a ton of resources out there that are dedicated to finding a political campaign job. Here’s a list of a few of our favorites, but there are many others as well: Jobs That Are Left, Brad Traverse, Tom Mantos Jobs, Political Job Hunt, Inclusv, Idealist, Progressive Exchange.
Be open to temp work: Temping at an agency like PoliTemps can be a great launchpad to a political campaign job. These types of specialized agencies focus on placing individuals in temp roles at campaigns, firms, and nonprofit orgs. This gives you a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience, boost your resume, get introduced to potential references, and sharpen your skills. Sometimes these temp positions can even lead to more permanent roles (our firm has hired several), so they’re a great way to get your foot in the door.
Use your network: Leveraging your network is one of the best ways to find a job in politics. Optimize your LinkedIn profile, connect with folks who work in politics, join relevant groups, and engage in discussions. Friends, colleagues, and acquaintances—whether on social media or in your everyday life—can be valuable resources. Someone you know has likely worked on or volunteered for a campaign and may be able to offer guidance or introduce you to someone. Most importantly, make sure your network knows that you’re actively looking. Word-of-mouth is still a powerful tool in politics. While it may seem obvious, telling people you’re looking can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Reach out to orgs: Political jobs aren't always advertised on the job boards. So, don’t be afraid to reach out to campaigns, political parties, consulting firms, or nonprofits that interest you. Reach out to your elected officials and tell them you’re interested in working in politics and see if they can point you in the right direction. Here’s a quick list of some organizations that are regularly looking for campaign staff during the election cycle: Emily’s List, DSCC, GAINPower, and America Votes
Intern prior to graduating: Before graduating, I did a lot of paid and unpaid internships, and they were great sources of leads for campaign jobs. Internships can help you gain some valuable entry-level experience and jump-start the process of building your network. Look for internship opportunities with political campaigns, government offices, lobbying or consulting firms, or non-profits, and make sure you apply early. These places often receive a high volume of applications, and their spots fill up quickly.
Ask for informational interviews: Reach out via email or LinkedIn to people who are working in jobs or at organizations that interest you. Ask them for informational interviews to learn about their experiences and get advice on what these folks are looking for so you can build connections and ace your next interview.
Attend a training program: We’ve written a lot about this, but there really are a lot of campaign training programs out there that train you well for little to no money before placing you on a campaign. These trainings help to prepare you for your next job, but they can also help you develop your network and open doors to new opportunities.
Don’t be afraid of follow-up: If you really want to work in politics, you need to show some moxie. After sending your application, make sure you follow up within a reasonable timeframe. If someone said they would make a connection for you, and it’s been a couple of days, don’t be afraid to gently nudge. There are plenty of people and resources out there that can help get you started, but ultimately, you have to stick with it and not be deterred when you don’t get instant results.
Tailor your resume and cover letter: Generic resumes and cover letters don’t stand out in a competitive political job market. Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. Use your cover letter as a chance to tell your story and talk about why you’re a good fit for the job. And make sure you are closely proofreading everything.
Be persistent and don’t give up. The political job market can be competitive and sometimes unpredictable. Don't get discouraged by rejections. Keep networking, gaining experience, and refining your application materials. And don’t be afraid of reapplying to somewhere that rejected you once before.
Be open to different opportunities: You might not land your dream job right away, and that’s okay. Be open to entry-level positions or roles that are outside your ideal niche or focus. These experiences can be valuable steppingstones. Politics is a small world, so if you really knock it out of the park for someone, they might be able to help you find that perfect job somewhere else.
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