Working in politics means more than just running for office. With your role in politics you are serving as the voice of the people. There are many ways that you can get involved in politics. You can work for a non-profit doing advocacy work, work on campaigns, work with legislation and so much more. A great way to get started is to network with people already working in the field. Working in politics involves interesting work, excitement and opportunities to make a difference.
Things to think about
Top qualities and skills needed for political careers:
Being able to speak to others to convey information as appropriate for the needs of your audience is a very important skill to have. In politics you are constantly interacting with people and must do so effectively.
In politics people rely on you to make important decisions that will benefit communities. Therefore one should know how to choose between possible solutions to a problem that would have the best positive impact.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, is a big part of what politicians do. They often take time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and refrain from interrupting at inappropriate times.
Politicians use persuasion when looking for support from companies and individuals for their campaigns and projects. You also want to be able to convince others why your views are the ones they should share. Therefore persuade others to change their minds or behavior
Top Five
There are a variety of majors at CU Boulder that can help prepare you for the future.
Things you can do
Seek opportunities on campus to start developing skills.
There are many student organizations or groups that center around politics. You can also get involved in student government to make changes on campus. Find an organization whose passions align with yours and get involved.
Shadow a local politician. Ask questions about how they got their start and how you can help. Find ways to make these connections at Career Services.
Search for opportunities to get connected with the community, a local political campaign or nonprofit. Find opportunities through:
There are many ways to be engaged such as conducting research on political theory UROP website, studying in another region to gain perspective through education abroad website or doing a semester in Washington through CU in D.C. website
Researching companies and the industry you’d like to work in is an essential step to narrowing your interests while in school. Use Industry Insider to learn more about careers in politics.
Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE)
East Building, Second Floor
1725 Euclid Ave.
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0200
303-735-4445
exploratorystudies@colorado.edu
PESadvising@colorado.edu
Advising available via drop-in and appointment
