Political campaigns provide a valuable opportunity for those seeking to develop a diverse set of skills in a fast-paced and flexible environment. They also offer a unique insight into the electoral process and the cares and concerns of elected officials and the American public. In addition, working on a political campaign can often lead directly or indirectly to government employment down the road.
Each year (during a campaign cycle) thousands of local, state, and federal campaigns are organized. These can range in size from a handful of volunteers to large, full-time operations. In the US, campaigns are typically run for the President, Congressional seats, and other executive branch positions; state legislative and ballot initiative campaigns; and, in some states, judicial races.
While every campaign has a unique assortment of roles and responsibilities, most campaigns share similar organizational structures and are overseen by party committees that control fundraising and other resources. Additionally, most campaign jobs are partisan, meaning that they require a commitment to one particular political party. There are exceptions to this rule (such as when a candidate has run a nonpartisan race) but partisanship can be an important consideration when considering whether to work on a political campaign.
There are a variety of ways to get involved with a political campaign, but it is generally difficult for those without inside connections to secure a high-profile job such as the director of communications or policy. For those interested in exploring the possibility of a career on a political campaign, a good fit testing strategy is to volunteer for a campaign early in its life cycle and demonstrate a willingness to commit time and energy.
