Political Consultants

A good foundation for future political consulting work is early involvement in school government. Actively participate in committees and clubs that have officers and elections. You can also become involved in local, state, and federal elections by volunteering for campaigns; though you may just be making phone calls and putting up signs, you may also have the opportunity to write press releases and schedule press conferences and interviews, and you will see firsthand how a campaign operates.

Working for your school newspaper will help you learn about conducting research, interviews, and opinion polls, which all play a part in managing media relations and political consulting. You may be able to get a part-time job or an internship with your city's newspaper or broadcast news station, where you will gain experience with election coverage and political advertising. Visit the Web sites of U.S. Congress members. Many sites feature lists of recent press releases, which will give you a sense of how a press office publicizes the efforts and actions of Congress members. Read some of the many books examining recent political campaigns and scandals, and read magazines like Harper's (https://harpers.org), The Nation (https://www.thenation.com), and National Review (https://www.nationalreview.com) for political commentary. Also learn more about how political consultants think and communicate by following them on social media sites such as X and LinkedIn.

Participate in information interviews and job-shadowing experiences with political consultants to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor and government or social studies teacher for help setting up these experiences.