Are you thinking about getting a job on Capitol Hill?
Legislative assistant positions are one way people get their start in politics. These employees assist lawmakers get legislation passed and otherwise help lawmakers achieve their goals through administrative, communication, research, and event-related tasks. If you’re thinking about finding a job in politics as a legislative assistant, here is the path to become one.
Understand what they do. Legislative assistants wear many hats.
During any given day they may be performing administrative tasks like answering phones or scheduling visits from constituents. They may write press releases or research information on upcoming bills. They could be involved heavily in the details of planning an event or help write speeches for legislators. They could also be involved in meeting with constituents by organizing the agenda for the meetings.
Make sure you have the skills.
If you want to be a legislative assistant, one of the first things to consider is if you have the skills necessary to be successful in the position, and if you don’t, how you gain those skills. You’ll be making a lot of decisions and planning many actions as an assistant, so knowing how to lead is important. You should also have solid communication skills both written and verbal, and know where to find information when you need it. Other critical skills include general administrative skills, knowing how to organize, and working well as a team.
Education and networking.
Nearly all legislative assistants have the minimum of a bachelor’s degree in areas like public administration or political science. Some go on to pursue a master’s degree in those areas or public policy. You’ll also want to network to find that next assistant position. Attending job fairs or looking for ways to get your foot in the door like doing an internship is an important part of networking.
If you have strong administrative skills and would like to be involved in the political arena, being a legislative assistant is a great place to start your career on Capitol Hill.
After you’ve secured your degree and have some experience under your belt, looking for jobs online or networking for open positions is the best way to start looking for a job. Also, learn all you can about what’s going on in the areas of politics that interest you so you know where to apply. You might also look into job shadowing someone in a similar role to get firsthand experience of what to expect when working as a legislative assistant.
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