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If you want to work where the action is and you’re interested in current affairs, it may be time to think about how to get into politics!
In this guide, we’ll not only explain how to become a politician, but how to get into politics with no experience or starting from scratch.
There is a wide range of jobs related to politics in the UK. For example:
It’s never too late to get into politics. But if higher education is still ahead of you, a degree in politics is a great introduction to the profession, offering a chance to study political theory and contemporary studies.
Degree programmes cover a broad range of topics, with content differing between universities. Typically, the first year offers an overview of several subjects before focusing on more specialised areas in later years – topics may include public policy, parliamentary functions, international relations, etc.
Undergraduate degree names related to politics vary by university – for more details, take a look at the complete university guide. For example, they include:
And so on. Universities also provide lots of opportunities for students to engage with politics directly and begin their journey toward making meaningful societal changes.
Activities like joining debating societies, running for positions in the National Union of Students (NUS), or serving as student union representatives can be great stepping stones into the political world. Whether you serve as a committee member or student officer, you represent your peers and work toward driving positive change on campus.
Additionally, students’ unions often offer roles such as president, treasurer, or activities coordinator, providing further opportunities to gain relevant practical experience.
Becoming a member of a party is one of the most natural and direct ways to get involved in politics – choose a party that aligns with your views. Each party allows people to join by paying an annual membership fee, with some offering discounts for younger members.
After joining, you will receive invitations to events such as fundraising activities, annual meetings and so on. These events introduce you to local politicians, including councillors and election candidates.
Getting involved in local events helps you contribute directly to your community. Many parties also allow members to influence policies that appear in manifestos.
Many people join political parties to try making changes they care about and have their voices heard. But being part of a party also improves your understanding of the UK’s political system.
Campaigning is another way to gain political experience:
One of the most common ways to gain experience is volunteering, which involves supporting events, publicising campaigns and engaging with voters.
Volunteers take on a variety of tasks, including answering calls, handing out flyers and running social media campaigns.
Many politicians started their careers as volunteers, gaining the experience that helped them move into paid roles.
Councillors represent their communities and play a key role in shaping local policies.
The job involves attending meetings, voting on local issues and working to improve services for residents. Some councillors focus on areas such as housing, transport and education.
There are two main routes to becoming a councillor:
Another way to get involved is by working for your local council as a government officer. This job involves helping to implement policies and delivering services efficiently. Officers work in areas such as regeneration, planning, transport and culture.
In the UK, the Civil Service helps the government run smoothly by delivering public services and developing policies.
Civil servants work in all government departments including health, education and transport. Some roles focus on advising ministers, while others involve managing services for the public.
The Civil Service Fast Stream is a competitive graduate programme for those wanting to start a career at a higher level.
A good understanding of policy and current affairs is essential. The scheme gives graduates early responsibility, allowing you to influence decisions and gain experience in public service.
Before trying to become an MP, civil servants must first resign from their position. Current civil servants are disqualified from election to Parliament under the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.
There is also a graduate programme for the Houses of Parliament.
One of the most direct ways to get into politics is by working for an MP. Roles such as parliamentary assistants and caseworkers provide first-hand experience of government.
These jobs tend to require strong research and communication skills, along with an interest in public service.
Parliamentary assistants help MPs by:
Internships also offer a way to gain experience and build a network. These roles are often unpaid but help provide valuable political experience.
Many people contact their MP directly to ask about job opportunities. The website W4MP Jobs lists vacancies for positions in MPs’ offices.
Working for an MP gives you a practical understanding of government. MPs usually have teams based in both their constituency and Westminster.
It goes without saying that most aspiring MPs have years of relevant political experience under their belt by this point.
But there are a few exceptions. One former MP was still a final year undergraduate student when her career began – Mhairi Black, at the age of 20 years.
Here’s how to become an MP – you need to win a by-election or a general election! Candidates can stand for a political party or as independents.
Each party has its own selection process. Most require candidates to gain approval from a party official before running.
During an election, candidates campaign online and in public, attend meetings, give speeches and engage with the media.
Candidates must:
You can declare yourself as a candidate once Parliament is dissolved, or others can nominate you. This impacts your campaign spending limits and grants access to the electoral register.
To appear on the ballot, you must submit completed nomination forms to the Returning Officer by 4 PM on the deadline day.
If you don’t want to become a politician, there are several relevant adjacent careers to consider too. For example:
Here’s how to write a journalism CV.
More directly, political risk analysts provide advice to governments and businesses about political developments. Their work involves assessing economic conditions, security risks, government stability and human rights issues.
The information they provide helps organisations make decisions on policies or business strategies. Some analysts focus on specific regions, while others specialise in particular issues such as cyber security or conflict risk.
Is a career in politics right for you? The consensus varies on the right soft skills for the different roles available, but in most cases – beyond a strong interest in politics – you probably need:
We hope this guide has helped you think about how to get into politics. For other useful articles, take a look at our full blog.
Other career guides include:
Here at PurpleCV, we can help with all parts of your job journey – looking for new roles, writing CVs, preparing for interviews, impressing at work and moving up the career ladder!
Find out about our new 1:1 interview coaching on our accessories page. And for any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
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