The world has never needed diplomacy and rational political discourse more than in these fraught times. It's no wonder that forward-thinking individuals such as yourself want to know how they could help steer these conversations! Across universities, politics degree plans now rank among the most sought-after, but what can you do once you earn yours? In this article, we highlight politics degree careers, from the diplomatic track to international charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
| 💼Job Title | 🔎What it entails | 🤝Needed skills |
|---|---|---|
| Policy advisor | Considering data from a range of inputs to advise stakeholders. | Critical thinking skills Data analysis skills Communication skills teamwork/leadership skills. |
| Policy analyst | Examining events and data to determine possible future courses of action. | Organisational skills Focus and attention to detail Knowledge of real-world happenings Analytical skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills |
| Politician | Interact with constituents, listen to their concerns, serve on committees, and propose/write legislation. | Public relation skills Communication skills Negotiation skills Leadership skills Teamworking skills |
| Diplomat | Represent British interests at home and abroad | Communication skills Negotiation skills Critical thinking skills Leadership skills |
| International relations | Establish and build connections with concerned parties in other countries. | Knowledge of history Knowledge of language and culture Communication skills Teambuilding skills Leadership skills |
| Non-governmental organisation work Non-profit work | Filling the gap that government work and business initiatives don't cover | A passion for the cause Communication skills Networking skills Organisational skills Cultural awareness Language skills |
| Charity work | Helping distressed environments and people | A passion for the cause Communication skills Cultural awareness Language skills |
Careers Political Science Degree: By the Numbers
As noted in this article's introduction, politics is one of today's hottest fields of study. It's a versatile discipline that incorporates many aspects of business, law, science, and society.
Politics Degree Careers
Statistics show that politics graduates gravitate more towards business and finance than any formal political role. Administrative positions - official, secretarial, and clerical - claim the next highest share of graduating politics students. Marketing and public relations fields take the third-highest percentage of these graduates. This chart shows the top five fields for politics degree careers:
| 🚪Sector | ➗Per cent employed |
|---|---|
| Business Finance Human Resources | 25.6 |
| Administrative Clerical Secretarial | 14.2 |
| Marketing Public Relations Sales | 11.6 |
| Catering Customer service Retail sales | 10 |
| Other nonspecified sectors | 38.6 |
Careers in Politics or Further Study?
Overwhelmingly, politics graduates enter the workforce once they've earned their Master's degrees. They find their places in the sectors listed above and those we explore in depth below. However, a fair number carry on studying past the graduate level, with over 20 per cent going into academia and research.
| ⏩Beyond graduate studies | ➗Percentage of students |
|---|---|
| Seek employment/employed | 63.7 |
| Continue studies | 9.4 |
| Work and study | 11.5 |
| Unemployed | 7.8 |
| Activity not specified | 7.6 |
How Do I Start a Career in Politics?
Earning high marks while still in secondary school is the first step to a satisfying, rewarding political career. Diversifying your studies - branching into fields related or useful to politics - gives you a good head start into various areas of political work. Such fields include:
- finance and economics
- law
- international relations
- public relations
- media and journalism
- sociology
- history
- science and environmental studies
- psychology
- languages
You might choose your university degree plan depending on your area(s) of interest. Many UK universities offer politics double-degree programmes, typically featuring the specialities listed above. Selecting such a programme is a sure-fire way to access a career in politics in your chosen field.
Most careers in politics demand at least a Master's degree.
Whichever degree plan you choose, count on spending five to six years in higher education. Starting in your undergraduate years, you may seek out volunteer positions to begin building your network of associates while building real-world experience in your chosen field.
During your last few years at university, cast about for internship opportunities in your field of interest. Internships are a step up from volunteering and deliver more benefits. As an intern, you should have a dedicated mentor to guide your practical learning. Through your internship, you may have a chance at a full-time position once you graduate.
The Civil Service pathway is another route into politics.
You may apply directly to the Civil Service to begin your politics career.
Alternately, you may enrol in a Fast Stream programme for five years of diplomatic tutelage.
"How do I start a career in politics?"
- Study politics and related subjects at university.
- As you study, volunteer and/or seek internships with the concerns that interest you.
- After graduation, accept an offered position or apply to the Civil Service.
- Alternatively, apply for a place in a diplomatic Fast Stream programme.
Now, with the statistics laid out and the pathways to careers in politics well marked, we can talk about top jobs in politics. We'll start with work as a political advisor.
Political Advisor vs Political Analyst
These two positions have quite a bit in common. They demand (practically) the same educational background, and research and analysis form the core of their duties. However, one fundamental difference separates the two.
The analyst studies recent events to plot a political course forward.
The advisor uses a variety of tools to predict possible future outcomes.
If you've ever filled out a public opinion survey, especially one about political matters, your answers likely powered a political advisor's research. These professionals rely on data analysis to advise politicians on what actions they should take. That data could be economic, popular opinion, or even data from social media.
By contrast, a political analyst studies real-world events, places them in context, and delivers reports on their findings. The contexts they examine may be historical, economic, social, or environmental, among others.
Mick Lynch delivers a brilliant example of political analysis in this clip. Though not trained in politics - let alone as a political analyst, he uses all the same tools every analyst does to arrive at his conclusions.
Diplomacy and International Relations
These politics degree careers are two sides of the same coin, despite sometimes running on separate tracks.
For instance, a diplomat's career revolves around representing British interests at home and abroad. An international relations specialist, by contrast, may work for an NGO, a charity, or a commercial business. These specialists also have a place in diplomatic and political circles.
In fact, these sectors put careers in political science in their most expansive light. The diplomatic track assures you the stability and protection of the British government. On the other side, NGO, charity and for-profit work allow you the greatest expression of passion and greater financial rewards.
In either case, you may work abroad or base your career in the UK. However, our globally connected economy fairly dictates you must have some knowledge of international affairs. Thus, it helps if you can demonstrate a global mindset.
Be sure to mention if you can speak another language and/or have demonstrable knowledge of other cultures.
NGOs, Non-Profits, and Charity Organisations
If you're passionate about working for social change, preserving the environment, and protecting the vulnerable, a career in these sectors is a natural fit.
Any graduate looking for history and politics degree careers should aim for positions with non-profit concerns or charity organisations. NGOs may be for-profit or non-profit, but they, too, generally work towards the public good.
Fundraising positions are standard entry-level jobs in all of these concerns. Even for-profit centres rely on grants, donations, and bequests to keep the good works going. This type of work comprises everything from manning phone banks to writing grant requests. That suggests written and oral communication skills are vital to land such jobs.
Should you have (wisely!) undertaken a double-degree study programme, your second major could define your career. For example, if you selected politics and economics, you may find your place in an NGO's finance and accounting department. Conversely, if you're looking for history and politics degree careers, a cultural attaché or outreach specialist would be right up your alley.
Politics and Business
After graduation, you may cast your fortunes on the business world. As the clip above demonstrates, these two sectors are intimately related. In fact, many Fortune 500 companies have political analysts on staff and always seek to recruit more. Such firms include:
Finance and insurance
- Dow Jones
- Westfield Insurance
- Goldman Sachs
- Axis Insurance
- Equiniti
Social and commercial
- Protection Group International
- Ministry of Housing (London)
- Lenovo
- Samdesk
- Kingfisher
Whether through an NGO or non-profit organisation or a global for-profit concern, a charity or the diplomatic corps, your political education will serve you well. Adding a second major only enhances your employability.
Still, assuring yourself of quality education is only one part of the equation. The second part is getting your foot in the door to present all that you're capable of.
Write an Eye-catching CV for Careers Political Science Degree
Long gone are the days when job seekers could walk into a facility, introduce themselves, and fill out an application on the spot.
Those few minutes of face-to-face interaction with the receptionist or manager allowed the employer to form an impression of you.
Today's impersonal online system removes that advantage. You have no choice but to make a good impression on paper.
Your politics studies, perhaps with a second major attached, give you a good foundation on which to build your on-paper presentation.
Any volunteering you've done and/or internships you've completed add an extra layer of prestige.
Finally, any extracurricular learning you've done and soft skills you possess make you the candidate worth interviewing. What might those be, and what else should you include?
Concrete skills
- cultural knowledge
- speak another language
- IT skills
- research skills
- analytical skills
- Computer skills (spreadsheets, databases, and presentations)
Soft skills
- critical thinking and problem solving skills
- teamwork and leadership skills
- intellectual independence
- creative and self-motivated
- reliable and trustworthy
- organisational and time management skills
Whether you're currently learning how to become a diplomat or still uncertain about where your political fortunes lie, writing an eye-catching CV will be instrumental in landing politics degree careers. Consider taking a page out of Jeff's book, as he provides essential strategies for your best on-paper presentation.
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