A political campaign is an organized effort to promote a candidate or cause. There are a variety of different kinds of campaigns, from local and state legislative races to presidential campaigns, and there is a wide range of job possibilities within each type. While every campaign can choose its own staffing structure, the more competitive campaigns tend to have a greater number of roles with more demanding workloads and jack-of-all-trade requirements.
In general, a campaign can be a great place to develop the sort of political instincts that are important for a career in politics or policy-adjacent fields. A candidate’s campaign often reflects the broader priorities and concerns of their constituents, so working on a successful campaign can help you understand how support for policy ideas is gained, managed, or lost.
Campaign experience can also be helpful for those aiming to transition into work in a particular government office after the election. Many offices require specific expertise in a particular area, so working on a campaign can be a good way to get exposure to the types of issues that are debated in that field.
The largely non-substantive nature of most campaign work may not be ideal preparation for substantive policy research positions, though, so a career as a campaign staffer isn’t the right path for everyone. Nevertheless, there are plenty of benefits to working on a campaign for the right person and the right time. We will help you evaluate the pros and cons of working on a campaign to determine whether it is an appropriate fit for your career goals.