5 Best Jobs for People Majoring in Political Science

When thinking of jobs one can get with a political science degree, we tend to think of roles like lawyers, teachers, or politicians. While these are some of the most popular jobs, there are tons of more career opportunities available for you to explore. The vast soft and hard skills you learn throughout the course and the understanding of the government’s complex structure can help you carry out a thorough examination and critical analysis of written documents, amongst many other things.

If you’ve recently graduated or are going to graduate soon, here are some job ideas to help you decide on a suitable career path based on your political science major.

Public Relations Specialist

Your political science degree will help you hone writing and critical thinking skills, which can be used to draft effective press releases or cover a story. You’ll be responsible for managing the reputation of the company. From writing press releases, dealing with the press, and managing crises, you’ll also be required to plan and execute PR campaigns and strategies for effective brand building. The words and brand voice you adopt will help put the company in a positive light, keeping it away from any negative press or public hate.

You’ll even have to organize several press conferences to buy the media’s attention and deliver a piece of certain news about the company. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), public relations specialists earn an average salary of $60,000. This field is growing by the day, which is why you can expect a higher salary in the near future.

Policy Analyst

One of the critical things you’ve probably studied is how to generate public policy. As an analyst, you will be able to use your writing, communication, analytical, and data skills, all acquired for your degree.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics state that the primary responsibilities of a policy analyst are:

• Gather Information

You’ll have to collect statistical data to dig deeper into already existing issues and create an effective solution. Statistical analysis will show whether a current policy is as effective as it hoped to be.

• Analyze and Recommend Policies

After everything is studied in detail and loopholes are discovered, you will then be expected to propose new ideas to approach and resolve the issue at hand. This might require you to conduct surveys, data analysis, and focus groups.

Like what you studied, you’ll have to write a thesis or persuasive statement to implement your suggested policy.

As a policy analyst, you can expect to earn an average of $50,000 and above per annum.

Social Media Specialist 

Nowadays, businesses across the world have understood the importance of creating an online presence. Social media has not only taken over the way we attend to everyday problems but also determines the success rate of the business. With a political science degree, effective communication is another vital skill that you’ll gain. You’ll be able to understand the importance of both print and digital media communication, which can help shape a brand image and voice of a company.

Several political candidates, parties, government officials now actively use social media to deliver their views and interests to the public. With a heavy schedule, these people will need social media managers to act as their voice online. You’ll need to know the ins and outs of all major platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to shape the public’s ideas and thoughts.

As a political science student, you will already know how to formulate public opinions and use this in favor of your clients. Statistics show that social media managers earn an average of $50,000 per annum.

Paralegal Assistant

As a paralegal assistant, you’ll have to assist with legal processes. You’ll be expected to organize files, conduct research, as well as draft documents for cases. From double-checking facts and figures to arranging data, you’ll have to curate an effective strategy for lawyers to present. This job will help you further understand how to engage with legal problems and derive a comprehensive approach to meet these challenges.

Congressional Staffer

If you’re looking for a Capitol Hill job, then your political science major can help you land one as a congressional staffer. From communicating via email, organizing reports, drafting replies and scheduling Congress members’ appearances to making travel arrangements, writing meeting minutes, researching policies, and tracking legislation—there’s tons to do!.

As a congressional staffer, you should have excellent verbal skills, as you’ll be addressing the public very often. Like every other government job, this too is a high-pressure one. You should be highly organized and have the ability to work well under pressure. All deadlines should be met as any error can lead to heavy consequences.

You will be required to manage a representative’s day-to-day activities, ensuring everything goes as planned. This might seem more like a secretarial job, but congressional staffers are critical figures in the congressional office, without whom a day can’t run smoothly. The median salary of this role is $40,000. 

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