STARTER-GUIDE: HOW TO GET A JOB ON A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
If you are a Democrat looking to get a job on a campaign, here is a quick guide to help you land your first gig. Below is a list of best practices in both mindset and action items. Somethings may seem obvious. Others may not. I’ve tried to keep the information edited, impactful, and the application pretty paint-by-number. Feel free to pick and choose what information most serves you, but if you employ them all, don’t be surprised if offers come pouring in.
Mindset: Know the game and how to position yourself.

1) Focus on Relationships
The first thing to know is that your primary job, from today forward, is to make connections and develop relationships. Be friendly and set a goal to make ‘x’ number of connections at conferences, mixers, whenever, wherever. That person at the punchbowl with little to no experience may soon be running the show somewhere. It happens all the time, and it happens fast. For most of your career, relationships will be the number one way you get a job. Focus on making this a habit and creating a network for yourself.
2) Don’t Be Discouraged If Your First Role Is Very Entry Level
Campaigns move very fast. If you show value, your ability to move up is virtually limitless. While it’s not always the case, it’s not unusual to see folks get promoted several times within the course of a single campaign.
3) Practice A “Bartender” Personality
Politics is a tough industry. Be ready to grow a thick skin, but mostly learn to be flexible and dispassionate about the process. I always say I love to hire bartenders for these reasons. They are quick on their feet, high-vibe, flexible, can pivot easily when things change, and know how to handle people (and themselves) in the middle of intense situations. Learn to channel these qualities, and folks will begin to appreciate and depend on you quickly.
4) Highlight Your Most “Hire-able” Qualities
Across the board, there are factors that will give you an edge when, all things considered equal, the decision comes down to hiring you or someone else:
Community ties — This industry is about who you know. The more connections you have within your community, the better off you will be. Some folks end up making a living by being this person alone.
Fundraising/finance — Money. Budgets. Enough said. If you want a job in politics right now and the opportunity to grow quickly, consider becoming a campaign finance staffer. There is a drought out there. Therefore, if you get finance training, it is highly likely you will get a job. Also, you will have a lot of options moving forward.
Language skills — America is diverse, and we speak different languages. Speak the one that speaks to the targeted electorate, and you’ll have a leg up.
Identifying with a particular cultural group — Whether that is a specific ethnic group, religion, or even something like being a sportsman in a region where hunting is a big part of the community tradition. Campaigns are all about communicating impactfully to the district. To do that, they need to hire talent that can speak their same language. So, if you share that commonality, highlight it.
People skills, People skills, People skills — just underlining a point.
Action Items: Simple steps and links to guide your search.

1) Sign Up For A Campaign Training By The DCCC or Emily’s List. Note: Most trainings are free apart from travel to and from location.
This is the single most impactful action you can take to get a job. So that you understand the flow here, these organizations invest in a lot of campaigns and provide many different services. One service is staffing. Trainings build their job banks with qualified candidates. When you go to a training you are added to their roster, which means there is a very high probability you will get a job. Just make sure, again, that you make connections with your fellow trainees AND with your trainers. Give yourself a goal of making ‘X’ number of connections per event. Trainers will likely be different directors and/or regional desks, i.e., Midwest Regional Candidate Director, and will probably be looking for folks to hire in their specific regions. Lastly, do your homework. Have in mind which candidates you want to work for and how you would provide value.
To help you get started, here are some links to campaign trainings. Focus on the organizations that directly work with campaigns:
a. DCCC
b. EMILY’S List Campaign Finance Training
c. Comprehensive List of Organizations Who Provide Trainings by DemGain
2) Keep In Touch With Your Contacts.
If this doesn’t come naturally to you, set a schedule or calendar alert to reach out to the contacts you’ve made every 4–6 weeks. Don’t be annoying and don’t pester, but you do want to stay at top of mind. If you are reaching out to a trainer from the conference, make sure anything you send is relevant to their job, the current political climate, perhaps an inside joke you two have from the conference, or even advice on different races you are applying to. Don’t ask FOR things but you can ask ABOUT things. Staying in touch with your fellow trainees is just as important. If they are getting hired on to a race and the manager is looking to bring on another organizer, they can drop your name.
3) Look For Jobs On These Job Boards And Sign Up For Their Listservs. FYI: It is often easier to get a job on a federal or gubernatorial campaign than state/local.
d. Inclusv (a job bank specifically for people of color in politics)
4) Look For Environmental Organizations.
They tend to hire year-round. Great option for a recent college graduate during an election “off-year”. Entry-level job post keywords: canvasser, organizer, associate organizing representative, etc. Here are some job sites to popular environmental organizations:
a. Sierra Club
b. League of Conservation Voters
5) Look for Constituency/Advocacy Groups in Your Area.
If you are interested in working on Latinx issues and you live in an area with a high concentration of Latinxs, there will likely be a network of Latinx advocacy organizations that run campaigns in your community. Contact them directly or go to a meeting. Like environmental organizations, their actions are not tied to the electoral calendar.
6) Contact The Campaign Directly.
This is a fluid industry. You might call or walk in on the right day at the right time and find yourself with a job.
7) Work As A Paid Canvasser Or Phone Banker And Then Show Your Value.
Most of these jobs pay $15/hr. (if they are good democrats). Step up, and you might end up running the phone bank or the canvass and boom! Nice new title, connections, and the opportunity to move up after the campaign.
8) Join Your Local Party.
You’ll meet likeminded people, participate in political activities, and develop deeper connections to your community (see: Mindset #4). Also, during election season, they hire for coordinated campaign structures. Plus, you’re a Democrat! JOIN YOUR LOCAL PARTY!

In summary, how do you get a job in politics? Get trained. Make connections. Follow up. Show your value. Good luck!