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Turn your degree into a careerThe CQ Press Career Guide for American Politics Students helps you navigate your first steps towards a career in American politics. With a focus on setting personal goals and maximizing transferable skills, author Peter Ubertaccio outlines diverse career-path options for political science majors and illuminates pathways to graduate school. Full of practical guidance on how to secure a job, including a collection of employment resources, resume-building tips, and student success stories, this guide provides an action-oriented road map for you to develop your undergraduate experience into a fulfilling career in American politics.
Key Features:
- Critical thinking questions are designed to help you align your academic and co-curricular pursuits to skills and career readiness competencies that are in demand by employers in the field.
- "Staff Work On and Off The Hill" (Chapter 3) offers you a glimpse into the daily life of an entry level staff worker and provides you with guidance on how to navigate this space.
- "Political Campaigns" (Chapter 4) provides you with an overview of typical campaign work and shows you how to campaign for different candidates, parties, and issues.
- Advice on internships, nonprofit advocacy, and graduate school options help you determine your next steps and provide guidance on how these options might boost long-term career potential.
- A career checklist provides you with valuable insights on resume building, social media strategies, and networking.
List of contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
CHAPTER 1. Introduction and Getting Started
Chapter Objectives
What does it mean to study American politics?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 2. Coursework and Internships
Chapter Objectives
What is your curriculum?
What is a co-curriculum?
What about internships and experiential opportunities?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 3. Staff Work on and off the Hill
Chapter Objectives
What does a staffer do?
Do I need to live in the state of a member or belong to a member's political party to get a job?
What's the difference between staff work on Capitol Hill and your state capital?
What about working in my city or town?
What if I'm not interested in working for an elected official?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 4. Political Campaigns
Chapter Objectives
Where should you focus your campaign energy?
What do you do on political campaigns?
Conclusion: Why work on a campaign?
CHAPTER 5. Other Pursuits
Chapter Objectives
What is graduate school?
What is professional school?
Should you go right into the job market?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 6. Conclusion
Let's Review
What else can I do to make myself competitive?
Conclusion
