Working on a political campaign is a great way to quickly develop and refine a wide range of skills in an extremely fast-paced, flexible environment. It also provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience in politics and learn about the cares and concerns of elected officials and the American people. It can be an excellent fit for those interested in transitioning into government office post-campaign or to careers in politics-adjacent fields such as lobbying, consulting, and issue advocacy.
While every campaign has its own specific structure and needs, there are a number of common components to most campaigns. Generally speaking, candidate campaigns (for US House or Senate seats, city council or state legislative seats, and statewide executive positions) provide the majority of campaign opportunities in any given election cycle. Legislative branch campaigns are often overseen by the major parties, which have formal programs for protecting incumbents and gaining new seats for their caucuses or party.
Judicial branch campaigns and ballot initiatives are less structured, but typically have some similarities with candidate campaigns. As with all roles on a campaign, the amount of work required and the responsibilities vary widely, but most smaller campaigns tend to have fewer roles with more demanding workloads and jack-of-all trade requirements while larger campaigns will have more specialized roles that are able to manage their staffing needs more easily.
Regardless of the size and type of a campaign, it is important to have realistic expectations about what you will be asked to do on a daily basis. It is also crucial to determine whether or not a campaign aligns with your own personal and professional goals before taking on any position.
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