Five tips for starting out on your political career

1. Learn to be diplomatic

Politics encompasses a wide range of views, often on very controversial topics. Make sure you have researched all sides of an argument before launching into a tirade. You might be used to heated debates with your course mates, but learn how to express your opinion without being confrontational. Sometimes you will need to agree to disagree!

2. Get involved with your local community

Most political careers don’t put you at the forefront of governmental proceedings for many years, and the best MPs have long-standing and respected positions in their own community. Remember that it’s your neighbours who will be voting for you! The bulk of your work as a politician will be focused on improving your local area, and you will learn a lot about the issues affecting people if you have regular contact with them.

3. Find work experience opportunities

Hands-on experience is the best way to learn about any career, and it also builds a network of contacts you can go to for character references when you start getting interviews. A good place to start would be your local council; even if you’re just answering the phone a couple of days a week, you’ll get to know who’s who and you’ll be up-to-date on what’s going on in terms of council meetings and current affairs in the local area. There might also be voluntary roles available with local political parties, especially in the run up to an election.

4. Read!

The political landscape is always shifting and the only way to stay on top of what’s happening is to read, and not just the headlines. Make sure you’re regularly looking at different types of newspapers to see which angles are being pushed, and who’s saying what. Twitter is great for following MPs and councillors, and can also be a fantastic networking tool. Start retweeting and replying regularly and yours will soon be a familiar name to people who might be in a position to offer you a job.

5. Streamline your social media presence

Especially when you’re fresh out of uni, chances are your most recent Instagram snaps include some moments you probably wouldn’t want being dragged onto a front page in 5 years’ time. It’s definitely worth making your social media accounts private, and even thinking about changing your name to a nickname (or some people use a middle name instead of their surname).