Options with a degree in politics
A degree in Politics equips you with a wide range of skills and knowledge that are applicable across a wide range of sectors.
- show a thorough knowledge of political ideas, institutions and practice
- demonstrate understanding of key political events which have shaped the world
- formulate and advocate solutions to problems
- identify, analyse and interpret complex information drawn from a variety of sources
- prepare and present an argument coherently and with authority
- demonstrate transferable skills relating to communication, organisation, teamwork and critical reasoning.
These skills, along with other factors of career choice – what you like doing (your interests), what’s important to you (your values) and your personality type – will help you make informed career decisions. Remember that your career may be based on the skills you’ve gained over the course of your degree studies.
Some of the main career options with a Politics degree are:
- Civil Service Fast Streamer
- Government social research officer
- Policy officer
- Political risk analyst
- Politician’s assistant
- Public affairs consultant
- Public relations officer
- Social researcher
- Working for an MP
You can find out more about these on Prospects what can I do with a politics degree? as well as the wide variety of jobs where your skills and knowledge are applicable. TARGETJobs also has very detailed information on politics based careers
Useful resources to help with your careers research
The icould.com website also has a full range of careers information interviews and case studies featuring numerous different roles which you can search through a selection of a few are listed below:
- Civil Service , Politics and Local Government – iCould videos
- Member of Scottish Parliament – David Whitton
- Member of Scottish Parliament – Liz S
- Member of Parliament – Darlington – Alan Milburn
To help you explore the wide range of career options open to you have a look at Prospects what can I do with my degree? and take the Prospects Career Planner Quiz.
Volunteering
If you are interested in gaining some voluntary experience locally you may find the following websites helpful
- Volunteer Scotland – search for Dundee and current vacancies will come up
- Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action
Internships & work experience
- Organising work experience in a MP’s office
- Civil Service – Early Diversity Internship Programme
- Civil Service Summer Diversity Internship programme
- Operation Black Vote – MP Shadowing Scheme gives BAME people a chance to work shadow MPs
- Citizens Advice Bureau – Volunteer with the CAB and help members of the public resolve various issues. There may also be the opportunity to get involved with research or campaigning
- Chatham House – Internships in international economics and regional studies
- Adam Smith Institute – Internships specialising in the free market and social policy
- CIVITAS – Voluntary and paid internships in research
- Traineeships and study visits to the European Parliament
- Henry Jackson Society – Voluntary internships in research
- YouGov internships – YouGov offers internships to penultimate year students and graduates, to gain experience in market research
- GoinGlobal– international internships and job options
- Houses of Parliament – recruitment portal
- GOV.UK – Working for FCDO – Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Finding a graduate job
- The Guardian – Parliament Jobs
- House of Commons Careers
- Jobsgopublic – local government jobs
- w4mpjobs
- Work For Scotland – Scottish Government Vacancies
- myjobscotland – Local Scottish Government Jobs
General job searching sites for graduates – all disciplines
The following websites may be helpful to search the wider job market, where your transferable skills can be applied.
- University of Dundee JobShop
- Prospects
- TARGETjobs
- Graduate Career Advantage Scotland – GCAS funds internships and provides careers support to bridge the gap between recent graduates and employers in Scotland.
- Milkround
- GradJobs
- Bright Green Business
Graduate schemes
Many leading UK employers across all industries run graduate training programmes, to discover the benefits of these schemes and how you apply the links below will help: