Discover – What can I do with my degree?
You may want to begin by researching a career directly related to your degree such as a government social research officer, a public affairs consultant or a political assistant. However many politics students consider other career paths such as marketing, the legal sector or working in public relations. Remember, you can also explore careers that don’t directly relate to your degree. Did you know that over 80% of graduate employers will recruit from any degree discipline?
Develop – Developing skills and experience
If you already have some career ideas, the next step will be to develop your skills and gain some experience to build your confidence and increase your knowledge. You may want to consider volunteering, part-time work or undertaking a placement to increase your chances of gaining graduate employment after completing your degree. It’s also a great way to try-out career paths to see what you enjoy and it’s a good fit for you. You can also get involved in our Politics Lab where students on politics courses and others with a strong interest in politics, policy-making, or the media get the chance to be involved in practical projects.
Compete – Getting ready to apply for work or postgraduate study
When you know what you want to do and you’re ready to apply, we have all the tools, tips and advice right here. You can also use this information to help you if you’re at an earlier stage of your career thinking and are applying for part-time work or work placements.
Central government
Civil Service careersCivil Service Fast StreamHouses of Parliament Graduate SchemeHM TreasuryLocal government
Impact: The Local Government Graduate ProgrammeLocalGov JobsJobs Go PublicGreater JobsPolitics and policy
Working for MPs jobs and informationNHS Management Trainee SchemePolicy research
Social Research AssociationThink Tanks
A range of resources, blogs and interviews to help those both wanting to start a career in think tanks or policy or who are already working in the sector but would like to develop their knowledge and expertise.
Smart ThinkingOn Think Tanks – Think Tank DirectoryWhat is a Think Tank – a short guideJournalism and Public relations
Life as a journalistPublic relations officerMarketing, PR and MediaComplete this short online learning pathway to find out where to search online and get faster and more relevant job search results. Then search and apply for all opportunities on our vacancy portal or placements on InPlace.
Online learning pathway – Job SearchingFind opportunities on our vacancy portalSearch and apply for placements via our Careers PortalYour go-to guide, including examples and templates to get you started. You can also get instant detailed feedback on your CV and covering letter using CareerSet.
CV and application adviceReview your CV online using CareerSetGet ahead of the competition by reading our top tips, or practising online or in-person
Interview advicePractice using our online tools or book a mock interview with a Careers Adviser.
Practice online interviews and assessments at Graduates FirstBook a mock interviewHow to decide if postgraduate study is right for you, what you should consider and how to apply.
Our top tips and adviceLive opportunities
Take a look at the latest part-time jobs, placements, volunteering opportunities and graduate vacancies that may be of interest to Politics students. Select any of the following opportunities to find out more and apply, or search for other opportunities on our vacancy portal.