What to do with your degree · 6 min read
What jobs can you get with a political science or politics degree?
Jobs with a political science or politics degree: civil service, policy, public affairs, research, law, journalism and business, and how to get in.
The short answer
Political science and politics graduates commonly work in government and the civil service, policy research and think tanks, public affairs and lobbying, campaigning and charities, political offices, journalism, international organisations, law (with further training), consulting, and risk and intelligence analysis. The degree builds analysis, argument, writing and an understanding of institutions and power. Entry-level political jobs are competitive and often depend on networks and experience, so volunteering, internships, research skills and a clear area of focus help. Many graduates also succeed in business roles that value analysis and communication.
Key takeaways
- Common routes: civil service, policy, public affairs, campaigning, research and law.
- Political roles are competitive; experience and networks matter.
- Quantitative and research skills open policy and analysis roles.
- Business, consulting and risk roles value politics graduates too.
On this pageJobs with a political science degree
Jobs with a political science degree
| Job | What you'd do | What helps you get in |
|---|---|---|
| Civil servant | Develop and deliver government policy | Graduate schemes, analytical tests |
| Policy researcher | Research and write on policy | Writing samples, research skills |
| Public affairs consultant | Advise organisations on politics | Political knowledge, networks |
| Campaigner | Organise campaigns for causes | Volunteering, organising |
| Parliamentary or legislative assistant | Support an elected official | Internships, casework |
| Journalist | Report on politics | Published work |
| Risk or intelligence analyst | Assess political and security risks | Regional or language knowledge |
| Consultant | Solve problems for organisations | Analysis, structured thinking |
Getting political experience
- Volunteer on a local or national campaign.
- Intern with an elected representative or party.
- Join a student political society or debate club.
- Write policy briefs or blog posts on a specific issue.
- Attend events by think tanks and policy organisations.
Make your degree stand out
Pick an issue you care about and become knowledgeable about it: housing, climate, health, AI regulation or international security. Policy employers hire people who understand an area, not just politics in general. Add quantitative skills: many policy roles need you to read and use data.
Beyond politics
Politics graduates do well in consulting, corporate affairs, ESG and sustainability, compliance, market research and HR. These roles value analysis, writing and understanding how institutions work, and they often pay more than entry-level political roles.
Illustrative example: Amara writes three short policy briefs on housing during her final year, volunteers for a local housing charity's campaign and gets a research assistant role at a housing think tank, then joins her local council's policy team two years later.
Skills employers in policy look for
| Skill | How to show it |
|---|---|
| Concise writing | Short briefs, op-eds, blog posts |
| Using evidence | Dissertation with data, research assistant work |
| Understanding government | Internships, casework, student politics |
| Working with stakeholders | Campaigning, society leadership |
| Political neutrality (civil service) | Balanced analysis in writing samples |
Civil service roles in particular test written analysis and judgement through structured exercises, so practise writing short, balanced submissions with a clear recommendation.
What happens to the gaps
Most posts ask for something your CV doesn't show yet. OffLadder CV names those gaps, and Laddie, our AI coach, turns each one into three steps:
- Learn the skill: a short lesson on what the post asks for, starting from the basics.
- Try the work: a 15-minute task taken from the job itself, so you have a real example to talk about.
- Practise the interview: a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of.
The conversation stays in your OffLadder account. Once you've done the work, add it to your CV in your own words, and the next post you tailor for can point to it.
Questions people ask
- Is political science a good degree?
- It's a respected degree that suits analytical, curious people. It doesn't lead directly to one job, so employability depends on experience, research skills and networks built alongside it.
- How do I get a job in politics after graduating?
- Volunteer for campaigns, apply for internships with representatives or parties, join political organisations, and build a network. In the UK, many start as caseworkers or researchers for MPs; in the US, as staff assistants or interns on Capitol Hill or in state legislatures.
- Can I go to law school with a political science degree?
- Yes, it's one of the most common pre-law degrees in the US. In the UK, non-law graduates can take a conversion course and then qualify as a solicitor or barrister.
- Are there civil service graduate schemes?
- Yes. In the UK, the Civil Service Fast Stream is the main graduate scheme. In the US, the Presidential Management Fellows programme and agency entry roles are common routes, though federal hiring varies with policy and budgets.
- Which skills should politics students develop?
- Data and statistics, concise writing for busy readers, research methods, a foreign language for international roles, and knowledge of a policy area such as health, energy or security.
- Is a master's useful for political science graduates?
- For research, think tanks, international organisations and some policy roles, a master's helps. For civil service graduate schemes, campaigning and public affairs, experience often matters more. Consider working first, then studying with a clearer goal.
- How much do political jobs pay?
- Entry-level roles in politics, such as caseworkers, legislative assistants and campaign staff, often pay modestly. Public affairs, consulting and senior civil service roles pay more. Many people accept lower early pay for experience and networks.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- What can I do with my degree: politics · Prospects
- O*NET OnLine · US Department of Labor
- The labor market for recent college graduates · Federal Reserve Bank of New York
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.