Did you know there’s so much more to a career in politics than just being a politician? As a follow up to “So you want to be a politician” we take a look at a few career paths you can take within politics apart from being a typical politician.

Speechwriter

Have you ever wondered how it is possible for presidents to write such long speeches when they have such tight schedules? The truth is they don’t, they have designated speech writers for that. Speechwriters are the people behind the scenes who have helped write some of the most memorable speeches in history. They are there to assist politicians make their speeches more eloquent.

Speech writers work hand-in-hand with the politicians. They sit together with them to outline key issues to be discussed. They decide on the length each issue should be discussed, the order of the speech and the overall length of the speech. They make sure what the politician is saying is precise and concise. They work closely with researchers to organize and simplify information for general audiences.

Researcher

Researchers are responsible for providing policy makers with information required to form policy. They need to know how parliament works and understand the political system. They are responsible for outlining speeches, articles and policy papers. They do the relevant political research and analysis while also advising and liaising with members of Parliament and parliamentary advisors.

Researchers must be interested in politics and current affairs. You must have good research, organisational information, communication and interpersonal skills. As a researcher it is your duty to search and retrieve information for various sources including newspapers and internet sources. You must be up-to-date with government legislation, policy and any political developments. It is your job to advise your employers about the effects these developments will have.

Political Analyst

Political analysts are usually seen on TV and radio programs analyzing politics and politicians. They research political processes and policies. They also predict political and economical trends whether local or international.

Political Analysts are responsible for recommending courses of action based on certain research findings. They analyse policies and their implications for voters. They are there to raise public awareness about important political, economical and social issues affecting them.

Campaign worker

A campaign worker’s job is focused on helping parties compete for elections. It entails disseminating information to the public and the media. It also includes public relations, opposition research, fundraising, logistical organizing and crisis management should there be any need for damage control during the campaigning process.

Political Advisor

Political advisors study political systems and how they operate and develop. They study public opinion, political decision making, analyse structures of governments, and analyse election results. They draft legislative proposals and policy papers for governmental use. They identify the issues to be researched and analysed.

Political advisors advise government officials, political parties and others concerned with political issues. They are tasked with  developing and testing theories using information from various sources such as polls, interviews, case law and statistics.

Spokesperson

A spokesperson is a person tasked with appearing for media interviews and speaking on behalf of institutions and organisations. This person is responsible for creating and maintaining a positive public image for political institutions and organisations.

Spokespeople are also responsible for writing press releases and communicating with the public. They have the difficult task of handling conflicts and dealing with crisis management. They carry out research on factors underlying negative opinion on the government and provide strategies to address such negative opinion.

They are also responsible for liaising with the media on matters touching on politics and governance while also advising government on best practices when dealing with the media. After anticipating public concerns they respond to them appropriately.

These are only a few careers within politics that you can pursue. There is a lot more career paths within politics that you can get into.

Follow me on Twitter @Jeff_hound

The #2014Elections has set an exciting and vibrant context for the future of South Africa politics to unfold upon. What happens now that you’ve voted? How do we gauge whether we’re “moving the country forward”, whether we’re “bringing change” or “economic freedom in our lifetime”? Stick with #LiveVIPZA and we’ll give you analysis, debates, comments, polls and all YOU need to understand, enjoy and interact with SA politics.