We recently received an email from a blog reader asking for advice on how to become a member of a political campaign this upcoming summer. We love to hear from our readers when they have specific questions, and we commend anyone who is committed to solidifying summer plans during these uncertain times. Keep reading for our tips:
1. Do Your Research:
Obviously, the first step to securing any job position is finding the job itself. Start by researching active campaigns in your area and familiarizing yourself with politicians that might need a helping hand. When you eventually reach out to someone, you’re going to want to speak with authority. This means that you should have a good grasp on the opportunities, people, and events that are happening this upcoming summer. Do more research than you think is necessary!
2. Update Your Resume:
Resume editing, the dreaded task. It doesn’t matter if you’re only a sophomore in high school – you need a strong resume. It should include all pertinent experiences, listed either chronologically or in order of importance. If you feel like the bullet points on your resume aren’t strong enough, you might consider including other relevant skills that you’ve honed elsewhere. We have cautioned against this in the past but it bears repeating: don’t lie on your resume, and don’t exaggerate.
3. Stop Applying Online & Reach Out To Someone Directly:
While there’s nothing wrong with applying to jobs online, it’s not the best way to get hired. This is especially the case if you’re a high school student with minimal experience who is applying alongside of adults. If you want to submit an application online, that’s fine, but you need to do more. And this is where those teenage sleuthing skills will come in handy! Go directly to the website of the person who you’re hoping to intern for and find an appropriate person to reach out to. This is usually someone from the front office, someone in H.R., or an assistant of some sort. A busy politician will not likely get back to you, and there’s a good chance they’ll be annoyed that you clogged up their inbox. Craft a professional and BRIEF email that clearly states your goal. Try something like this:
“Hi _____, my name is _________ and I’m hoping to intern for _______ this summer. I’m particularly interested in _________ and _______ , and I believe that I’d be a good fit for the team because ___________. I’ve attached my resume here and I’d love to schedule a call to discuss any potential opportunities.”
If you don’t hear back in two weeks, follow up. Your follow-up email should only be one sentence long. We’re all for go-getters, which is why we included Tip #5. You’ll get there soon, but generally speaking, we advise against following up multiple times.
4. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare:
Let’s say you’re one of the lucky ones and you get an email back fairly quickly. We hope this is the case, and that’s why you need to start preparing right away. A lot of people and companies prefer to hire interns who are in college, or at least 18 years old, because they want someone serious who is currently majoring in their discipline. To get hired as a high school student on a political campaign, you need to really stand out. Show them what they have to gain by hiring you by preparing like you’ve never prepared before. Research past issues and causes that might come up in the future, look into their opposition, and get familiar with the landscape. Hopefully, you’ll get a get call back. And if you don’t, you can use what you’ve learned to look for more opportunities.
5. Cast A Wide Net:
You’re going to hear no a lot. A lot a lot. This is why we suggest that you cast a wide net. Rather than putting all of your eggs into one basket, look for multiple opportunities. That way, when you get our first no, or don’t get a response, you still have a few irons in the fire. It’s okay if you need to broaden the parameters of your search a bit to get your foot in the door. We don’t suggest applying to internships that don’t excite you, but we’re all for staying open-minded.
This summer feels harder to plan than those in the past, but you’ve got to roll with the punches. Do your best to find something worth pursuing, dedicate yourself to hours of outreach, and get your resume into tip-top shape. Good luck!
Contact us here if you need help with the college process.