Career Options with a Politics Degree?
A degree in politics can provide opportunities for many different career paths. You may be interested in a career in central or local government, the Civil Service, or charity work after finishing your degree in politics. However, you will also have various transferable skills that will be valued in many job roles, such as law, business journalism, and HR.
Career options
Natural career paths (following a politics degree):
- Political risk analyst
- Civil Service Fast Streamer
- Social researcher
- Government social research officer
- Policy officer
- Public affairs consultant
- Politician’s assistant
Transferable skills career paths:
- Charity officer
- Diplomatic service officer
- Forensic accountant
- Business development manager
- Market researcher
- Human resources officer
- Local government officer
- Marketing executive
- Newspaper journalist
- Public relations officer
- Stockbroker
- Detective
These should only be used as a guide. Many employers will accept applications from students that have studied various degrees.
Work experience
Those wanting to find a career within politics should investigate doing an industry placement – pre-entry work is valued highly. Your careers department at your university should be able to help you identify these. You can also see whether there are any voluntary or part-time roles in your local area. Many charities and not-for-profit organisations will have volunteering opportunities that will provide you with valuable work experience. These include:
- Community organisations focused on social causes and welfare
- Educational institutions and programs aimed at supporting underprivileged students
- Health-related organisations, such as hospitals, clinics, or mental health centres
- Animal welfare shelters and rescue organisations
- Cultural and arts organisations promoting creativity and cultural heritage
- Youth mentoring programs and initiatives
- Sports and recreation clubs fostering inclusivity and physical well-being
- Historical preservation societies and museums
- Entrepreneurship and business development initiatives supporting local startups and small businesses.
There may also be opportunities at your university to further your skill set. For example, you might be able to run for president of your university Student’s Union or chair a society. Here you will develop your leadership experience as well as your written and oral communication capabilities. Having pre-entry work will show that you are passionate and committed to a career in the sector. Previous work experience will enable your application to stand out amongst your competition. It will also provide you with the opportunity to network and build a list of contacts who may become useful in the future.
Typical employers
There will be many options available to you – whether this be in the political sector or not. Typical employers include:
- Law firms
- Accountancy and banking organisations
- Commercial businesses – particularly within marketing departments
- Public relations
- Local and national government
- Retail companies
- Media organisations
- Councils
How to enhance your CV
Through your degree, you will have learned specialised skills in communication, critical thinking, debate, and understanding policy. You will know how different political systems work and be able to interpret global political issues and events. However, you will have also developed additional skills which will be transferable. Make sure the following skills are highlighted on your CV:
- Proficiency in conducting comprehensive research, gathering relevant information, and evaluating it diligently.
- The capability to critically analyse evidence and construct well-structured arguments.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Intellectual independence and the ability to work autonomously.
- Strong teamwork skills, collaborating effectively with others.
- A flexible and open-minded approach to work, adapting to different situations and perspectives.
Further study
Many politics graduates go on to further study, often in specialised areas of politics such as international relations and international human rights.
Subjects at Masters level include:
- International relations and European politics
- Environmental politics
- Human rights
- International Security
- Politics.
- Political communication, advocacy and campaigning
What are politics graduates doing?
Nearly half (45.6%) of politics graduates are fully employed six months after their graduation. The majority of politics graduates (22.8%) are employed as business, HR and finance professionals.
Related Courses
The UWS BA (Hons) in Social Sciences focuses on the central themes of social justice, power and inequalities. The first two years of this degree equip you with a firm grounding in the essential disciplines of politics, policy and sociology.
The BA (Hons) Law covers a wide range of legal subjects so that you are skilled in advising organisations on how to comply with their legal obligations and prepares you for success in legal or law-related settings. This degree will equip you with a solid understanding of how laws and regulations shape our society, enabling you to embark on a career in a wide variety of sectors that use law. You’ll also learn the knowledge and skills sought after by employers in law-related and business sectors.
