Politician

Working Schedule

• Politicians often work long and irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. This is especially true at state and federal levels. Electoral campaigning requires extensive travel, public appearances, and frequent communication with constituents and stakeholders.

Typical Duties

Politicians’ duties vary considerably based on their precise role and the level of government they operate in. Below are a few typical duties that may be common to most Politicians.

Running for Office

• Due to the nature of the job, Politicians spend a fair portion of their time trying to get elected or re-elected. Here are some common tasks related to this aspect of their work.

1. Develop platforms that align with public interests.

• A political platform is a set of principles, goals, and policy positions that help outline and clarify a candidate’s vision and agenda.
• Plan campaign strategies and oversee the logistics of running for office.
• Establish and manage local offices and staff, including volunteers.  
• Organize fundraisers, rallies, town halls, and other community engagement activities where they can outline agendas and answer questions from donors and voters.
• Engage with the media for interviews.
• Share compelling, timely messages via social media and websites.
• Analyze polling data and adjust campaign strategies, as necessary.

Legislative Functions

Once elected, a Politician’s real work can begin! Note, the scope of the below duties varies based on the Politician’s role and level of government.

• Conduct or direct research and analysis of existing legislation and policies.
• Look for areas where policies, regulations, or laws don’t align with current constituent interests.
• Pay close attention to local, state, national, and international news.
• Consult advisors, attorneys, lobbyists, and other government offices to discuss options for change.
• Draft legislation bills, amendments, and policies that reflect constituent interests and address pressing concerns. Work with other politicians to finalize and submit draft proposals.
• Debate the merits of new legislation at local, state, or national levels. Vote on such legislation, as needed.
• Secure federal funding for projects and initiatives that benefit constituents.
• Represent the government at applicable meetings and conferences.

Community Engagement

• Meet with constituents to hear their needs, address concerns, and build trust.
• Review correspondence and complaints.
• Continue to attend public events, town halls, and press conferences to communicate policies and gather feedback. Measure public sentiment on trending topics.
• Write (or direct the writing of) speeches, position papers, and meeting agendas. Prepare presentations and practice running through them.
• Cultivate a network of professional contacts with whom to collaborate.
• Build relationships with community groups and leaders. Listen to their challenges and help devise strategies to overcome them.
• Keep constituents updated on actions via newsletters, social media, interviews, meetings, press releases, and personal appearances.
• Manage donor relations to ensure sufficient funding for future campaigns.

Additional Responsibilities

• Oversee budgets, project future expenses, and allocate resources.
• Maintain compliance with applicable ethical guidelines and legal requirements.
• Evaluate government agency performance and question witnesses during hearings, as applicable.
• Be as transparent as possible during decision-making processes. Respond to inquiries and keep constituents aware of your actions to maintain confidence and trust.
• Attend hearings, meetings, and conferences to receive updates related to new developments.
• Monitor legislation and stay informed about upcoming bills and changes.
• Maintain official records and protect sensitive data from unauthorized disclosure.

Soft Skills

• Active listening
• Adaptability
• Analytical skills
• Attention to detail
• Cultural awareness
• Detail-oriented
• Empathy
• Financial acumen
• Focus
• Independence
• Integrity
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership
• Management
• Motivation
• Negotiation skills
• Networking
• Organizational skills
• Patience
• Persuasiveness
• Political acumen
• Problem-solving
• Relationship-building
• Resilience
• Service-orientation
• Social perceptiveness
• Strategic thinking
• Strong communication skills

Technical Skills

The technical skills needed by Politicians vary considerably. Some positions won’t need all of the below skills, and some use staff members to manage certain tech issues (like social media or polling analysis).

• Legislative processes and government structures
• Legal frameworks and regulatory compliance
• Public opinion polling and data analysis
• Social media and digital communication
• Budgeting and financial management
• Policy analysis and tracking
• Project management
• CRM software for managing contacts (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Legislative research databases
• Email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
• Data visualization tools
• Document management systems (e.g., DocuSign, SharePoint)

• Local (city council, mayor, county officials)
• State (governor, state legislators)
• Federal (Congress members, President)

Politicians can expect to face constant scrutiny from the media, the public, and their political opponents. Their actions and even their personal lives are under the microscope 24/7, which can be pretty stressful.

It’s nearly impossible to satisfy every constituent, especially in today’s polarized political landscape. However, they are elected to represent the interests of everyone in their district, not just those who voted for them.

Politicians also don’t have traditional work schedules. When not in their offices, they’re often in meetings or traveling to events. Many, particularly at the state and federal levels, spend extended periods away from home.

Politicians don’t go through typical hiring processes, either. They’re elected by the people, which means spending significant time, money, and energy just to “apply for the job.” But campaigning can be a major financial burden, with politicians relying on personal savings, contributions, and support from their party or external organizations during this expensive but necessary process.

Social media has transformed how Politicians connect with voters. Sites like X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are now critical for campaigning and mobilizing supporters, empowering politicians to communicate directly with the public and share live updates.

Data analytics and micro-targeting are also hot trends, with campaigns relying on data-driven strategies to identify voter segments, customize messages, and optimize resource allocation.

Yet another trend is the growing importance of small-dollar donations and grassroots fundraising versus overreliance on big donors and Political Action Committees (or PACs). This boosts funding while fostering closer connections with voters who have invested their hard-earned dollars to back the candidate of their choice.

Many Politicians were actively involved in leadership roles during their youth, such as participating in student government, debate teams, or community organizations. They might have loved public speaking, organizing events, and talking about political issues.