With a Presidential campaign and a lot of Senate and Congressional seats up for grabs, 2012 is a good year to seek and find a job in the political arena. If you have ever considered a career in politics, now is the time to get your foot in the door. Candidates are putting their campaign teams together and looking for new blood to help them get elected.

A political campaign is much like a business — it has managers, accountants, writers, clerks, secretaries and maintenance people. So, if you are a writer, have accounting skills, have worked in public relations or just have great organizational skills, there is probably a candidate out there who could use your skills.

What’s a little different about 2012 than in previous years is the competitive nature of the field. For many, getting a job working on a political campaign might be a return to the workplace — unemployment is still at a historically high rate. These people are also competing with new college graduates who are trying to break into political science careers. For campaigns, this is an excellent opportunity — they can find the best and brightest workers. But for those seeking these positions, it will be mandatory to present yourself as well as possible.

Networking Vital in Politics

Politics does have a strong “who you know” element to it, so if possible, you should introduce yourself to as many political leaders as possible. Don’t be afraid to express interest in helping with a candidate’s election campaign — the worst that can happen is someone tells you no. Most likely, if someone in your political circle befriends you, he will pass your name on to one of his cohorts if you’re right for a job on their campaign. So, network as much as you can to get your name out there.

This should go without saying, but in order to secure a job in the political arena, you will need to pick a political party and register as a voter for that party. If a candidate is interested in bringing you into the campaign, he will investigate you. Make sure what you state in your interview, resume and cover letter line up with your public persona. For example, if you claim to be pro-life, but you have pro-choice leaning items on your Facebook page, that isn’t going to get you the job. Look for candidates who support the same causes as you — it will give you a common ground, and when he does investigate, he will note the similarities.

Start as a volunteer

A campaign might not have the resources to hire you, but they could still use your help. Agree to volunteer for the campaign. Become a canvasser or organizer. Put signs in supporters’ yards — be available and willing to do the grunt work. It might not get you a paycheck this time around, but the party will remember you as a team player, which will make getting a paid position easier for the next campaign.