Career Trends: August 31, 2022
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Content Credit:
- Article by Nancy Jaiswal, published on telegraphindia.com. Original article link.
Political analysts study and research minutely on how the political systems of different countries emerge, develop, and function. They research and analyse governments, political thought, policies, political trends and foreign relations. End-to-end analysis of national, international, and social issues to support policy makers also forms a part of their core work process.
People in this profession also examine the motives, beliefs, culture, decision-making and values behind each action and how they affect the national security of a particular nation.
Political analysts are expected to utilise their critical thinking and researching skills to evaluate policies and laws and thereafter foster arguments for or against their implementation. They assess the effectiveness of existing policies, including their impact on governments, organisations and citizens of the country.
Why build a career as a political analyst?
If you find yourself passionate about politics, like to analyse data, especially on topics like polls and election results, and if you think you have a sound understanding of how people perceive politics and respond to it, you could be an ideal candidate to have a successful career in the field of politics.
As an analyst, you can have a chance to work closely with politicians and thereafter organise campaigns on different topics of public interest.
How can you become a political analyst?
1. Get a bachelor’s degree
The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you would be to work as a political analyst. A bachelor’s degree is the best place to start with this. Here are a few course areas to consider:
- Public Administration
- Political Science
- International Relations
- Public Policy
- Economics
- Journalism
- Business Administration
- Public Health
- Law
These and related fields give you a wider exposure to the areas that political analysts work with on a daily basis. In addition to the same, gaining minute global insight can also guide your career in the field.
2. Get work experience
- Gaining experience by working with focus groups, arranging data, and conducting end to end research is another critical exercise to building the practical experience needed for many political analyst jobs.
- One of the best ways of gaining this type of work experience is by working on political campaigns at the entry-level, as an intern or as a journalist.
- LAMP( Legislative Assistants for Members of Parliament ) fellowship is one such unique way to engage with experts from various think-tanks.
- Apart from that, an entry level exposure can also be gained by working on campaigns initiated by your area’s counsellor.
3. Select specific fields
Political parties and several other sectors of local, state and central government are all looking for experienced analysts to research and talk over the implications of potential policy actions.
Private companies and industries, on the other hand, also look to hiring political analysts, as do healthcare companies investing in health policies, or technology companies investing in trade, employment, or education policies.
Courses to study to become a political analyst:
- B.A in Political Science
- B.Sc in Political Science
- B.A. in History, Economics and Political Science
- B.A. in Public Administration
- Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication (B.J.M.C.)
Top 5 Colleges in India to pursue the courses:
- Presidency College, Chennai
- St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
- Hindu College, New Delhi
- Madras Christian College, Chennai
- NIMS University, Jaipur
Political analysts usually do end to end minute research on various topics and angles of politics. They use their knowledge and analysis of current events to address the challenges and opportunities faced by organisations and governments.
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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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