For Graduates - How To Get a Job in Public Affairs

by Warren Madlin, Director MadlinHanna Consulting

Last year, our research showed that the vast majority of public affairs agencies had suspended their graduate schemes or reduced their entry-level intake. Unsurprisingly, we have been approached regularly by graduates looking to get into public affairs and so here is the summary of the advice I have given over the last few months in the hope that it will help others.

Stand Out From the Crowd

It has never been more difficult to get an entry-level job in public affairs. You have more competition than usual. When an advert goes up, there will be a lot of applicants, including those that are just trying for any job. Your application has the potential to get lost, so show initiative. Find out who the in-house recruiter is and drop them a polite note on LinkedIn, highlighting your application and showing your enthusiasm for the role. Think about what truly makes you stand out because everyone applying has a degree. If you are genuinely interested in politics, prove it. Be the paper CV on the desk of the hiring manager who has 100 digital CVs in their inbox.

Be Proactive

Reach out to your network, such as people that you have previously come across from the industry or friends of friends. If you don’t already have those connections, LinkedIn will be your tool to make them. A polite note in a connection request will build a bridge. Seek advice from head-hunters. Whilst only a handful actually fill entry-level roles, they know the industry inside-out and can lend a hand to get you that first step. Don’t let up, act as though your current day job is to land that role. Be at it from 9-5 each day.

Learn the Market

PRWeek is your first stop for the annual list of top public affairs agencies. The higher up the list, the more likely they are to have grad schemes or entry-level roles. Be all over their websites and LinkedIn pages. Follow the company pages and key leadership on LinkedIn and Twitter so you are the first to know about opportunities. Research is a key skill required to be successful in public affairs, so share insightful comments on social posts - you never know who might pick them up but you can be sure they will be viewed as part of any application.

Interviews

Be ready for your interview. Get all over the political pages of the papers from now to be ready for that meeting when it happens. You must be able to hold your own with some of the brightest minds in public affairs, so have opinions on everything. It’s worth remembering that ‘matters of opinion’ questions don’t have a right or wrong answer, they just need to be well-supported arguments.

Stepping Stone

Don’t be afraid of internships - many agencies now offer paid internships, and the best agencies out there offer a genuine opportunity for a permanent role at the end, if you shine. I have also lost count of the number of Parliamentary Assistants that I have seen land jobs in public affairs agencies this year. Knowledge of the workings of the parliamentary process reduce the risk in hiring you and show that genuine passion for politics. This, or a role within a political party, are great stepping stones to get to where you want to be.

Be tenacious and diligent and you will get your opportunity!

MadlinHanna Consulting is a recruitment consultancy specialising in corporate affairs, covering public affairs, corporate communications and financial PR. Contact us on 020 8088 4102 for more information or a confidential conversation.