Preface

      Introduction

      The best part of being a professor at a college dedicated to a core liberal arts curriculum is the opportunity it affords to teach and learn both in and out of the classroom. What I have noticed over the years, however, is a growing disconnect between the activities in my classroom and the kinds of questions and concerns students have about the job market or next steps they might take upon graduation. It was as if the study of politics was somehow unrelated to the demands of an ever-changing job market.

      The response to this trend is the guide. The data from employers and their own observations of the job market make it clear they want students who have strong analytical and critical thinking skills, public-speaking and writing skills, and the ability to process complex issues and data points. They want creative thinkers who can work in teams, who are capable of research, and who understand the world in which we live. These are the skills one develops by a rigorous study of politics.

      I imagine this guide as a companion piece along with an introductory or upper-level textbook in courses in American politics. It aims to be a powerful introduction to the job market in the field and to the variety of options that exist for the student who is interested in and passionate about politics. Many students, those who major in political science and those who simply have a passing interest in the subject, wish to learn more about career paths in the field. It is particularly difficult for them to navigate job opportunities in the field because the market is diffuse and open to so many pathways.

      Making that first step is difficult. Indeed, launching a career in politics can be frustrating because of the peculiarities of this particular job market. There’s not going to be a table at job fair that reads, “American Politics.”

      This book is designed