Election period is now upon us. If you’d look at the news, you can see candidates who wish to emerge as winners for this year’s primary election. This event does not only help decide who the next leaders will be, but also brings a surge of election related jobs you can take advantage of. If you’d like to know which election jobs best fits you, why don’t you check and assess your skills?
Election Jobs: One Way to Polish Your Skills
Who are you going to vote for? Apart from having similar beliefs on certain political and social issues, you might want look at their skills as well. Likewise, hiring new employees follows the same logic. If you think, you have what it takes to become the ultimate Election Day worker, then these election positions are for you!
1. Organizational Skills
The task is to manage the over all tasks during the election. You will also pick up Election Day materials from the regional site and its return after the event.
A. Clerk
Task:
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- You will manage the over-all tasks during the election. You will also pick up Election Day materials from the regional site and its return after the event.
Must: As your election worker job, you must demonstrate a working knowledge of laws, election voting system, and polling place procedures. You must have problem solving skills, in case you need to solve crises and suggest answers. That is why conflict resolution skills is a plus!
Median Pay:$26,600, as per Payscale; others add mileage fee.
B. Assistant Clerk
Task:
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- Your primary job is to assist the clerk, share their duties, and should the need arise, substitute for him/her. You could also execute a provisional ballot and assist coworkers as needed.
Must: Similar to the clerk, you must have knowledge of the laws and election procedures. According to Payscale, the women with 81% dominate this field. They mostly have one to four years of experience in these election jobs.
Median Pay: Starts at $14.05 per hour, but could be similar to the clerk, depending on your years of experience.
C. Campaign Manager
Task:
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- Though campaign managers work for the candidates during elections instead of the government, this could be your avenue for employment growth, too. You oversee all aspects of the campaign: from day-to-day operations, hiring and managing staff, creating and handling the campaign budget, to inputs in the fundraising events.
Must: Aside from your organizational skills, you should have good interpersonal skills, calmness, and reliability. You shouldn’t be afraid to raise funds. You must have basic copy writing and research skills, as well as event coordination.
Median Pay: Annually, $64,094 according to ziprecruiter.com.
D. Campaign Treasurer
Task:
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- You are in charge of all things financial. You monitor the budget, payments, and contributions, while maintaining sound financial records in accord to the electoral board.
Must: Of all the election jobs apart from the candidate, as campaign treasurer, you must submit their name to the election authority, as well.
Median Pay: $73,000 annually.
E. Scheduler
Task:
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- If you love organizing schedules, this is among the election jobs for you. For every invite to a political event, you should make sure that the candidate prepares for it, based on your directives. Before you do the brief, make sure you coordinate with other members of the team. Ensure that the candidate reaches call-times and voter-contact line remains a top priority.
Must: As the scheduler, you should be firm and particular with details, especially during phone calls. You must know when to say no.
Median Pay: As per Glassdoor, your annual pay is $48,430.
F. Office Manager
Task:
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- If the campaign manager deals with the over-all details of the campaign, the office manager ensures that the campaign headquarter works in top form. You will work often with the campaign manager when it comes to the administrative aspects of the campaign, including the staff, the infrastructure, and the supplies.
Must: You serve as support for the campaign manager. In case a problem arises, you must deal with it at once. For this to happen, you should have a good overview of the entire campaign.
Median Pay: Glassdoor puts it at $47,250 in a year, while Salary caps it at $95,353.
2. Communication Skills
If your core strength is to make people understand, why don’t you try out these communication-related election jobs? Not only will you help people decide who should emerge as winners, you also carried information vital for the poll.
A. Election Communications Coordinator
Task:
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- Your main task is to handle all internal messages. In addition, you could also coordinate with the media through creating news releases, briefing notes, and background reports.
Must: You must have a bachelor’s degree in Communication, Public Relations, or Journalism is necessary. Your Technical Writing Experience is a plus, too.
Median Pay: Payscale places your annual salary in between $31,000 to $55,000.
B. Field Director/Voter Contact
Task:
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- Do you love to talk to people? Apply as a field director. As you knock on doors and talk to various folks, make sure they get the message from your campaign.
Must: Prove yourself as the tireless, motivated election worker job who can manage large quantities of data. Your knack for matching names with faces is an advantage, too!
Median Pay: Payscale puts it at $59,478 while Glassdoor at $86,431 annually.
C. Speech Writer
Task:
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- Mix your wit with words to create speeches and spiels that affect people upon hearing them. Stand a chance to have one of the coveted election jobs that exist only on presidential campaigns for senior public officials. As you write, bear in mind that you should infuse the campaign message in every speech you make.
Must: Your Bachelor’s Degree comes as a plus. Background in the economic and social issues works to your advantage, too.
Median Pay: Payscale rates it $79,729 while Salary.com at $128,668.
D. Public Relations Manager
Task:
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- Your main task is to create and maintain your candidate’s image pleasing and credible to the public eye.
Must: A Communication degree is an advantage. You should know how to field questions that could harm or benefit your campaign. You should prepare the media kits and other techniques that could improve and maintain the good image of your candidate.
Median Pay: Payscale places your annual salary at $63,852 while Salary.com at $94,651.
E. Press Secretary
Task:
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- Another means to use your communication skills is through dealing with the media. Build relationships with the members of the press, as you set up interviews and find media opportunities for the campaign. It’s up to you to draft copies for the promotional materials of the campaign.
Must: Include your prior experience and contacts with the media. You must also develop strategies to let your candidate enjoy media coverage.
Median Pay: Payscale puts the annual salary at $66,097, and Glassdoor at $70,390.
3. Technical Skills
Technology now exists in all fields, including the election. Use your technical knowledge to snag these election jobs!
A. Election Technology Specialist
Task:
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- You deal more on internal database to keep voters’ personal information safe. You could deal with technical issues, as well as the repair of Election Day equipment.
Must: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Technology field is a requisite. If you have experience in computer systems, hardware configuration and set-up, you now have a lead.
Median Pay: Across the workforce, IT specialists earn between $34,000-$190,000 annually, according to Payscale.
B. Technology Manager
Task:
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- You will deal with all technology matters. This includes coordinating campaign aspects that needs technology, such as websites, databases, and computer infrastructure. You should develop the websites and databases that provide information for the campaign.
Must: You should have a degree related to information technology. Experience handling social media accounts could also work in your favor. However, before publishing any data, check first with the press secretary.
Median Pay: Payscale displays it at $85,000 while Salary.com at $123,586.
C. EVID Specialist/Voting System Technician
Task:
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- You will deal with the system and hardware during the election proper. EVID specialists check IDs, verifies voter info, and issues voting passes. The Voting System Technician, meanwhile, is in charge that the equipment such as scanners and printers used in the elections is working. Ensure that the voters follow the election procedures and monitor the flow of voters. You could also be in charge of picking up Election Day materials and returning it right after the elections.
Must: You must know the basic techniques of receiving, storing, and issuing supplies and materials. You must attend a basic training to brief you of your tasks.
Median Pay: $34,774.90-$57,661.14 annually.
D. Personnel Security Specialist
Task:
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- If you want to work with one of the elusive election jobs, this should fit you. Your work is similar to a detective. You need to research about people’s personal histories, background checks, even criminal history, drug use, health, and financial history.
Must: You must have a higher knowledge when it comes to information technology and security. You would undergo non-disclosure agreements, so any info you might find out won’t reach the wrong people.
Median Pay: Payscale puts your annual salary at $61,646.
4. Networking Skills
If there is a weapon for aspiring candidates, it is in the power of networking. It could make or break the campaign, for in the elections, it is in whom you know, rather than what you know. If you want to learn the tricks of politics, you should check these election jobs.
A. Vote Outreach Coordinator
Task:
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- Working with the communication team of the campaign, your task is to organize education efforts for the general public and niche voters. You will let them know how your candidate plans to address issues concerning them.
Must: Your high school diploma or GED is enough for you to take this election position. You have an edge if you have clerical work experience. Challenge your customer service skills, as you deal with various people.
Median Pay: As per Glassdoor, your median pay is $62,196 annually.
B. Fund Raiser/Finance Director
Task:
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- Aside from dealing with money matters, among the many election jobs the finance director need to do is to build networks. Gaining the votes of the masses is no easy feat; you need support for the campaign to move forward. Thus, the role of the finance director is to raise funds.
Must: Your outgoing personality and organized soul is your edge to make it as a fundraiser. Your goal is to meet the financial goals of the campaign, that’s why you must not hesitate to develop relations with the right people.
Median Pay: Glassdoor puts your salary at $72,458 while Payscale puts it at $110,673 annually.
C. Volunteer Coordinator
Task:
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- Not everyone in the campaign could receive handsome amount of money for the hard work. Some do it for the experience. You are in charge of them. Working with the field director, you need to organize their tasks according to their skills and talents.
Must: Your interpersonal skills will shine through this election related job. You will be working with lots of people, so patience, persistence, and enthusiasm is key.
Median Pay: Glassdoor places your salary at $36,000 and Payscale at $37,235 annually.
D. Political Director
Task:
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- It may not be clear to everyone what the political director does, for in essence, the work resembles that of a field director. However, political directors are election jobs reserved for notable members of the community/society. The main task is to fix occuring problems leading up to Election Day. Say, you have sudden problems that arise from the sectors you expect votes for; you will be the one to talk to these sectors either to appease or convince them.
Must: Your work lies in your linkages within the society, as well as your experience in handling conflicts. If you are already plugged in with the local system, that works to your advantage.
Median Pay: Your annual salary is $54,495 as per Payscale.
5. Passion
While some may argue that passion is not a skill, you shouldn’t discount that it is one of the basics in applying for these election jobs. Election positions are transient in nature, that’s why those who engage in this business have passion in what they do. People who engage in these election jobs exude passion in their work:
A. Poll Workers
Task:
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- You would be members of the first frontiers. You’re in charge of overseeing the polling sites on Election Day, fulfilling these duties: issuing ballots, monitoring the voting equipment, and instructing voters to mark the ballot.
Must: For you to become the elite ones who make their difference in America, you just need to be a registered voter. You must pass a basic training course, and to have at least the basics of reading, writing, and speaking in fluent English.
Median Pay: Since this work is part-time, poll workers receive pay differently per state or county they belong. However, the range is $150-$340.
B. Early Voting Workers
Task:
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- There is a reason why you have the name early voting workers. Ten days prior to the Election Day, you are to perform over-all tasks to build a working voting poll site. You would need to break down the site after the elections. During the event, you could help in verifying the voter’s eligibility before they vote.
Must: As with other election jobs, you may be required to work more than eight hours a day. Prepare for physical activities, as you may lift fifteen to thirty pounds of election materials. Basic knowledge in computers is to your advantage.
Median Pay: Like the poll worker, the median pay for Early Voting workers differs from each county or state. Some starts at $10 per hour, others have fixed rates such as $120.
C. Legal Advisor
Task:
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- All election jobs adhere to the legal system. Therefore, it is necessary that every candidate seeks legal advice from an expert. This is where the legal advisor comes in.
Must: Full knowledge about the legal system in place, as campaign managers will consult you regularly. Your years of experience as a legal advisor add to your standing.
Median Pay: Payscale puts your annual salary at $75,995.
D. Special Deputy
Task:
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- You offer Election Day your ability to maintain law and order, all day. You ensure that the election occurs peacefully. You could also act as a liaison to the clerks in the poll site and the Supervisor of Elections. During the election proper, you need to remove unnecessary signs in the polling place entrance. You must enforce no solicitation within 100 meters of polling entrance. You could also accompany the return of voting equipment and materials after the event.
Must: Unlike other election jobs, being a special deputy requires you to undergo a background check. You also need to familiarize yourself of the Election Day venue assigned to you.
Median Pay: The stipend of election jobs from each county and state, depending on the discretion of the electoral board of your assigned area, as per the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
Election Jobs: Not for the Faint-Hearted
Now that you have an idea which election jobs fits your skills, don’t hesitate to join and make America great again. Urgent openings for poll workers are available statewide, though most of these election positions are transient in nature. That’s why don’t expect that these election jobs would last for years. If you want to paint yourself as a credible election worker, let Resume Valley create your ticket to the political field.
Sources: payscale.com| salary.com| glasdoor.com| monster.com| wellstone.org|
votemarion.com| paladinstaff.com|browardsoe.org| jacksoncountysoe.org| minnpost.com| campaignsandelections.com|
chron.com|votebrevard.com| sumterelections.org| pascovotes.com| eac.gov|
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