To become a political analyst, a bachelor’s or doctoral degree in political science or related subjects is recommended. Jobs can vary from media to government agencies, with a focus on foreign politics. Tailoring education and experience to the desired job is helpful, with skills in statistics, psychology, and history being useful.
According to most experts, the best way for you to become a political analyst is to earn a bachelor’s or doctoral degree in some directly related subject. Political science is a very common choice, but it’s not the only degree that works to prepare someone for this type of career. For example, some people have a background in history, while others are experts in international affairs, which can be useful for certain analyst career options. Once you have the necessary education, you will have to apply for a job, and the possible career paths of a political analyst are quite wide, including everything from media jobs, government jobs, and jobs directly with political campaigns. Determining in advance what type of career you are pursuing can be helpful in tailoring your education so that you specialize in the right areas.
Many jobs chosen by political analysts are really focused on the politics of other countries. For example, the US Central Intelligence Agency hires a fairly large number of political experts to study foreign political events in great detail and then offer advice or write reports. A slightly better known job for a political analyst is the task of working with campaigns, helping them to analyze various factors to help form effective political strategies. Probably the most well-known type of political analysts are those who work with various media organizations, including television analysts, and many of these people have some experience working on political campaigns, sometimes in a large capacity.
Tailoring your experience and education to the specific type of political analyst job you are looking for can be very helpful. Therefore, if you intend to become a political analyst for a government agency that is researching political issues in other countries, you may benefit from studying several foreign languages and taking additional courses in foreign affairs. If you want to become a political analyst for the media, some journalism-oriented subjects might come in handy, and it might help to get some real experience in some political campaigns to boost your credentials.
The actual nature of a political analyst’s job can vary greatly depending on the exact type of job a person has. Most jobs will involve studying specific political situations with the aim of drawing conclusions about the likely outcomes of political events and shifts in public opinion. This can involve a lot of statistical analysis, an understanding of psychology, and a lot of time spent studying past history to better understand the way public opinion changes in various situations. For these reasons, some experts recommend that math and psychology-focused courses can be useful on your resume if you want to become a political analyst, and history is often a central focus for people interested in that career.
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