Civil servants are permanent government employees that carry over from administration to administration. Qualifications required vary depending on the position and the seniority of the post, but entry requirements usually include success in an entrance examination.

Roles vary from department to department, and civil servants are usually careered government employees who move through and up the ranks of pay scale and position.

• A policy analyst researches, collects, classifies and analyses a variety of data concerning policies. Not to be confused with policy advisors, analysts evaluate this data and create reports to assist in policy development and various strategies, including media and PR.

  Engaging both their qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, they provide policymakers with a clear and unbiased picture of the outcomes of a policy, developing models measuring performance, reaction and effects.

• A career diplomat is a key element of an administration’s international presence and international relations policy. Depending on seniority, they range from entry-level personnel in the country’s foreign service all the way up to ambassadors.

  An ideal career for those who like to travel and learn new languages and cultures, posts range in duration from a few months to a few years, with many career diplomats have gone on to take other posts in international organisations and become senior aides to the head of government.

• This is perhaps one of the most multifaceted jobs in politics, as it’s a combination of brains, brawn and alertness. The role involved conducting extensive background checks on a variety of people that are in contact with the office which the specialist serves. These may range from employees, visitors, friends and family.

  Additionally, they are responsible for planning and executing a security strategy for their boss, establishing the safety of a venue, a detailed arrival and departure plan, and threat management and response.

  They are the head of the politician’s security detail and sometimes even their bodyguard. Usually former military personnel, they may be randomly assigned to a post or be recruited by the postholder or their advisors.

• Along with the communications director, the media strategist is the person responsible for the overall image of the agency or administration. Under their direction, the media strategy indicates who the office holder will interview with, in what tone and to which end the media presence serves.

  Responsible for projects from campaign advertising to ‘packaging’ platforms and policies to be publicised, and with a strong network in local and international media, they have a key job in politics. Successfully integrating policy and communication, they are masters in both.

• A journalist deals with the research, writing and distribution of news and information. Depending on the type of media the journalist is working with and their speciality, they can have assignments ranging from field correspondent to show host.

  With at least one university degree under their belts, journalists may decide to pursue additional degrees to specialise in a specific field.

• The absolute numbers person in politics is a statistician. From polling numbers to economic figures, a statistician is essential in the political life of a country. They crunch numbers to calculate probability, possibility, votes, and socio-political and economic trends.

  They research and analyse data to go hand in hand with the work of the administration, providing the empirical results and effects of various projects and policies with the use of various mathematical processes and applications and specialised software.

• A public relations specialist is the person responsible for a politician’s public image and activities, promoting the role they wish to embody in the candidate and aiding in the furthering of their agenda and policies.

  They draft press releases, approve accompanying visual material, analyse and improve the image of the person or office they are employed to serve. They may be called to action in assisting in the diffusion of a crisis in the media regarding their employer.

  Their salaries vary depending on the experience of the specialist, the level of the political person or office they serve and, of course, the period in the electoral calendar they are going through.

• Former media strategists and PR specialists have gone on to become communications directors in the political arena. They are hardened and successful professionals who have mastered the art of political communications.

  They’re responsible for all internal and external communications of an administration or agency, often also being the first to go in crisis situations. On the flipside, a good communications director can be even more indispensable than the office holder themselves.

• Most political science or international relations majors dream of ultimately becoming esteemed policy advisors. They’re the people that formulate, manage and establish the policies and direction of an agency or administrative office.

  They’re also the same people on the opposite side of the table who will formulate counter-policies or a complete offensive strategy to a policy that is not on the agenda of their employer.

  They possess strong research and analytical skills and an extensive mastery of their scope of politics. They’re the officeholders’ primary consultants in every policy decision.

• Lobbyists are the movers and shakers in policymaking. They’re part of national and international organisations who are funded by groups and corporations to influence policy and legislation.

  Working within or alongside strong networks, they are probably the single most effective non-government player in politics. 

• Campaign managers run the show for the years leading up to an election. They’re what you would call operations managers in a business environment. They lead an array of volunteers and staffers through the planning and execution of the campaign strategy and report to the candidate with results, polls and panning.

• The chief of staff is one of the most rigorous and prestigious political positions after the office holder. They’re responsible for the efficient and effective running of the office, staffing and agenda, and they are the right-hand person to the office holder.

  Nothing happens in an administration without the chief of staff’s involvement and consulting. They are often referred to as the operations director of the executive branch. Many qualified campaign managers have gone ahead to become chiefs of staff in the administrations they helped elect.

• A press secretary is the connecting link between the organisation or political office holder and the press corps. They’re responsible for delivering political news and updates to the Media, both for the local and international arena, and answering questions on behalf of the administration.

  They’re required to be widely and correctly informed on a variety of issues and be in the position to handle or deflect unexpected and potentially dangerous questions from journalists. Press secretaries are masters in the use of the official language of the administration and usually a few other languages. In some instances, they may also be a speechwriter.

  Nerves of steel, composure and diplomacy are key personal qualities of press secretaries.

• Pretty self-explanatory, the office of the president or prime minister is the highest state position in politics, responsible for creating foreign and domestic policy. In the cases where there is a reigning monarchy, the postholder could either be elected via public vote or selected by representatives of the public or the Crown.

  While no specific educational qualifications are a prerequisite for the job, most politicians are either career politicians who rise in rank or notable community and business leaders who can formulate a wide-reaching agenda and can better unite the public under their leadership.

  It takes a special kind of person to be on the frontlines of politics and to forge a long-lasting political career, but the rewards from being a part of history and policy are too valuable to put a price tag on.