Political science students and graduates seeking to know the careers they are open to after school should get more insights from this article.
Also, researchers or educationalists who wish to have detailed knowledge of the possible jobs or careers of a political scientist can do that with the aid of this unique article
Students who get their first or second degree in political science or political science and public administration as some universities would have it are open to various job opportunities both in the science field and in the arts field.
Every organization needs a political scientist. This Is said so because man is a political animal as propounded by the great Aristotle (384 – 322BC).
Every part of a human being involves politics, from the family level, and the church (religion) to education, governance, work, etc. Politics is displayed in every aspect of human lives.
So whether you study political science or not you are in one way or another displaying or practicing politics.
Man isn’t just a political animal but also a social animal which makes political science an aspect that involves two or more people. So far there is the existence of more than one person in a territory where there is a political scientist.
Political science is a social science course that is concerned with the systematic study and analysis of politics.
Politics as defined by Harold Lasswell is defined as who gets What, When, and how. In a simple definition, it is the way people who are living or cohabiting together make decisions through agreements.
In the course of this article, we will be focusing on the different carriers that a political scientist can get or have access to.
10 Careers for Political Science Graduates in Nigeria
The different career paths for a political science student involve paths from political systems, governance, public policy, and international relations
- Public Administration
- Political analyst
- Diplomacy and foreign service
- Legislative Assistant
- Policy Researcher
- Political Campaign Manager
- Public Relations Specialist
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Political Consulting
- Academia and Teaching:
Public Administration
Political science graduates can work in government agencies and organizations. The positions viable for public administration include
- Manager or senior manager
- Director or district manager
- Contracts and grants officer
- Administrative assistance or administrator
- Compensation Analyst
- Public works director
- Access service representative
- The project manager or junior project manager.
- Business Assistant
Political Analyst
They can work as political analysts, providing insights into political trends, election campaigns, and policy development for media organizations, research institutions, or think tanks.
As a political analyst, you can decide to work for either a private firm or a government firm. That is based on your choice and probably the pay.
You can work either as a research analyst, a radio analyst, a police officer, etc. A political analyst is someone outspoken and ready to bisect important and trending information and also ready to face public questioning and clarification
Diplomacy and Foreign Service
Political science graduates can join the diplomatic corps, representing Nigeria abroad, engaging in international negotiations, and promoting bilateral relations.
There are various job positions in this role ranging from an intelligence analyst, public affairs consultant, government research officer, police officer, civil service fast streamer, etc.
You can also work in a court or in an embassy. This is only but a few of the several opportunities available out there.
Legislative Assistant
They can work as legislative assistants, supporting lawmakers in researching, drafting bills, analyzing policy issues, and managing constituent affairs.
You can work as a legal assistant or as a paralegal assistant. You can also be a legal counselor a counsel officer, etc.
Policy Researcher
Political science graduates can work as policy researchers for research organizations, NGOs, or advocacy groups, analyzing policy options and providing recommendations for addressing societal challenges.
This involves accessing the right information on time and taking time to analyze the information. The research part has to do with getting information or truths about certain issues that are of public concern to analyze if it goes in line with the policy of a country.
Political Campaign Manager
They can work as campaign managers, assisting politicians in planning and executing electoral campaigns, mobilizing supporters, and managing public relations.
This can be more of a contract work that is only for some time and after the campaign, the job is over. But then in some cases, the person might get a political appointment into an honor office.
The appointment is usually given if the party he worked for as the campaign manager elopes the winner. Also in some cases, the opposition party might compensate
Public Relations Specialist
Political science graduates can work as public relations specialists, promoting the positive public perception of political parties, government agencies, or public figures.
This is basically for persons who choose to work in the public field. There are other opportunities in the private fields or organizations too.
Nonprofit Organizations
They can work in nonprofit organizations focusing on governance, democracy, human rights, and community development, advocating for policy change, and implementing social programs.
People working in non-governmental organizations, seem to be making little profit other than those in the government agencies.
This can also be dependent on your organization because they are non-governmental organizations that are solely backed up by the government r one that has long-standing and lots of sponsors.
Political Consulting
Political science graduates can establish their own political consulting firms, offering services such as strategic planning, public opinion research, and campaign management for political candidates or parties.
Academia and Teaching
Graduates can pursue careers in academia, becoming lecturers or researchers in political science departments, contributing to knowledge generation, and teaching future generations of political scientists.
They can also run bogs where political information is being shared. This will help other political scientists, researchers, and analysts to get information and the owner will n return be making money from the traffic generated from the page
Conclusion on Careers for Political Science Graduates in Nigeria
This article gives a run-down of the various carrier path of a political scientist. A political scientist is a graduate of a political science program at a university.
This article is recommended to students who are into research, students who wish to enter the political science study field, and the general public.
