What About Becoming a Campaign Worker? (employment, degrees, degree, public relations)

[stonecypher5413]

My totally frustrated and depressed middle-aged friend who has fruitlessly searched for an executive assistant-type job during the two years since she was laid off, recently informed me she has a new strategy to "employ" her two degrees and extensive experience.

As much as she admits she hates politics, she's going to educate herself about the issues in her state (Oregon) and make time to volunteer for the senator or representative whose policy positions most resonate with her. She figures she will then become a "known quantity" in her abilities to contribute and strategize, as a lead-in to the upcoming 2012 political season campaigns. (Yes, she has the funds to stay afloat until then because she and her sister are sharing living expenses.)

She sent me a Campaign Worker Job Description that included this paragraph:

If working on a larger scale, there may be positions available as campaign workers when elections are nearing. Gaining political experience can help an individual get hired as a campaign worker. Fund-raising or public relations experience helps prepare an individual for elections and related campaign work.

Campaign Worker Job Description, Career as a Campaign Worker, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job

So how feasible do you think this goal is? Anyone out there tried this approach to get a job? Do you think my friend has a chance?

[kodaka]

Of course she has a chance. Don't be a scrooge and rain on her parade when she's trying to do something to better her situation. You are right in assuming that volunteering doesn't necessarily guarantee that she will land a paid gig with that campaign or with any campaign. That is true with any kind of volunteer work. But I can't see how it would hurt her. She has nothing to lose by trying.

Not sure what her political leanings are, but she might be interested in Emily's List. It is an organization that helps match workers up with available campaign jobs (both paid and volunteer).