I guess I don’t need an OP. Hamsters, do your thing!
Well, I assume you don’t apply for it like a regular job. I can’t even imagine what the requirements are, or what kind of connections you need. I don’t have a particular platform in mind, but I could come up with some if necessary.
Actually, I applied for a job at a trade association that mainly does executive branch lobbying, and it was the standard “Put your resume in, get an interview, wait for the association to call you, realize they’re not going to call you back in for a second interview, curse them and get drunk” proceedure.
Depends on the organization you’re lobbying for. If you’ve been working for, say, a farmers’ association for a while and the association discovers you’re talented in negotiating and stuff, they might just appoint you their lobbyist. It’s not an occupation with a specified requirements profile - it’s something more informal, and every organization that chooses to lobby politicians has its own way of finding its lobbyists.
I received a grounding in negotiating and advocacy in the union movement, I also gained government contacts through that. When I applied for a job that included lobbying I got it largely on those two points as well as knowing the field I was lobbying in very well of course.
I have to disagree with Captain Amazing, I wouldn’t hire a lobbyist who sits around waiting for me to contact them, lobby for the job!
Political lobbyists want people with both industry and Government contacts. The usual paths to the job come from one of these two areas and then cross over into lobbying.
While a I was a political adviser I was offered a number of jobs with interest group associations and lobbying companies.
Are you interested in this type of work? If so I can assure you it is not as glamorous as tv and the movies make out
Most lobbyists are lawyers, and/or formerly worked in some government capacity, be that as an elected official, a high-placed bureaucrat, or a legislative staffer.