Noting my early career involvement in politics, a Gen Z college sophomore asked me last week if I would still recommend volunteering for political campaigns. “Absolutely, positively,” I replied.
The next three months will be a crash course in strategic planning, political organizing, message development, event planning and grassroots organizing — all key traits of successful PR pros.
With eight million young people becoming eligible to vote in 2024, this should create even more opportunities for Gen Z PR pros wanting to gain valuable experience while aligning with causes or individual candidates that they support.
I became active in politics during my sophomore year and remained actively involved for the next 10 years of my career before landing my first corporate job. I frequently drew on my political background while working through corporate issues and marketing strategies.
“What if I don’t relate to either of the top presidential candidates this year,” was the student’s follow up question.
Seek out local candidates who you can get to know more easily by just showing up, attending meetings and volunteering. You can make a real difference in your community. You’ll also meet make new friends, expand your network and learn new skills.
‘How Do I Volunteer?’
Major parties and leading independent candidates recruit volunteers for a variety of activities through their website links below.
If you’re not enthusiastic about any of the major national candidates, you should check out GoodParty.org which introduces volunteers to upstart independent campaigns at local, state and national 
levels. The website also is loaded with helpful organizational tools for almost any campaign as well as valuable tips for candidates and volunteers.