Lobbyists are some of the most powerful people in today’s political ecosystem.
They are the ones who influence legislation and dictate the wishes of companies and other stakeholders. Nearly every piece of legislation that emanates from Washington and state capitals has the mark of a lobbyist somewhere on it. Lobbyists even directly write model legislation from time to time.
As a high-powered business, it can be difficult for most people to figure out how to work as a lobbyist. Any individual who is hard-working, gregarious, and nimble can soon start taking steps needed to make a lobbying career work.
What is a lobbyist?
According to David Urban, a lobbyist is a person that simply lobbies for a certain interest to a politician.
Politicians are beholden to the people and to stakeholders in the community. These stakeholders include nonprofits, unions, corporations, and civic groups. All of these groups want to make their voices heard when politicians are considering new legislation or regulations.
They want politicians to know that a particular plan will either help or hinder their group.
Lobbyists have received a reputation in recent years of being shadowy figures who work in underhanded ways to overthrow the will of the voters. But many legitimate interests, such as the AARP and the Sierra Club, have lobbyists throughout Washington.
When performed correctly, the lobbying industry provides a valuable service to the country and helps politicians shape legislation in the best interests of American citizens.
Like any successful industry, there is often a long line of people interested in lobbying. But the field itself is somewhat amorphous and immune to the usual ways that people embark on careers.
People are not able to major in lobbying in college. There are few definite rules and regulations besides the need to register if a lobbyist is working in any way for a foreign country.
Make connections
Lobbyists require an extensive and exhaustive list of connections in order to become successful.
The creation and maintenance of connections is basically the point of the job. One of the best ways to do this is to attend social events and start to find nodes in a growing social network. Many aspiring lobbyists start to attend parties and fundraisers.
A fundraiser can be a particularly attractive way to enter into a network.
People hosting the fundraiser have an incentive to talk to a person and start to develop a connection. They know that a person donating money to a cause or candidate may know other people who might also start to donate at any time.
Another way for a lobbyist to make connections is to apply for volunteer work or intern at a particular firm. Lobbying is a profession that is similar in many ways to any other profession that has a high barrier of entry.
Most people secure lobbying jobs by knowing the right people.
They use entry-level jobs or volunteer positions to get their names in front of the right people. Once their name is on the boss’s desk, they have a better chance of securing a good job.
Many lobbyists start out working for someone else. High-priced lobbying, however, happens when people work independently or start their own firms. Many lobbyists use their relationships and connections from one job to start their own business and recruit their own clients.
Find a niche
Lobbyists also need to find a niche in the lobbying world.
David Urban notes that most lobbyists work with particular industries they are interested in or have fostered a connection with. In many cases, these industries are ones that a person has experience working in.
Some lobbyists turn their jobs into lobbying careers once they have reached a level of success. Others start to talk to business partners or use connections that they learn about when they face problems as a business owner or higher-level employee.
A niche will help a person become successful by insulating them from the competition. There are hundreds of lobbyists and lobbying firms that cover a wide swath of American industry and interests. Niches allow a person to appear attractive to either firms or companies that they may want to work with.
Fill political roles
One of the most effective ways to become a lobbyist is to become active in politics.
The political activity allows a person to easily make the kinds of connections that the lobbying profession thrives on. An aspiring lobbyist can take on a number of potential positions. They can serve as a fundraising bundler who helps solicit and string together donations at critical points.
A person wanting to be a lobbyist could become a campaign manager or a member of a candidate’s high-level staff. Lobbyists might also consider running for office themselves. They may not receive much money in a lower-level position. But they will certainly foster relationships that could lead to massive salaries as a lobbyist later on.
Conclusion
Aspiring lobbyists do not reach powerful positions quickly.
Instead, they have to work for years talking to people and making connections. Lobbyists have to find industries they are interested in and craft their persona to help them appeal to industry/interest leaders and politicians.
They may also have to work for other people to gain legitimacy and learn the tools of the trade.
After years of hard work and expertise, a lobbyist may be able to set themselves up for a job that could bring in a fantastic amount of income for the rest of their lives.
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