Resources
We founded Progressive Data Jobs in 2017 to make it easier to find the various data, analytics, and tech jobs across the progressive and Democratic space and connect job-seekers with employers.
There is no single path to success in this field. Some people will change campaigns every six months, while others will stay with the same organization for decades.
The only consistency is that you will enter a challenging and ever-changing field. Whether this is your first time contemplating working in the progressive and social good space or it’s been your life’s work, we hope you enjoy the ride.
Here are a few resources to help you along your journey:
- “So you want to work in progressive analytics…” Written by PDJ co-founder Annie W. This guide covers getting a job in analytics, featuring how to write a resume, how to pass a phone interview, and how to ace a coding test. While focused on analytics roles, there’s lots of useful information for people searching for data, tech, and other work, as well!
- PDJ also wrote up this 2019 summary on finding a job with a Presidential candidate campaign.
- Looking for guidance on how much you can expect to earn? Check out our salary survey.
- Crack the Code put together a great list of publicly available resources to learn Python, SQL, Excel, GIS, and more.
- While there are a plethora of online trainings, Change the Game offers low-cost courses in political data like VAN (aka NGPVAN, Votebuilder) and Excel, as well as data bootcamps.
- Re:Power (formerly Wellstone) also offers data and analytics skills training and bootcamps on SQL, data strategy, and more.
- Arena Academy hosts training for first-time campaigners, including a data track. Their website also includes tons of valuable information for people who are interested in this work.
- Work and learn at the same time with groups like DigiDems, Bluebonnett Data, and Progressive Pipeline. These organizations connect you directly with campaigns in need of digital, data, and tech staff and volunteers.
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For Devs, some progressive Open Source projects to learn from and contribute to:
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Parsons: https://github.com/move-coop/parsons
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Spoke: https://github.com/MoveOnOrg/Spoke
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- Matt Lockshin's job board particularly highlights digital and technical jobs in the space.
- Rose Espinola's awesome list of job listserves and communities in the data, tech, analytics world and beyond
- Gain Power: Search a wide variety of jobs and other resources in the political and non-profit space across the country. They also host the corresponding JobsThatAreLeft Google Group.
- All-Hands is particularly useful for people seeking engineering and tech jobs in the social good space. They support a job board and seek to “match make” engineers with companies that have open positions.
- Tech Jobs For Good hosts jobs in mission-oriented companies (some overlap with PDJ), but it is particularly useful for engineers.
- Arena Careers: Arena offers training to people interested in getting into politics and operates this job board.
- Inclusv: A community for People of Color in politics and activism. Joining gives you access to job postings, trainings, and other resources.
- Idealist hosts thousands of nonprofit jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities across a wide swath of issues. Pro tip: Because Idealist charges a fee to post, if you find an organization you are interested in, make sure to check their website directly.
- Tom Manatos and Traverse are nonpartisan sites with a heavy focus on Washington, DC and Capitol Hill jobs.
- Indeed, LinkedIn, and more: Traditional corporate-focused job sites can yield some additional roles, but you may have to do some digging.
- Organization websites: Because many sites charge a fee to employers to post a job, many do not get posted to the sites noted above. If you are interested in a particular group, we strongly suggest you check their website directly. Job openings can usually be found in the “About” section or via a “Careers'' or “Jobs” at the very bottom of the home page.
- Locally run pages - many localities have their own sites that focus on nearby jobs in nonprofits, as well as listservs that do the work. Ask around for other groups you can join!
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