Job postings for political jobs are notoriously bad. I specifically like checking out the postings for online organizing positions because they tend to be exceptionally bad (good luck finding someone with 15 years of online campaign experience). Here is a breakdown of a recent job posting with everything that makes no sense to me.

Online Organizer

Major Midwestern Democratic campaign seeks an Online Organizer beginning immediately. This is a full-time, paid position that runs until November 2, 2010.

The Online Organizer position incorporates elements of field, communications and new media. Successful applicants will use their organizing skills and new media savvy to achieve communications goals. An ideal candidate has relevant field organizing experience, superb writing skills and an understanding of new and social media.

Our Online Organizer will work with allied New Media, Field and Political departments to organize a grassroots team of online volunteers and provide them with the tools and training to be effective communicators online. The position will also be responsible for general new media duties including social network management, content production and some basic website maintenance through our content management system.

*Responsibilities:*

- Build, organize and train a team of grassroots volunteers and provide them with the tools to be successful online advocates

- Manage, update and expand social media accounts on several different platforms

- Assist in producing online content including blog posts and video

- Draft talking points, pull press clips and write issue summaries to keep grassroots volunteers informed and engaged

- Support the campaign’s growing new media operations as necessary

*Required qualifications:*

- At least one cycle of field organizing experience for an electoral or issue campaign

- Outstanding writing ability

- Experience and comfort with online communication platforms: social networking, blogging and e-mail

- A passion for politics and an understanding of what is politically possible

- Demonstrated ability to manage volunteers

- Basic to intermediate technical skills: Microsoft Office/Google Docs, simple HTML and familiarity with CMS (WordPress, Drupal, etc.) and CRM (MailChimp, Salsa, etc.) platforms

*The following additional qualifications will enhance an application, but are not required:*

- Prior experience in communications or new media for an electoral or issue campaign

- Prior experience with Blue State Digital and ExpressionEngine platforms

- Graphic design skills, with a focus on Web graphics

- Advanced technical skills: ability to hand-code HTML, CSS, JavaScript and/or PHP

- Experience with digital video and video editing software

*To apply, please send a 1) resume and 2) writing sample to campaign.post…@gmail.com with “Online Organizer” in the subject line.*

Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience. Health insurance is provided for all campaign staff. Equal opportunity employer.

First off, can we all agree to stop with the “Major Midwestern Democratic campaign” stuff. What is it about campaigns that makes them so scared to identify themselves to possible employees? You want a staff that believes in the candidate, and to recruit that staff you need to make it clear who you are. Near-anonymous postings are only going to attract desperate political hacks.

- Draft talking points, pull press clips and write issue summaries to keep grassroots volunteers informed and engaged

Let me translate this for you. “The online organizer will not be able to spend all that much time organizing online because half their job is serving as a communications department junior staffer or intern.”

Let’s look at required experience vs. enhanced experience. The campaign requires that the applicant have been a traditional field organizer, yet online organizing experience is something that would just be a nice touch. Seriously, I think you got the order messed up there. And don’t you want the person running your internet and technology program to have more than “Basic” technical skills? How is someone going to “Build, organize and train a team of grassroots volunteers and provide them with the tools to be successful online advocates” if they only have a basic understanding of the tools themselves? Especially since you know damn well you are going to be calling this person every 10 minutes when another staffer can’t figure out their Blackberry or how to do a mail merge in Excel.

And the whole “familiarity with CMS (WordPress, Drupal, etc.) and CRM (MailChimp, Salsa, etc.) platforms” thing. What is with all the et ceteras? How about you specifically list the CMS/CRM that the campaign uses? That will be a lot more helpful in finding someone with expertise that will most benefit the campaign. And if you are using all of them, you are doing it wrong.

- A passion for politics and an understanding of what is politically possible

Translation: Probably not a very progressive Democrat, but it’s only because being more progressive isn’t “politically possible” and we want you to be totally cool with that.

*To apply, please send a 1) resume and 2) writing sample to campaign.post…@gmail.com with “Online Organizer” in the subject line.

Once again with the anonymity thing. Do I really want to send my resume with my name, address, phone number, and life history to some shady gmail address? Not really.

So all of you out there doing hiring for campaigns: please stop this ridiculousness. Now I’m going to go fight the temptation to send an email to campaign.post…@gmail.com as “Major Democratic Online Youth Operative” with this post as my writing sample.

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Job: Field Organizer / Youth Organizer
Location: Varies – all over the commonwealth.
Compensation: $300 Weekly Stipend, Free Housing, Gas Reimbursement

When: Rolling start dates September 1st through 15th, end date November 7th

Why: Help the Democrats keep the governor’s mansion and take back the House of Delegates!

Benefits: Beef up your resume with only a ten-week commitment! Get paid for your activism.

The 2009-2010 year promises to be a critical one for the Democratic Party and the Virginia Young Democrats. We are prepared to meet that challenge and have a plan that will build volunteers for this and future elections. VAYD will be hiring 30 organizers to help our chapters and the campaigns turn out excited, young volunteers for the campaigns.

Play an important role in this year’s critical election. Submit your resume to vaydjobs@gmail.com.

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Voto Latino is the leading non-partisan Latino youth civic engagement organization, and is based in the DC area. Our college fellowship program is an exciting opportunity to learn first-hand about the inner workings of a nonprofit office and Latino youth political engagement. The fellow will be an integral part of Voto Latino’s team and responsible for a variety of projects. The fellow’s duties will include responding to inquiries; directing our volunteers from various states and helping to implement our Acceptance and Census initiatives; recruiting more volunteers; and assisting with coordination of our national media and PSA campaigns. The fellow will also perform a range of research administrative support duties, including data entry, as required.

Fellows must be highly organized, self-starter, possess integrity, and passionate about working to better Americans. The Fellowship is a three month program commencing the first week of June. Deadline to apply is April 24th,

Voto Latino college fellows will receive academic credit for their work. Please include “Summer Fellowship” in subject headline.

To apply, please email a brief introductory note and a resume to
fellowship@votolatino.org (no phone calls)

To learn more about Voto Latino, please visit www.VotoLatino.org

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The United States Student Association/Foundation is hiring positions for the upcoming year. They are currently hiring a National Field Director, National Field Associate, Training Director & Summer 2009 Interns.

TRAINING DIRECTOR & SUMMER 2009 INTERN applications are due FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009.

NATIONAL FIELD DIRECTOR & NATIONAL FIELD ASSOCIATE applications are due THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009.

Email subject shall state the position you are applying for. Those applying for Field Director are also encouraged to apply for Field Associate and vice versa. Please no phone calls, faxes or mail in applications.

USSA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. People of color, women, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and differently-abled people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Summer Intern 2009
National Field Director 2009
National Field Associate 2009
Training Director 2009

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Campus Progress is currently looking for its first-ever writing fellow. The fellow will be responsible for writing/creating at least one piece a week, attending our weekly editorial meetings (in person or over the phone), and executing other various editorial and organizational tasks. The writing fellow will be asked to create written and multimedia pieces for our website. He or she will be required to work on at least two in-depth reported features during his/her time at Campus Progress.

After completing the program, fellows should have developed the clips, experience, and relationships to launch a career in journalism. The ideal candidate will be able to spend at least one day a week in our Washington, D.C. office (but this is not mandatory) and will have some experience working and/or interning at a college or professional publication. He or she should be self motivated, eager to report stories, and comfortable working at a rapidly changing new-media outlet. Because this position is new, the candidate should be flexible and open to direction and change.

The fellow will be asked to make a one-year commitment. He or she will receive a $6,000 stipend over the course of the year for his/her work. Because this is a part-time, contract position, hours will be very flexible.

To apply, please send resume and clips to Rob Anderson at randerson@americanprogress.org. Please also answer the following questions:

• What interests you about this opportunity? (500 words max)
• Why are you uniquely qualified for this position? (500 words max)
• Please provide three ideas for long-form reported pieces for our website. For each, please explain how your idea is new/important, who you would interview, and why you believe this would interest Campus Progress’ audience.
• Please provide two ideas for a non-traditional feature (i.e., not an article, but a slideshow, interactive graph/timeline, video, etc.) that you could create with the help of our multimedia team.

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National Youth Coordinator

Location: Washington, DC

Type: Full time

Last day to apply: May 8, 2009

Language(s): English, Spanish

Description:

Democracia U.S.A. (D-USA) is seeking a National Youth Coordinator to play a key role in the development and execution of our youth outreach and field plan.

The position will be based in Washington, D.C.

Democracia U.S.A is the premiere Latino voter registration, civic engagement, and leadership development organization in the country.

Currently, D-USA has seven field offices in five states (Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Arizona, Nevada, & Colorado). For more information please feel free to visit our site at http://democraciausa.org/en/about/.

Requisites: 2-4 years experience working with young voters and/or Latino voters. Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred.

Job Description:

The Democracia USA Youth Coordinator is responsible for the overall infrastructure, internal operations, coordination of youth vote programs and creating a youth vote strategy for 2009. Specific job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Organize events around young Hispanic voters.
• Represent Democracia USA at various youth events, including the Democracy Alliance Youth table.
• Work with the National Field Director to create a strong youth vote plan for 2009.
• Overseeing all research around young immigrant voters
• Work with state-coordinators to implement voter engagement activities aimed at young, Hispanic voters.
• Contribute “youth perspective” to Democracia USA blog.
• Assist with social networking on Facebook and other sites

How to Apply:

Marianne Peterson
mpeterson@democraciausa.org
Please write Youth Coordinator in the Subject line

Permalink: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/330184-212/c

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YDA is looking for a fun, creative, and hardworking development intern to work out of our national headquarters in Washington, DC. He/She will support our national programs, our groundbreaking Young Voter Revolution campaigns to get out the youth vote for Democrats, our chapter building projects, and various YDA events. The development intern will work with staff on all aspects of YDA’s fundraising operation and will learn from YDA’s Executive Director and Development Director.

In all positions, YDA looks for people with a proven track record of quality work and a commitment to the social action. NGP experience a plus but not a requirement. Start date would be effective immediately. Stipend provided. The Development Intern will report to the Development Director.

The development intern’s duties include, but are not limited to:

Researching prospective funders (individuals & corporations)
Supporting donor solicitation and cultivation
Assisting with major projects such as direct mail campaigns
Assembling fundraising packages
Receipt and acknowledgement of donations
Update and maintain prospects and fundraising databases
Assist with call time management

About YDA: The Young Democrats of America (YDA) is the largest youth-led, national, partisan political organization, with over 2,300 chapters in all 50 states. Our members include middle school, high school and college students as well as young workers, young professionals and young families. YDA’s Young Voter Revolution campaigns use a tested field model that identifies young voters, engages them in peer-to-peer communication and education, and then uses traditional and innovative methods to turn out the vote.

TO APPLY: Email resume and cover letter to bmercurio@yda.org. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please indicate that you are applying for the fundraising internship in the subject line of the email and the dates you are available in your cover letter.

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Can’t take your eyes off this year’s election coverage? Are you tired of reading the same ‘ole rhetoric on the so -called “Youthquake?” Would you jump at an opportunity to report on the 2008 election and how it impacts your community? If you’ve answered YES, then we want to hear from you!

Rock the Vote in partnership with WireTap magazine is searching for aspiring or established reporters for Rock the Trail. Sponsored by AT&T, Rock the Trail will capture today’s politics through the eyes and in the words of young voters. Rock the Trail reporters will deliver insightful and compelling blogs, articles and videos from the communities they live in, reporting on young people’s top issues such as jobs, the economy and college affordability. Content will be posted on http://www.rockthevote.com, http://www.wiretapmag.org , http://www.BET.com, and will also be available for viewing on AT&T mobile phones. In addition, we will be working with the washingtonpost.com to contribute unique perspectives complementary to the site’s vast coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Entries will be judged by an advisory panel of distinguished journalists including: Jeff Chang, award-winning author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation, Sian-Pierre Regis, producer, BET News, Peter Rothberg, associate publisher, The Nation magazine and Jose Antonio Vargas, political feature writer, The Washington Post. Individuals will be chosen based on the creativity and originality of his or her application, and ability to write in a clear, concise manner.

Rock the Trail reporters will be paid a monthly stipend and supplied with a laptop, cell phone and video camera to rock the 2008 campaign trail. Reporters will interview candidates, elected officials, campaigners, young voters and Rock the Vote artists discussing everything from the Presidential race to mayoral elections and anything in between.

So, if you’re a U.S. citizen between the ages of 18-29 and interested in reporting on one of the most exciting times in U.S. politics, please click here to complete an application by May 7th (not a minute after 11:59pm.)

Rock the Trail is part of a yearlong alliance between AT&T and Rock the Vote to engage young people in the democratic process by bringing the election to them through their mobile phones.

Additional Information:

• Entry Guidelines
• Online Application Form

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Position: Executive Director, Ohio Young Democrats

The Young Democrats of America (YDA) is the nation’s largest youth-led, partisan political
organization. As the official youth arm of the Democratic Party since 1932, YDA now operates as an independent 527 organizations. Our membership includes middle school, high school and college students as well as young workers, young professionals and young families, with over 1,500 local chapters in all 50 states. YDA’s national and state staff work with national, state, and local leaders across the country on peer-to-peer young voter mobilization campaigns, issue advocacy, leadership and skills trainings, and other activities to grow sustainable chapters and build the national infrastructure of YDA.

The Ohio Young Democrats (OYD) is the official youth arm of the Ohio Democratic Party, comprised of progressive people under the age of 36.

Job Description: The Young Democrats of America is continuing to expand state-based staff as part of our State Partnership Programs. State Executive Directors work to build long-term infrastructure for the youth movement. The Ohio Young Democrats Executive Director reports directly to the President of the Ohio Young Democrats and to Senior State Executive Director of the Young Democrats of America. The position is based in Columbus, OH.

The Ohio Young Democrats Executive Director is responsible for the overall implementation
of programs on behalf of the Ohio Young Democrats and the Young Democrats of America.
This includes, but is not limited to:

• Manage the daily operations of the Ohio Young Democrats.
• Organize Young Democrats chapters in targeted counties across the state and work to
  strengthen existing chapters.
• Work with the OYD Executive Board to develop and implement the Ohio Young Democrats
  Strategic Plan, specifically planning and implementing peer-to-peer campaign activities,
  chapter building activities, and coordinating with other progressive grassroots organizations.
• Create and fund yearly budget, ensuring that the budget is met through effective
  donor solicitation and marketing efforts. Work with OYD Treasurer to meet financial
  reporting requirements.
• Plan and coordinate events such as Executive Board and Committee meetings,
  convention activities, regular conferences, and trainings.
• Handle all media, scheduling, communication, and appearance requests for Ohio
  Young Democrats and the Ohio Young Democrats President.
• Continue collaborative and cooperative relationships with the Ohio Democratic Party, Young
  Democrats of America, the Ohio College Democrats and other progressive groups to ensure
  high visibility and effective activism.
• Manage additional temporary campaign staff brought on to complete the OYD’s peer-to-peer campaign program.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Salary and Benefits: $30,000 to $40,000 annually, health insurance, and reimbursement for
cell phone.

To Apply: Applicants should have at least two years experience with campaigns or politically-focused non-profit organizations. Management experience and knowledge of fundraising and the budget process is preferred. The position requires regular in-state and national travel and access to a car.

Applicants should send resume, cover letter, and three references to jobs@yda.org by April 18, 2008 by 5pm, EST.

Young Democrats of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. YDA does not discriminate on the basis of race,creed, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or any other protected status covered by federal, state or local law.

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