How do I become... a political researcher?

LOW pay, long hours and the chance that a politician will criticise your work. Loudly. In front of your colleagues. Every day. It’s surprising that anyone wants to become a political researcher given the pressure, but bright graduates from all sides of the political debate are keen to step into the game.

John Glen, the deputy director of research for the Conservative Party, looks for people who are intelligent, politically aware and confident standing up for themselves. “You need to be able to deal with difficult characters who may be very senior,” he says. “Politicians can be very demanding.”

On the other hand, political researchers are given the opportunity to play a major part in policy development by specialising in a particular field, such as