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Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a lobbyist. Feel free to use our lobbyist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a lobbyist.

 

Who is a Lobbyist?

You hear the term always on television but what is a lobbyist? What does he or she do? How does a lobbyist influence the daily operation of the government? By understanding the role that lobbyists play in our lives, you will be able to sort through what you hear from the media and learn about the issues we face each day. Most experts define lobbying as an attempt to influence government action through written or oral communication. Some individuals make lobbying a full-time profession while others may lobby part-time or as a volunteer. Lobbying can be direct or indirect; direct lobbying means meeting with clients and providing them with information pertinent to a bill being voted on. The lobbyists impart the information with the help of graphs, charts, polls, and reports that they have hunted up or created. All lobbyists need to register with their state to show they are acting on behalf of a specific company or interest.

 

Lobbyists are professional advocates that work to influence political decisions on behalf of individuals and organizations. This advocacy could lead to the proposal of new legislation or the amendment of existing laws and regulations. However, a lobbyist is prohibited from paying a politician to secure his or her vote on these matters. As official members of the political process, lobbyists are intricately involved in the creation and implementation of new laws. Since lobbyists can’t pay politicians for their votes, rules are in place regarding disclosures, gift restrictions, and prohibitions. Professional lobbyists are people whose business is trying to influence legislation, regulation, or other government decisions, actions, or policies on behalf of a group or individual who hires them.

 

Types of lobbyists

The types of lobbyists include;

Contract lobbyists: They work for different companies or organizations based on predetermined agreements. They can work with multiple companies at the same time.

Employee lobbyists: A company could assign full-time employees with lobbying tasks as needed. These employees usually have other duties in addition to part-time or occasional lobbying responsibilities.

Volunteer lobbyists: Volunteer lobbyists do not receive any compensation or reimbursement for their efforts. They don’t need to register to be recognized.

Intern lobbyists: Intern lobbyists take learning positions in lobbying for college credit or personal interest. Interns can only receive payment from the lobbyist instructing them.

Self-employed lobbyists: Self-employed lobbyists act in their self-interest.

Casual lobbyists: Casual lobbyists spend no more than four days in three months lobbying. Though they don’t need to register, they should carefully track their time in case they exceed the four-day limit.

                                     

Lobbyist Job Description

Whether working for a large corporation or a small civic group, a lobbyist’s main job is to promote their client’s agenda. They want to gain legislators’ support to propose, pass, amend, or defeat legislation or change existing laws and regulations. The type of client lobbyists work for affects the specific tasks that they do. A lobbyist plays an important role in shaping legislative measures by presenting the interests of businesses or groups to legislators. They use their influence to persuade lawmakers to agree with their efforts and opinions. Hence, the core responsibilities or functions of a lobbyist include the following;

• Create publicity materials: A lobbyist develops materials that promote their causes such as pamphlets and videos. They may distribute materials to the public and government members to influence them to support their cause.
• Explain the impact of bills or laws: After speaking to legislators and their staff, lobbyists explain to their clients what the effects of a particular bill or law might be. This may require attending legislative committee meetings and hearings to gather necessary background information.
• Researching policy: To create the change they want, lobbyists research issues, policies, and pending legislation. They determine how various laws and regulations affect their clients or causes and how to introduce new legislation that will benefit them. Since different laws can be complicated, they need to research all details to have a thorough understanding of the matter.
• Represent causes: Lobbyists must be prepared to appear before members of the government to present their objectives. They may need to speak in a public setting but they may also have one-on-one meetings or in small groups to discuss details.
• Develop relationships: Lobbyists need to form relationships with various members of government bodies to ensure they present their causes to the right people. They should be able to develop a rapport with influential public figures that can assist in their causes.
• Prepare disclosure reports: Nearly all states require periodic disclosure reports from lobbyists and those who hire them. This requires public reports on how much money was spent, what issues were lobbied, and which officials benefited from the expenditures.
• Educate and influence others: A lobbyist may need to educate government officials on certain topics before they can explain why their causes are important. One of the most important tasks of any lobbyist is to influence public opinions as well as the opinions of those in a position to make and change the laws.

 

Qualifications

The idea of being a lobbyist can be a very exciting one for the right person. A lobbyist must gain the ability to persuade kindly and negotiate skilfully in equal measures. The purpose of lobbying is to persuade lawmakers to enact or support legislation that benefits an organization. Lobbying can also help to get business and community leaders to support beneficial activities. Thus, the qualifications for a lobbyist are as follows;

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in the field is mandated for most lobbying positions. However, one year of experience can suffice for an entry-level position. Experience can be developed through an internship.
• A bachelor’s degree is required; bachelor’s degrees in journalism, economics, communication, or political science are preferred.
• The ideal candidate must be registered as a lobbyist and should possess proficient knowledge of legislative processes.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skill is an added advantage.

                                       

Essential Skills

A lobbyist must be very familiar with the topics or actions they support; they also need to have non-technical skills known as soft skills to be successful. The essential skills for a lobbyist include the following;

Problem-solving: Legislation and interests can change quickly, meaning lobbyists should be able to continually create new ways to influence others. They should research and gather all the information surrounding a topic and find a solution that satisfies the public or government official they are working with.

Negotiation: A lobbyist should be an excellent negotiator to influence others and advocate their causes. Lobbyists who work for a specific company or firm may also need to perform negotiations to satisfy all parties.

Ethics: Given that lobbyists can have a high level of power and influence, they need to be ethical and trustworthy. They should disclose any information they have about a topic to ensure they maintain positive working relationships with public members.

Planning skills: A lobbyist needs to plan and execute an array of campaigns and events to spread awareness for their messages and causes.

Public speaking: A lobbyist may be required to give speeches in front of crowds of politicians and other highly esteemed public figures. Public speaking skills can help them deliver information in a compelling manner that influences their audiences.

 

How to Become a Lobbyist

While there are no licensing or certification requirements, lobbyists are required to register with their state and federal governments. Lobbyists often require a degree to begin their careers. Although most disciplines are acceptable, beneficial degrees include social policy, business studies, law, language, public relations, or politics. Many lobbyists also hold political, government, and public relations postgraduate qualifications. A specific skill set also makes for a successful lobbyist. Key skills include the ability to communicate well, perform research, analyze matters, show initiative, and be diplomatic. Many people transition into lobbying from several other occupations. Similarly, many lobbyists come from a political career which allows them to capitalize on their experience in the government and network. The steps to becoming a lobbyist include;

 

• Earn a college degree: Education is important for a lobbyist; hence an individual must complete certain education to enter the industry. Most employers prefer that an individual completes at least a bachelor’s degree. Common degrees for this field include communications, political science, journalism, and economics. You can also get a degree in the area you plan to lobby in such as environmental science or criminal justice. To further your knowledge in a specific subject, you can also earn a master’s degree. Earning a master’s may also qualify you for more positions and increase your earning potential.
• Complete an internship: Lobbyists need a good understanding of the legislative process. Therefore, a crucial step toward entering the field of lobbying is exposure to a government network or politicians and other lobbyists. To gain this experience, students can work as a congressional aide or as an intern for any state legislature, group, or agency requiring legislative representation. Internships are not always paid but they provide essential experience and opportunities to learn about a current political issue. An intern normally conducts research, takes notes at hearings, sends and reads emails, and answers phones. Completing an internship allows you to form your first professional contacts and pivotal relationships leading to great lobbying career opportunities. Success as a lobbyist is often dependent on knowing the right people and effective networking. Even low-ranking jobs in government organizations can introduce an aspiring lobbyist to the right contacts for success.
• Get involved with local issues and form relationships: Before finding a fulfilling lobbyist position, grassroots lobbying at the community level can help you accomplish much. This can be done with letter writing and phone calls to legislators regarding policies. Forming relationships with key persons and policymakers is vital. The sooner you build your networks and learn the art of persuasion and persistence, the more prepared you will be for this career.
• Find employment in a related field: At first, a lobbyist often works for an elected official such as state legislators, congressional representatives, or local city councilors. The next step after gaining experience in one or more of these roles is to find an entry-level or associate-level consulting role with industry associations or organizations with a lobbying or legislative branch. As the next career step, you can move up to mid-or senior-level government affairs consultations with organizations wanting to impact legislation or public policy.
• Get registered: Anyone participating in lobbying activities must first register by filling out an initial registration form. Registration fees vary according to the state and may be reduced or waived for government lobbyists. Required registration information may include the filer’s contact details, client information, and the lobbyist’s subject matters of interest. Every quarter, professional lobbyists are required to file a report listing their lobbying activities and current contacts. A registered lobbyist can work as an employee of a lobbying firm or work independently.
• Keep networking: Networking never loses its importance in a lobbyist’s career. Success as a lobbyist depends on your networking abilities with other lobbyists, policymakers, and legislators. Dedicated lobbyists keep looking to create connections, establish trust, and develop influence for the advancement of their legislation as well as to promote their career to the next level. Relatively, networking is a great opportunity to go into mentorship. There are many mentors in the field that are looking for mentees to mentor.

 

Where to Work as a Lobbyist

As exciting and rewarding as working in politics may be, it is also demanding. Long hours, pressure to succeed, frequent travel, and the uncertainty of the election cycle can all contribute to a busy and potentially stressful career. Where a lobbyist works depends on the type of lobbyist they are. Most spend their days in an office environment but they also meet with politicians in lawmakers’ offices, legislative buildings, other companies, headquarters, and at public hearings. Meetings make up the majority of their typical day. Industries employing lobbyists may include;

• Business associations, defense, and education
• Energy and environment
• Government and non-profits
• Insurance and international affairs
• Manufacturing and distribution
• Pharmaceutical and health products
• Real estate, science, and technology
• Securities and investment
• Transportation and infrastructure

 

Lobbyist Salary

Salaries for a lobbyist depend on experience, education, and who they work for. There is no specific salary information for lobbyists. However, there are several estimations of the average salaries. Hence, a lobbyist earns between $14,000 to $206,000 per year. Importantly, salary varies according to regions and locations. In Nigeria, a lobbyist can earn up to 255,607NGN per annum. Arguably, lobbyists employed by politicians and other government officials tend to earn more.

Government and Public Administration

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