The Launchpad by Second Day

Overall estimated read time: 20 minutes

Last updated: July 2021

Note一this guide is focused on towns and municipalities. Click here for the overall Government Guide, here for the State Guide, here for the Campaign Guide, or here for the US Legislature Guide.

Working for local government, whether in your hometown or a town you plan to call home,  can yield unique opportunities for direct impact on your community. Positions in local government will give you a peek into the inner workings of your county or city and allow you to develop an intimate understanding of how “this government thing” really works. Careers  in local government give you the chance to invest in your community and see tangible results of your work, often in real time.

Issues such as increasing access to broadband, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing diversity and equity community strategies can (and should!) all happen at the higher levels of government (federal/state). Nonetheless, these government bodies are often slower to act and implement policies and practices than local entities. The “real and raw” nature of local government is also appealing to many, thanks to the ease of making connections “across the aisle” and the lack of significant lobbying influence or media attention in this sphere. Within local government jobs, there are a wide range of entry-level responsibilities, hiring practices, hours, and pay--which largely depend on the geographic location and size of the municipality or county. If this career path sounds exciting to you, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about getting involved in local government.

To inform our work, Second Day has spoken to experts in the field and gathered the best information out there for upcoming and recent graduates. First, the guide will take you through the  different entry-level positions to look out for in this field. Then, we’ll provide tips on actually getting those jobs in local government. We’ll finish with our next three steps: actionable items you can take to make progress towards finding your first job in local government. Let’s get started! Mayor 2030, here we come!