If you're a political scientist ( Student or graduate), then this is for you. It is long, but it's a must read.

A lot of people ask me Phil, if I graduate as a political scientist, what are the career opportunities and job descriptions for a political scientist? In some cases, Lecturers shy away from these questions.

The truth is that, it's not a question that gives me joy when answering not because political science is not an interesting course but because it doesn't enjoy a friendly working environment in Nigeria and in Africa. It's yet to gain a strong root as a field of practice. The very intelligent ones after graduation work their ways into lecturing in the universities which is very limited while some settle for secondary schools, just few are employed by the government in the foreign affairs ministry, federal civil service and local governments. Others work outside their fields of study. The last category are those that abandon their certificates and go into business.

Now, this is what you should know as a political scientist.

In the United States, half of Political scientists are employed by the government and their Job specification is very simple. To assess the impact of government policies, such as the efficiencies of public services, effects of departmental cuts, and advantages of proposed improvements. This is not what it is in Nigeria. The biggest breakthrough of Political Science in Nigeria is perhaps in the area of research in the universities.

Career Overview:

Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. They research political ideas and analyze governments, policies, political trends, and related issues.
Political organizations, lobbying firms, and many nonprofit, labor, and social organizations will rely on the knowledge of political scientists to manage complicated legal and regulatory issues and policies.
Political scientists will also be needed at think- tanks to focus specifically on politics and political theory. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as immigration, healthcare, or the environment, will also need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field.

As a political scientist and a Nigerian, these are your duties :

1. Research political subjects, such as the Nigerian political system, relations between Nigeria and foreign countries, and political ideologies

2. Collect and analyze data from sources such as public opinion surveys and election results
Use qualitative sources, such as historical documents, to develop theories

3.Use quantitative methods, such as statistical analysis, to test theories

4.Evaluate the effects of policies and laws on government, businesses, and people

5.Monitor current events, policy decisions, and other issues relevant to their work

6.Forecast political, economic, and social trends

7.Present research results by writing reports, giving presentations, and publishing articles.

Finally, a good political scientist must possess these important qualities:

#Analytical_skills. Political scientists often use qualitative and quantitative research methods. They rely on their analytical skills when they collect, evaluate, and interpret data. That's why we study statistics. It's a nitty-gritty in our discipline.

#Critical_thinking_skills. Political scientists must be able to examine and process available information and draw logical conclusions from their findings.

#Intellectual_curiosity. Political scientists must continually explore new ideas and information to produce original papers and research. They must stay current on political subjects and come up with new ways to think about and address issues.

#Writing_skills. Writing skills are essential for those who write papers on political issues. They must be able to convey their research results clearly.

I hope these helps!

Written by Okebe Philips
https://www.facebook.com/pokebe

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