80% job seekers interested in politics, seek allied fields to pursue careers

Bengaluru: A survey by Indeed, the world’s no.1 job site, reveals that over 80% of employees in India are interested in politics. The survey also reveals that men (21%) are more inclined towards building a career in politics as compared to women (12%).

In an interesting observation, 24% of respondents would find a mainstream political career interesting while 21% of them would pursue their interest in politics through a career in its allied fields. Insights from the survey include – 34% respondents would find a career as a political analyst interesting, 33% would be interested in working in a government organisation for social service, 33% would find working for human rights and welfare organisations interesting, and 27% would be interested in a career in political journalism.

The survey also reveals that 59% respondents believe that one needs public speaking and presentation skills for a career within the political spectrum, while 53% believe in the need for social and emotional intelligence. Half of the respondents believe that one needs leadership and conflict management skills for the job, compared to just under half (49%) who believe that one must possess the skill of being able to understand the audience. 37% respondents also believe that one needs crisis management and problem-solving skills to work in the field, compared to 47% who believe that analytical thinking skills are a must.

While 43% respondents have acquired or are in the process of acquiring skills that they think are required for a job in the political spectrum, 35% are still planning on how to acquire these skills.

Commenting on the survey findings, Mr. Sashi Kumar, Managing Director, Indeed India said, “While millennials have been branded a politically indifferent and disconnected generation, they have evolved a distinct identity of civic activism. Unlike former generations, millennials consider the government as an avenue to help society, along with activities such as volunteering, donating to charitable organisations, and supporting local businesses and community efforts. With the growing demand for transparency, millennials believe in creating a measurable impact, which they are increasingly exploring through careers in allied fields like social service and welfare.”