When we think of Government relations, we think of D.C lobbyists or someone working for the U.N. We don’t think of places like Harlingen Texas, but the truth is that anyone who wants to kick off a career in government relations can do it anywhere, even in Harlingen Texas. So if you live in Harlingen Texas (or any other small town in America), here is how you can kick off your government relations career outside of D.C.

Step 1: Get involved in local politics

If you want a career in government relations, then you need to be involved in local politics. The current mayor of Harlingen Texas (Chris Boswell) has been in power since 2007. That is a long time to be in office, so he must be doing something right. If you network with the mayor, you can bolster your career. Mayor Boswell is respected member of the community and knowing him can and will open doors for you and your career. Moreover, if you are brave, you might consider running for office as a councilmen or commissioner over the city or a city inspector. If you want to understand government relations, then there is no better way to do it in the offices of local government.

Step 2: Research your colleagues

If you don’t know your colleagues, then how can you expect to get by in your chosen profession. You have to have a commanding presence in government relations. Take David Urban for example. David Urban has been active in lobbying since the early 2000s and is a commentator for CNN. Through reseach and networking you can easily bolster your career without ever leaving your hometown. 

Step 3: Join a professional organization or government relations club

In joining an association  for your chosen field, you can get your name out there and build up a list of contacts. These clubs also offer the chance of someone presenting you with a job offer.

Step 4: Offer your services as a lobbyist

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. In other words, you can’t wait for the job offers to come in so start selling yourself. Send your resume to organizations even if they are not hiring, advertise your services and stay active in the media. The more exposure you can get, the better your chances at launching your career will be.

The takeaway

It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you live. In this digital age, you do not have to be knocking on congress doors in order to launch a career as a lobbyist. It is better to be in a small town around real people. With real people, who are not emotional or financially invested in an issue, you will get real and truthful responses. With a humble attitude, you will see the argument from every angle and that knowledge will help kick start your government relations career