How to hire political scientists
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Advise political science students. • Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions. • Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources. • Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations. • Identify issues for research and analysis. • Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations. • Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions. • Teach political science. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Master's degree] • Strong reading comprehension, active learning, active listening, speaking, critical thinking and writing skills • Working knowledge of law and government, English Language and education and training • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $68.31 an hour ($142,080 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for political scientists
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to advise political science students. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Tell me about something new you had to learn quickly for work. How did you learn it?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What political scientists do
- Advise political science students.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
- Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
- Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
- Identify issues for research and analysis.
- Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.
- Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
- Teach political science.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for political scientists
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: -2% over ten years, declining · about 400 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay political scientists
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $152,530 |
See political scientists pay in every state
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.