Uneasy bedfellows?
June 25, 2017 12:54 PM Subscribe
Asking for a friend: (How) should one present leadership positions in political organizations on a resume for non-political positions?
We're in Los Angeles, CA. Friend has a history of leadership positions in local political organizations -- chair of two different county-level clubs affiliated with the Democratic Party, board member on other progressive organizations, and involvement with several similar groups. Most of friend's non-work/volunteer experience is in this space. Friend is writing up a resume and isn't sure how to weigh the cost/benefit of including or omitting these volunteer positions -- these positions involved leadership and communication and lots of other job-relevant skills, but in today's political climate, it's possible that listing them could cause some hiring managers to bin resumes due to ideological conflicts. Friend is looking for jobs in procurement or related, and has past experience in aerospace and pharma (so not quite as liberal-friendly as, say, entertainment!).
We're in Los Angeles, CA. Friend has a history of leadership positions in local political organizations -- chair of two different county-level clubs affiliated with the Democratic Party, board member on other progressive organizations, and involvement with several similar groups. Most of friend's non-work/volunteer experience is in this space. Friend is writing up a resume and isn't sure how to weigh the cost/benefit of including or omitting these volunteer positions -- these positions involved leadership and communication and lots of other job-relevant skills, but in today's political climate, it's possible that listing them could cause some hiring managers to bin resumes due to ideological conflicts. Friend is looking for jobs in procurement or related, and has past experience in aerospace and pharma (so not quite as liberal-friendly as, say, entertainment!).
Well, your friend will probably not be happy working for people who _would_ have a problem with him because of this activity, so there's that.
posted by amtho at 1:13 PM on June 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 1:13 PM on June 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
I list this as (Presidential Campaign) (County-Level Political Party), so it only gets into which campaign once they are checking references.
posted by corb at 1:18 PM on June 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by corb at 1:18 PM on June 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Two possibly-conflicting options: political affiliation is not a protected class, so own it; and leadership and communications skills should mean they are able to couch their language such as to minimize (up front, per corb) the party aspects of what they can do.
posted by rhizome at 1:51 PM on June 25, 2017
posted by rhizome at 1:51 PM on June 25, 2017
I'm a nonprofit manager and I don't find anything wrong with listing these positions. If anything, they help me understand that an applicant is a mission-driven person. They are legitimate nonprofit leadership positions and the skills are worth talking about.
posted by Miko at 6:48 PM on June 25, 2017
posted by Miko at 6:48 PM on June 25, 2017
I'm a hiring manager in a non-political field in Dallas and would not balk at hiring someone with leadership roles/experience of any political stripe*. I'm a liberal, for example, but I would gladly hire someone who had leadership experience running conservative campaigns.
Smart hiring managers look for skills and experience, and VALUE diversity. It makes teams stronger, smarter, and more creative.
*except for nazis, natch
posted by Doleful Creature at 11:13 PM on June 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Smart hiring managers look for skills and experience, and VALUE diversity. It makes teams stronger, smarter, and more creative.
*except for nazis, natch
posted by Doleful Creature at 11:13 PM on June 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by DarlingBri at 12:57 PM on June 25, 2017 [5 favorites]