2 April 2013

Anyone want a job in Politics?

| Barcham
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If any of you Rioters are looking for what is bound to be a very secure long-term position in Politics you might want to send Andrew Leigh an email.

Having recently been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, I’m looking to hire three staff members to work in my Parliament House office. I’m particularly looking for:

an understanding of government legislation processes (ideally gleaned through time working in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet); and/or
economic nous (experience working on a budget in the Commonwealth Treasury would be ideal)
Dry wit, a modicum of wisdom, a yen for hard work, and and an ability to pen sparkling prose to a tight deadline are all desirable qualities.

If you’re interested, please send a CV and covering email to andrew.leigh.mp asperand aph.gov.au. I’ll be moving fairly quickly – so the earlier, the better.

All jokes aside, anyone going to have a shot at this?

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Madam Cholet said :

Dilandach said :

c_c™ said :

Not sure it’s worth bothering, my first question would be job security after the election?

Next to nothing. You know those people that resigned as ministers? Yep, their staff from the parliament offices had to go too. Its all but guaranteed with a change of government that they won’t keep any staffers from the other political party, I mean who would? They don’t even keep the computers (let alone the keyboards and mice) of what was in the office.

So essentially, all it would take for you to lose your job is your boss annoying the wrong person or backing the wrong team which could happen at any time.

The way mice are treated in politics is a disgrace. I would have though they would have some kind of enterprise agreement that would offer protection from being thrown on to the scrap heap.

Nah its divvied up among the IT staff involved. They get good homes, fear not. The staff however are not so accepting of being taken to new homes. They tend to struggle and scream.

HiddenDragon12:08 pm 03 Apr 13

If Andrew’s going to make it to the top, he needs to develop a mongrel streak – Malcolm Tucker, honed in government, tempered in opposition, would be just the pea for the pod, and a 457 should be no wuckin’ furries.

Madam Cholet11:49 am 03 Apr 13

Dilandach said :

c_c™ said :

Not sure it’s worth bothering, my first question would be job security after the election?

Next to nothing. You know those people that resigned as ministers? Yep, their staff from the parliament offices had to go too. Its all but guaranteed with a change of government that they won’t keep any staffers from the other political party, I mean who would? They don’t even keep the computers (let alone the keyboards and mice) of what was in the office.

So essentially, all it would take for you to lose your job is your boss annoying the wrong person or backing the wrong team which could happen at any time.

The way mice are treated in politics is a disgrace. I would have though they would have some kind of enterprise agreement that would offer protection from being thrown on to the scrap heap.

Gungahlin Al10:10 am 03 Apr 13

EvanJames said :

You have to admit though, that’s an excellent job ad. He’s communicating what he is hoping to get, not a bunch of stockworn rubbish weasel words that you have to decipher.

Yep – best job ad I’ve seen in a very long time. Except maybe the “asperand” bit – but I learnt something as a result of that, so OK.

Dear Mr Leigh, just take care not to hire anyone who is a current Ministerial adviser! You only have to ask any APS having to deal with Minister’s offices about their level of frustration with present advisers, who are giving a very good impression of ignorance mixed with paralysis.

Is that one yen a week, or one a day for the hard work?

I might as well stay with Poesie.

You have to admit though, that’s an excellent job ad. He’s communicating what he is hoping to get, not a bunch of stockworn rubbish weasel words that you have to decipher.

As you allude to in line one, Barcham, Andrew Leigh forgot to include “six month contract” in the job description … because he sure as hell won’t have all those staff after mid-September!

Not one young turk will abandon PM&C to work in a Labor office on the Hill!

I was thinking of vandalising his “Andrew Leigh” street sign in Braddon, but now I see there may be something in this for me, that kind of civil disobedience disgusts me.

But seriously Andrew, what’s the remuneration like? [I’m actually highly qualified.] And I presume job security’s not that great post 14 September?

c_c™ said :

Not sure it’s worth bothering, my first question would be job security after the election?

Next to nothing. You know those people that resigned as ministers? Yep, their staff from the parliament offices had to go too. Its all but guaranteed with a change of government that they won’t keep any staffers from the other political party, I mean who would? They don’t even keep the computers (let alone the keyboards and mice) of what was in the office.

So essentially, all it would take for you to lose your job is your boss annoying the wrong person or backing the wrong team which could happen at any time.

A temporary 5 month contract isn’t an attractive proposition..

Holden Caulfield5:14 pm 02 Apr 13

“I’ll be moving fairly quickly.”

Well, not until mid September. Or the next failed coup.

Dilandach said :

I’d be willing to bet it’d be low paying, long hours, little rewarding, high pressure and competitive office whilst dealing with massive egos. I’ll pass on that.

You don’t take this job for the job itself or the pay I suspect, but the links you can build for later career steps. Look at the bios of a lot of senior party figures now and I’d say most started as staffers. Look at a few of the next crop of pollies in waiting and yep, they’re working as staffers.

Not sure it’s worth bothering, my first question would be job security after the election?

They couldn’t find any ‘up and coming’ uni politicians to fill the spot? young labor?

I’m waiting for a job to come up at ACTEW. I’ve heard they pay pretty well.

“How many people work in politics?”
‘About a quarter of them…”

Eye Thank Yew!

I’d be willing to bet it’d be low paying, long hours, little rewarding, high pressure and competitive office whilst dealing with massive egos. I’ll pass on that.

I’ve had to deal with my share of political egos, most you just want to give a quick jab to the face over the way they treat people.

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