Where a public affairs consultant can go next
5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a public affairs consultant already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Public affairs consultants function as representatives for a client's goal. They attempt to persuade legislative bodies and policy makers to implement laws or regulation in accordance with the client's wishes, and negotiate with parties with potentially conflicting interests. They perform analytical and research duties in order to ensure that the client's cause is being addressed in an appropriate way to the appropriate parties. They also consult their clients on their causes and policies.
Also known as public affairs agent, lobbyist, public affairs officer, public information consultant, public affairs specialist, corporate and public affairs consultant, external relations consultant, public affairs & communication consultant, public affairs and communication consultant, press and public affairs specialist, public affairs activist, public relations specialist.
Professionals 31 skills on file 5 career moves 0 above 60% overlap Closest: member of parliament, 40%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 1 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
Table 2 · What the job itself asks for
A public affairs consultant needs 12 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- influence legislators communication, collaboration and creativity
- apply diplomatic principles communication, collaboration and creativity
- legislation procedure business, administration and law
- diplomatic principles social sciences, journalism and information
- perform political negotiation communication, collaboration and creativity
- manage relationships with stakeholders communication, collaboration and creativity
- advise on conflict management communication, collaboration and creativity
- protect client interests communication, collaboration and creativity
- advise on legislative acts communication, collaboration and creativity
- manage government policy implementation management skills
Table 3 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a public affairs consultant does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
- member of parliament 42% covered · difficulty 54.5
- senator 40% covered · difficulty 56.1
- public relations manager 38% covered · difficulty 57.4
- political affairs officer 38% covered · difficulty 57.7
- special-interest groups' official 38% covered · difficulty 57.3
- communication manager 29% covered · difficulty 64.6
Look up another occupation
Public affairs consultant is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a public affairs consultant’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.