Writing a CV or resume for a Legislative Assistant position can be a challenging task. It’s important to present your skills, experience, and qualifications in a way that stands out to potential employers. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of creating an effective CV for a Legislative Assistant role. We’ll cover what to include, how to format your information, and provide examples to help you understand how to apply these tips in practice. Whether you’re new to the field or looking to advance your career, this article is designed to give you the tools you need to craft a CV that showcases your strengths and aligns with the expectations of employers in this sector.
Read The Job Description / Advert
The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.
When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.
Legislative Assistant Job Description Example
Legislative Assistant Position Available
We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Legislative Assistant to join our dynamic team. This role is ideal for someone with a passion for the legislative process and a commitment to excellence in public service. The successful candidate will provide critical support to our legislative team, assisting in the development, analysis, and promotion of key policy initiatives.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct comprehensive research on legislative issues, utilizing a variety of sources including legal databases, academic journals, and government publications.
- Prepare detailed briefs, reports, and presentations to assist legislators in understanding complex policy issues and potential impacts.
- Draft and edit legislative documents, including bills, amendments, and resolutions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal standards.
- Coordinate and manage meetings and communications with stakeholders, including constituents, lobbyists, and other government officials.
- Monitor and track legislation and policy developments at various government levels, providing timely updates and analysis to the legislative team.
- Assist in organizing and facilitating public events, such as town hall meetings and legislative hearings, to promote policy initiatives and gather public input.
- Provide administrative support, including scheduling, correspondence, and file management, to ensure efficient office operations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Law, or a related field.
- Proven experience in a legislative or policy-oriented role, with a strong understanding of the legislative process and government operations.
- Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise summaries.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with an emphasis on professionalism and collaboration.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with legislative research tools such as LexisNexis and Westlaw.
This position offers a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping policy and making a meaningful impact in the public sector. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you are a motivated individual with a passion for public service and a desire to contribute to effective policymaking, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
Research The Company
Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.
- Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
- Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
- Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far
See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.
Find A Good CV Template
When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.
This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)
Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’
A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.
Legislative Assistant Professional Summary Example
- With over 10 years of experience in legislative assistance, holding a Master’s degree in Political Science and a deep understanding of the legislative process. Skilled in policy analysis, legislative drafting, and stakeholder engagement, utilizing tools like LexisNexis and Westlaw for comprehensive legal research.
- Most notable achievement includes leading a policy reform project that resulted in the successful amendment of three key environmental policies, leveraging skills in data analysis (using SPSS) and effective collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
- Recently managed a team responsible for drafting and revising legislative documents for major healthcare reforms, significantly improving the drafting process through the implementation of collaborative software like LegisPro and enhancing team productivity by 40%.
Detail Your Employment History
Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.
As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.
When writing about your responsibilities on your CV, focus on how you’ve excelled in those roles, especially as a Legislative Assistant. Instead of simply stating “Conducted policy research,” you could say, “Conducted in-depth policy research using LexisNexis, contributing to the successful amendment of five key healthcare policies.” This way, you’re not just listing a task; you’re showing how your work made a real impact. It tells employers that you’re not only experienced in policy research but also that your work has had tangible, positive outcomes in important legislative areas.
Detail Your Education History
Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.
Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.
Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.
CV Structure
Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.
We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.
A fairly typical structure would go:
- Name and contact info
- Professional Summary
- Current (or most recent employment)
- Education & Professional Qualifications
- Employment History
WHAT NOT TO DO
Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.
- Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
- Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
- Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
- Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
- Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
- Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.
Legislative Assistant CV Tips – Recap
Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:
Understand the Role Before you start writing your CV, make sure you understand what a Legislative Assistant does. This role often involves research, drafting documents, and coordinating with various stakeholders. Your CV should reflect these responsibilities.
Highlight Relevant Education Include your educational background, especially if you have a degree in Political Science, Law, or Public Administration. This shows you have the foundational knowledge needed for the role.
Showcase Your Experience Detail your previous work experience related to legislative assistance. Use clear examples to demonstrate your skills and achievements. For instance, “Assisted in drafting legislation related to environmental policy, which was successfully passed into law.”
Skills and Certifications List any relevant skills and certifications. Skills like policy analysis, legal research (using tools like LexisNexis), and proficiency in Microsoft Office are valuable. 📚
Quantify Achievements Whenever possible, use numbers to quantify your achievements. For example, “Managed a team that successfully drafted and revised 10 major legislative documents within a year.”
Tailor Your CV Customize your CV for the job you’re applying for. Highlight the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the position. 🎯
Professional Summary Start with a strong summary that encapsulates your experience, skills, and what you bring to the role. Keep it concise and focused.
Use Clear, Concise Language Avoid jargon and overly complex language. Write clearly and concisely, making your CV easy to read and understand. 💡
Proofread Always proofread your CV for spelling and grammatical errors. A well-written, error-free CV reflects your attention to detail, a crucial skill for a Legislative Assistant. 📝
Include Volunteer Experience If you have relevant volunteer experience, include it. This can demonstrate your commitment to public service and policy work. 🌍
Legislative Assistant CV Sample
Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.
