How to become a member of youth parliament: Dominic's story

Are you interested in politics? Meet Dominic and find out his life as a Member of Youth Parliament for Barnsley (Yorkshire and the Humber). Part of our Bitesize world of work series.

I want quality and beneficial work experience for all young people, regardless of their background.

Can you explain your job in one sentence?

I represent the issues and interests of young people in Barnsley by working with others, listening to their voices, and ensuring that young people are at the heart of decision making.

What skills do you use in your role?

I do a lot of public speaking which means I have to be confident, listen to other people, and respond to questions. I attend meetings where I also use my communication skills.

I need resilience and patience because some issues can take time to resolve or a campaign might not be building attention as quickly as I'd like.

What did you study at school?

I chose French, History, and Music for my GCSE options. I went on to do A-levels in Politics, History, and Sociology.

I recently applied to do Politics at university. I want to pursue a career in politics because I want to help shape the decisions that improve people's lives.

Is this the job you always wanted to do?

I was involved in my school council and I saw how teachers didn't engage with all of the issues we raised. So, when the opportunity came to stand on the Local Youth Council, I saw it as a real chance to prove not just my worth but the worth of young people in society.

When I saw young people my age standing up in the House of Commons I decided it was always something I wanted to do. The Youth Council holds a series of elections for a number of posts. One of them is the Member of Youth Parliament, so I stood for that and got elected, which means I work more closely with the House of Commons.

I gave a fantastic speech in the House of Commons at the end of 2018, and I’m very proud of that.

Top tips

• Network. This means talking to different people who you might be able to work with in the future
• Take an active interest in what’s happening, not just nationally but locally as well
• Don’t waste time. Don’t make excuses, make changes.

In the future, Dominic could become a Member of Parliament (MP) or a politician. Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected, and represent people's concerns and interests in the House of Commons.

What to expect if you want to be a politician

• Politician average salary: £94,000 to £126,000 per year
• Politician typical working hours: 44 to 48 hours per week

What qualifications do you need to be a politician?

The only way to become an MP is to be elected. Each political party has its own selection procedure. Normally, you must get the support of your party's nominating officer before you can become the prospective candidate. Most people show their commitment through campaigning and volunteering for their political party and most of them have another career. You can get other useful experience from:

• serving as a local councillor
• being active in a trade union
• being involved in student politics
• working as a researcher or caseworker for an existing MP

Sources: National Careers Service

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.

For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).

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