Volunteer or intern with a campaign, interest group or politician.
Morgan worked with a voter empowerment group before deciding to run for office, and Nagatani interned in Washington as an undergrad. To find a position in a politician’s office, visit his or her website for information, or call his or her office. The easiest way to find other politics-related internships? Google a topic that interests you, and several political action groups or organizations looking for volunteers are sure to surface.

“To be successful you need to be okay with paying your dues,” says Nagatani. “There can be a negative connotation with being an intern and doing grunt work and running errands, but it comes with the territory. None of that stuff is glamourous, but you need to prove yourself.”

Make friends while you’re learning the ropes.
Once you finish an internship, think about serving as a legislative aid. Not only will you build your résumé, but you will make valuable connections. “Politics is all about building professional relationships,” says Nagatani. “If you maintain those relationships and are good at networking, some of those relationships can help you out in the future—whether you’re looking for a job or need something for a campaign.”

Start small, make a big difference.
Instead of running for governor straight out of college, start off running for a local political office, like town councilmember. But don’t think that starting small means having a small impact. Research has shown that the number of women in any legislative body is directly correlated with the number of bills benefiting women and children that are passed, so you can start making a difference in the lives of your constituents from your first day in office.