My current role and how I got here

I currently work as a Community Engagement and Casework Officer for Simon Lightwood MP, who is the Member of Parliament for Wakefield and Rothwell, and the Minister for Local Transport. My role involves dealing with concerns raised by residents and running local campaigns on prominent issues across the constituency. Other tasks include meeting with key stakeholders, preparing briefings and comms, and attending meetings with Simon to support him in his duties as a MP. Outside of work hours, I also volunteer with the Wakefield District Labour Party, organising campaign sessions and supporting with Council elections.

I started this role in June 2025, but my first job out of university was with Simon as well. After graduating in 2022, I was a caseworker for Simon after the by-election in Wakefield. In 2023, I moved to a role as a Student Education Service Officer at The University of Leeds for a year before going down to Parliament to work as a Parliamentary Assistant for Mark Sewards MP. I then decided to come back to Wakefield to work for Simon again.  

How I came across the role

I found the job listing on a website called Work for MP. The site has job listings not just for members of parliament, but across political and governmental organisations as well. I relied on the university’s Careers Service to go through what an application would look like, and to make sure my CV and cover letter were formatted correctly.

The help from the Careers Service was fantastic. They taught me how to best tailor an application to the job posting. I was given strong advice on what to include within my CV and how to make it presentable, as well as navigating how to write a supporting cover letter. They provided several useful tools to enhance my application, and I’m very grateful for the support they provided.

Favourite part of the role

The best part about my role is being able to help people with a variety of issues. We deal with a wide range of cases, such as concerns with taxes or receiving social housing, often with positive results. The versatility in being able to help a wide variety of people is a great part about working for an MP. I get to meet people from different walks of life, and it’s a great experience to learn more about individual circumstances in the community and figure out how to best support them.

How my studies have helped me in my role

Studying politics at university allowed me to expand my network of contacts within the Labour party, which has been beneficial for my current role. When I came to university, I joined both the Labour Society and the Politics Society. These opportunities, the latter in particular, allowed me to interact with people from different political persuasions. While we might not agree on everything, it was inspiring to find a community with a common understanding that politics can be a force for good. I also engaged in opportunities with the Students’ Union, and I ran in the Student Officer Elections. Both experiences gave me a broader understanding of politics, which has supported my experience working in national politics. I also did the parliamentary studies module within my course, which helped to open my eyes to the opportunities available to work in parliament.

Future career aspirations

I believe that the political sphere is the best way of making positive change, so I plan to continue working within the wider government to make sure that the interests of residents are put first. I’m a big believer in parliamentary democracy and using that to improve the lives of people across different communities. My role allows me to make sure voices in my community and surrounding areas are prioritised within local government, so I plan to continue on this path in the future.

Advice for future students

Don’t be shy. There’s so much going on in terms of engagement and opportunity at university. There are lots of chances to meet different people and different academics, so don’t be too shy in participating in different opportunities. See the wide range of what they have to offer because there’s so much you can benefit and learn from, so engage directly with the opportunities that are available to you.

One tool I would always recommend is the Careers Service. The Careers Service really opened my eyes to what was out there and allowed me to discover new opportunities. So, take those opportunities and make the most of them. You never know where you might end up.

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