7 actionable tips for junior EU lobbyists and interns to kickstart your career in Brussels
7 actionable tips for junior EU lobbyists and interns to kickstart your career in Brussels
Congratulations on your new job! Now, go make the most of it with these tips, from familiarize yourself to EU policymaking and influence, to finding your community.
It’s not always easy to find a place in the Brussels bubble.
As newly-graduates are about to make their way to Brussels in September, I prepared this guide to help you get back to speed in EU public affairs.
This article will probably be less interesting to experienced lobbyists, but that’s the kind of help I would have liked to receive when I started out.
Without further ado, let’s get to it.
But before we get to the article, know you can subscribe to The Beubble for free today.
You’ll receive my guide “5 Resources to Improve at EU Public Affairs”, a compilation of five free links to articles, videos, and courses to increase your mastery of the key skills to succeed in lobbying in Brussels.
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Find a textbook on EU institutions and lawmaking
If you’re not from an EU law background, that’s probably the best place to get you up to speed on how the EU works.
I studied business management, so when I arrived in Brussels, I had a very broad notion of EU lawmaking. I had to buy myself textbooks to teach myself what I didn’t learn at university. Understand what the main EU institutions are, how they work together. Familiarise yourself with the Ordinary Legislative Procedure, and the legal jargon lawmakers use.
Don’t hesitate to ask for the help of more senior colleagues and friends. They will most likely be happy to help a junior, although not all of us are good teachers.
Familiarise yourself with the basics of marketing and communications
Depending on your first mission, you might also want to get introduced to the fantastic world of marketing and communications.
During my studies, I had extensive courses on marketing, the 5 Ps, etc. But what they teach you in school never beats learning on-the-job. Find a few introductory books, enlist the help of senior lobbyists, but also do your own experiment.
How can I be better at writing emails? When is a meeting, a letter, or an email needed? How often should we host events? These are questions related to communication that all (young) lobbysist must keep in mind.
Read Influence, by R. Cialdini
I don’t think there is a more powerfull book to see firsthand the power of influence, and how to do it well.
If you want a primer, here’s a piece I wrote some time ago.
Subscribe to key newsletters
Politico, Euractiv, EUobserver… The Beubble?
Subscribing to the first three will ensure you stay on top of things in Brussels. Read Politico’s Playbook attentively, and you will catch up on the juiciest stories in no time.
As for The Beubble, I try to give good professional advice to young (and not-so-young) EU lobbyists and campaigners. If that’s something you’d like to have, here’s the subscription link:
Have regular conversations with your manager
Some managers don’t make it a habbit to check in with their team.
In which case, it falls on you to ask for their time. Make it a point to have regular 1-on-1 with your manager (especially if you’re a junior) to discuss your deliverables, your activities, and assignments. Not to complain about them, but to understand how you can improve at them.
Have talks on your role (what do I bring to the organisation?), your skills (what do I need to improve? What are my strengths?) and how to enhance them (does your organisation offer training? Can your manager point out ways of improvements?).
Join a community
Networking is key in Brussels.
I mean, it’s not like Washington or anything, but it doesn’t hurt to meet fellow bubblers. Who knows, they might be your next manager or colleages.
The good thing with Brussels is that it is filled with different communities. The Communications professionals, the lobbyists focused on green policies. Hell, there’s event a network on young french people dedicated to the energy sector.
In short — find your community (ask your colleagues and managers for pointers), and be an active member there.
Go to Plux once in a while
Finaly, perhaps the most important (but done responsibly).
It’s nice to be all work and lobby, but you need to relax from time to time.
Place du Luxembourg (Plux) in the Summer is particularly nice for young people in Brussels. Alternatively, there’s Place de Londres, the “new” Plux.
Before we close: a little annoucment.
The Beubble will be off for a month. I’m taking some well-deserved rest in August. Instead of writing articles, I’ll be (relaxedly) working to make The Beubble a more attractive and interesting media.
So see you in September, and enjoy the holidays!