Los Angeles, CA, — Lobbyingjobs.com today announces the launch of a new series of web-based continuing education courses to help lobbyists and government relations professionals excel in a demanding and fluid industry. “Best Practices for Effective Lobbying”, “Using Video for Advocacy” and “Negotiations for Lobbying and Government Relations” are the initial offerings from the Career Education Center, of Lobbyingjobs.com, the industry’s leading job board and career resource center for participants in the lobbying field including lobbyists, advocacy, public policy, public affairs, and government relations professionals.
“Specialized lobbying training is not easy to come by,” says John Foreman, the Founder of Lobbyingjobs.com. “There aren’t many ‘Lobbying 101’ courses being offered by colleges or universities and many people who become lobbyists come from other industries or have worked in government. Now, our on-demand courses provide a low-cost, convenient opportunity to learn from experienced professionals. Whether you want to learn how to become a lobbyist or you’re looking for more advanced training, you can acquire new skills to be highly effective in your career – for a minimal investment of time and money.”
Lobbyingjobs.com Career Education Center plans to add two to four new courses a month. The roster of upcoming courses includes: “Non-profit Lobbying and Advocacy,” “Maximizing Meetings with your Legislator,”
The online courses are multimedia presentations consisting of audio or video instruction with text material, typically 30 to 60 minutes in length and available on-demand at the convenience of the user. The format is interactive, allowing users to move through the material at their own pace. Pricing per course ranges from $45 to $150. Eventually, some courses will be eligible for CLU credits on a State by State basis. An ongoing schedule of live Webinars is also in development.
In 2008, a record $3.3 billion was spent by industries and special-interest groups to lobby Congress and federal agencies, up from $2.9 billion in 2007, and more than double the amount spent four years ago, according to nonpartisan Congressional Quarterly.
Proposed allocations of billions of dollars from a federal stimulus package as well as the serious fiscal challenges currently faced by a majority of the nation’s state and local governments indicate that professional advocacy will continue to play an influential role in the political process.