Job Testing for Politicians

Think back to the last time that you applied for a job - what did that process look like? There are an almost infinite number of combinations for the typical steps that might be part of that process. One thing that remains the same: most likely, at some point in the process, you were required to pass some form of an assessment (especially when we include interviews).

Now, consider that candidates for political office do not face a similar set of job-related hurdles or assessments. Meaning, the information that we use to determine who to vote for is the carefully crafted "platform" and statements relating to stance on specific issues. In addition, we weigh the "dirt" that the opposition uncovers and uses to dissuade us from voting for a particular candidate. The end result of this process often leaves voters with very little objective, job-related information to use when determining which candidate is best. Doing your own research on each candidate's track record in their previous offices (if any), provides relevant information when the candidate is running for re-election, but not necessarily when that person is running for a new office. 

So how do we improve this process? I would argue that creating a "day in the life" simulation of realistic scenarios faced by individuals elected to that office (i.e., congress, senate, president) and videotaping candidate responses would serve multiple purposes. These include:

1) providing party leaders, voters and campaign donors with more relevant, job-related information about about candidate future performance on the job,

2) providing the media with job related and relevant talking points to debate candidate performance (hopefully reducing some of the focus on negative compaigning), and

3) providing candidates with job-related information to use in ad campaigns (include a clip of a particularly strong response to a challenge).  

For these reasons, candidates for political office should be given an assessment consisting of realistic, live-action, "day in the life" type scenarios. Their responses should be video-taped and broadcast on TV or made available for viewing online so party leaders, voters and campaign donors can see the candidates performing the job.  This will improve the election and voting process by providing job-related information on which voting decisions can be made. 

Update: Over a year ago I started a change.org petition on this very issue. After watching the presidential race politics play out over the past year, I am even more convinced that the current system needs to be re-evaluated. Unfortunately, at this point, it seems we are all stuck with the options we brought on ourselves. Good luck out there.