"I have worked with HSG Campaigns several times in the past and I am always impressed with their insights into the hearts and minds of the voters they communicate with. They are able to take those insights and combine them with new and traditional tactics to craft great strategies for their clients. Candidates and organizations should strongly consider them in 2018."

— Joe Boyd, Executive Director, California Federation of Teachers

For anyone who worked in politics during the 2016 cycle - as an intern, an entry-level field organizer, or even as an experienced operative - and wants to do it again, you may be looking for work for 2018.

Here are some places to look:

• Democratic GAIN - A national association for progressive campaign workers and organizations, Democratic GAIN helps its members find jobs for the next cycle. They have also merged with the Google group, JobsThatAreLEFT, which regularly posts political job openings around the country.

• Wellstone Jobs - Formerly known as the "New Organizing Institute", Wellstone Jobs is another Google group for job posts, run by Wellstone Action.

• EMILY's List - Named after the concept "Early Money is Like Yeast" (it raises the dough!), EMILY's List supports Democratic women running for office all over the country - in part by placing campaign workers on the ground to work for them.

• Your own people! - If you have worked on a campaign before and your work was appreciated, go back to the campaign manager, consultants, and others you worked with to see if they know of anything for you. The people who liked your work will want to work with you again.

Once in a while, we still meet the occasional candidate who wonders why he or she even needs a campaign consultant. How hard can a campaign be, anyway? Trust us, it's hard. Unless you're running for a very small local office, you will need a consultant. Here's the top reasons why.

1. Consultants Know the Players

Party officers, union leaders, and other big political players meet new candidates for different offices all the time. Nobody will be immediately impressed by you because you're a candidate. In fact, their instincts are to be skeptical of you. Having a consultant not only gives you more legitimacy as a candidate, but your consultant often knows the individual you are trying to meet with and can help make it happen.

2. Consultants Know the Vendors

Campaigns are short-lived, but consultants are in the marketplace for years. In the time it will take you to research printers, graphic designers, media rate cards, mail houses, and pollsters, you will lose the opportunity to do the campaign's primary job, talking to voters! Consultants will know the vendors, the prices, the market, the political environment, and the strategy.

3. Consultants Keep You Honest

It's easy to say you will make fundraising calls, go out canvassing voters, and practice your stump speech. Following through on those commitments is the hard part. The same way a physical trainer will help you make sure you actuallyexercise, your consultant will help you make sure you actually campaign. They will check in regularly for updates on your progress toward meeting your goals for fundraising, doors knocked, and public speaking skills.