Lobbyist (Lobbyist)
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A lobbyist is someone who lobbies on behalf of a particular organization, institution, or company. In short, the work of a lobbyist can best be described as systematically putting pressure on policymakers or other influential people to achieve a certain goal. The lobbying is therefore not done randomly, but precisely with the people who can influence a certain decision. A lobbyist does not necessarily have to lobby a government body, but can also lobby the board of a large company or organization. For example, the lobbyist can lobby to buy a certain brand of machine. The lobbyist will then try to influence someone from the board to choose that one particular brand through constant pressure. But you can also lobby to obtain a certain permit. A lobbyist works in a targeted manner and receives clear instructions about the ultimate objective. It is important that a lobbyist does his homework, and addresses the right person where they have the best chance of achieving the goal. When it really comes to an important topic, organizations, institutions and companies can use multiple lobbyists to increase their chances. The profession of lobbyist should also be seen as a general one, because the term lobbyist can apply to different people. In addition, lobbying activities occur everywhere within the business community. Lobbying is not only reserved for big industry, because smaller companies can also do lobbying work. Lobbying usually involves changing rules, winning contracts, obtaining grants, obtaining licenses, or bringing in certain key positions. Lobbying to change certain insights among people is also common.
A lobbyist is therefore someone who tries to achieve certain objectives by actively influencing the right people and/or organizations. As described earlier, lobbyists are everywhere within society, but lobbyists are usually not visible to the outside world. Government bodies also regularly have to deal with lobbyists who try to change possible new decisions or try to prevent a decision from being taken. For example, a lobbyist can make an appointment with a minister to try to convince them of his or her position. Lobbyists are also active at European level, but then this will not concern a minister but an MEP. Lobbying is not only reserved for government bodies, because lobbyists are everywhere in society. In all cases, a lobbyist will lobby influential people who can make important decisions. At the local level, for example, an alderman or director of a large company may also have to deal with a lobbyist.
LOBBYISTS ARE EVERYWHERE
Most people only know the lobbyists when they appear in the news. Yet lobbyists can be found everywhere. Most lobbyists lobby for a local company and try to win assignments by exerting their influence. It is also possible that the director of a company acts as a lobbyist. Other well-known forms of lobbying are obtaining subsidies or obtaining licenses to sell certain producers and/or services as an organization. Lobbying with permit providers is also fairly common in practice. Another form of lobbying is having opinions drawn up by an opinion maker to influence people's social opinion form. Another form of lobbying can be negotiating new collective agreements.
IS LOBBYING PROHIBITED?
Lobbying is not forbidden and is very common. Nevertheless, there are limits that a lobbyist must be aware of. Giving money, goods or other services is no longer socially accepted and can lead to problems when it suits, such as lawsuits and fines. The negative media attention can also cost a company a lot of prestige. There is also attention for this subject in the business world and most companies have drawn up rules. For example, accepting gifts is completely prohibited or must be reported to the manager of a company. Most larger organizations today use compliance officers or a compliance manager to prevent integrity damage. In that case, the compliance department is responsible for preventing actions that are prohibited and/or may cause reputational damage.
BRIBES AND OTHER GIFTS
Accepting bribes and other gifts from lobbyists is no longer socially accepted and often punishable. In the past, it was all too common for civil servants, representatives of the people or other influential people to be bribed by lobbyists. Today, there are several regulators who monitor lobbyists and influential individuals in different ways to prevent fraud. Bribing officials or other influential persons is prohibited and should not occur. As described earlier, lobbying is not prohibited, but lobbyists do have to deal with rules of conduct, which may not be violated.
WHAT DOES A LOBBYIST DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME A LOBBYIST
There are no training opportunities for the profession of lobbyist. A lobbyist is usually an experienced top manager with a lot of industry knowledge or specific knowledge of a particular subject. Lobbying plays the most important role within this profession, and it is the most experienced employees within the company or industry who are given this task. In general, we can say that a lobbyist will be at least hbo-educated or higher. In addition to the training, knowledge and experience play a major role within the profession. Accounting is also important as an entrepreneur.
COMPANIES WHERE A LOBBYIST CAN WORK
A lobbyist can work for various companies, institutions and organizations. Think, for example, of manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry and environmental organizations. As described earlier, lobbying occurs in all sectors and not only within the industry. It's not that lobbyists only do lobbying work related to policymakers. A lobbyist may also have to deal with researchers, professors and chief executive officers. In fact, lobbying occurs in practice at all levels.
COMPETENCES LOBBYIST
The competencies as a lobbyist can differ per lobbyist, because many different professionals can do lobbying work. In general, a lobbyist is an advocate within a particular industry. Specific professional knowledge and industry knowledge can therefore be regarded as important competences. Other important competencies as a lobbyist are being able to negotiate and communicate, because lobbying activities have everything to do with that. Also being able to network in a good way is generally very important as a lobbyist. Networking is important because a lobbyist needs to connect with influential people who can achieve certain goals for a lobbyist. Generally important words are perseverance, motivating, inspiring, insight, persuasiveness, analytical, listening and performing.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A LOBBYIST
The labour market perspective cannot simply be indicated by a lobbyist, because the profession of lobbyist cannot be seen as an ordinary position. Lobbying occurs in many different ways within the practice and can involve different types of professionals. In general, these are experienced negotiators or managers, who stand up for certain interests. Furthermore, it is not possible to indicate specific career opportunities, because this depends entirely on the level of education and your own competencies. In general, the position of lobbyist is already a position at a higher level.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY LOBBYIST
There are no terms of employment or salary to indicate for the profession of lobbyist. As a lobbyist, as described earlier, you can work for various employers in different industries. What exactly a lobbyist deserves, is therefore not really possible to indicate. But we can safely assume that the greater the interests, the more the lobbyist will earn, provided he succeeds in his mission.
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