You must be experienced with employee issues and challenges to work as a trade union official. You can act as local representative in trade unions and make way to higher administrative official posts. You will gain thorough knowledge of the working of the union while on the job. For being a trade union official of professional workers, it is advisable to have a bachelors degree in industrial or public relations, politics, labour studies, social policy, law or economics. If you are looking for a career in national Head office level you should be experienced and qualified in areas such as trade union legislation or organisation, education or general law. In case of post graduate qualification in politics, economics or law, you can look for research officer jobs in national Head offices. Officials may be offered short term trainings or courses by the unions concerned. Trade union members can also move into politics and play pivotal roles in national policy developments.