What does a day in your shoes feel like? And what are the key skills that can make or break a career in your field?

Apolitical has asked a diverse group of public servants to give us their career story. In this article, Stephanie Perkowski explains why being able to influence the future of a country and the lives of fellow citizens is among the greatest privileges of being a public servant.

What is your role in government and how do you spend your time on a standard workday?

I'm a policy analyst for Chapin Hall's Implementation Collaborative. We work closely with child welfare leaders, staff, and partners to determine system needs and co-design solutions.

A typical day for me involves developing tools, training, resources, and recommendations for public and private child welfare leaders. For example, I’m working with a multidisciplinary team to design and evaluate an intervention.

My day might involve meeting with decision-makers to identify enhancements to the program model. Once a decision is made, I update the operating procedures, training modules, and other content that is impacted by the decision. Then, I work with program staff and partners to ensure the direct service team is aware of the change and is equipped to implement it.

I also support our partners in engaging with their internal and external stakeholders. That support includes gathering consensus about what should be on the next meeting agenda, developing talking points or presentations for leaders, co-facilitating meetings, or offering one on one capacity building to staff in their organisation.

I also do a variety of communication and project management tasks to ensure the work moves forward as planned and everyone stays informed.

In your opinion, what are the most important skills someone needs to excel in your field?

Emotional Intelligence is essential in my field. I work with a variety of stakeholders to identify and implement transformational change in systems and organisations.

Knowing how to build relationships, engage groups in creative and constructive discussions about challenges, and build buy-in among people and organisations with different priorities is key.

My training as a social worker equipped me with active listening skills, a strengths based perspective, and the ability to think through issues at both a micro and macro level.

What is your favourite part of your job? What would you change if you could wave a magic wand?

My favorite part of my job is the people I get to work with, both within my organisation and within partnering organisations. I miss the dynamic that happens when we all get together in the same room and think through challenges together.

If I could wave a magic wand, I would eliminate Covid so that it would be safe to see my colleagues and clients in person.

What advice would you give to young public servants who are interested in a career in your field?

Early on in my career I worked in direct service and that experience still informs my perspective. I'd advise young public servants to find ways to be part of or better understand the service delivery aspects of their work.

There are a lot of different ways to gain knowledge about direct service and build your professional network. Sign up for email newsletters written for direct service staff in your field, or follow industry leaders via social media.

Ask your supervisor if you can attend the basic training for direct service staff as part of your professional development so that you are familiar with what that work entails.

Consider volunteer opportunities within your field that allow you to work directly with the public. You could also join a young professional board of an organisation that serves the population you work with or want to work with.

Public service is about the people we serve, knowing what the work looks like for the people who work directly with the public everyday is foundational. — Stephanie Perkowski

stephanie-perkowski

Stephanie Perkowski

Picture credit for banner image: Dylan Gillis (Unsplash)