So you want to work in policy...

This article is written by Rell DeShaw.

About me: I've has worked as a manager in the Government of Canada for many years and will retire in 2025. This is my first foray into using self-publishing with Apolitical - all errors are mine and the subsequent pieces will appear as I have time to upload them.

Some words of thanks: To write this series of pieces, I interviewed a few people who have successfully made the transition to enrich my own sense of what it takes to make the transition into a policy role. Some came from outside government leaving other professions and some transitioned from other roles within government. I was also fortunate to have reviewers from the management cadre of the Canadian Public Service who have given excellent feedback.

The problem: There is no readily available playbook to guide you onto a path into the policy realm.

Why it matters: Our governments may miss out on engaging great talent from within or outside government.

The solution: A few people who have successfully made the leap have shared their thoughts about paths to success. With luck, this will support you to understand what it takes to make the leap, and whether this path may be the right one for you.

This multi-part series is comprised of:

Part one: Introduction to the series and acquiring knowledge needed for policy work

Part two: Writing: The most easily transferred skill though fine tuning may still be needed

Part three: Other applied skills that you need to succeed in a policy role

Part four: Behaviours you’ll need

Part five: Other advice from those who’ve succeeded

People often ask me about how to get into policy work. Sometimes they already have a government career (e.g., in communications, law or operations) and sometimes they are coming from outside government. To note that working in a policy realm will encompass being a “policy analyst” (often a more junior role preparing material for more senior employees) and being a “policy advisor” (the role which includes preparing advice through the generation of your own ideas). The majority of the ideas in these articles is pitched to people who’d like to be policy advisors. That said, when I have quoted from interviewees or cited other sources, I have honoured the terms they have used.

With thanks to its author, Sally Washington, I have used one of the frameworks included in this article to map out the skills I will be discussing. I’ve borrowed three of the main areas noted to organize the material.

Knowledge: What I need to know;

Applied skills: What I need to be able to do; and

Behaviours: How I need to act

Easiest to obtain on the job: Knowledge

Interviewees were supportive that people could successfully acquire key knowledge on the job such as understanding the policy cycle.

In support of getting up to speed, you might consider a self-study of key documents. Some products are more static including legislation and regulations, some are foundational to a government cycle of a few years (mandate letters, Speech from the Throne, and the Budget), and some may change with significant regularity including operational bulletins.

What interviewees said:

“Familiarity with the policy cycle is important, but not necessary. At the end of the day, your manager guides you through the cycle and the sequencing of events. But if you’re interested in the bigger picture, and understanding how previous cabinet documents etc. influence your current work, it’s good knowledge to have.”

“While I definitely needed to learn about Memoranda to Cabinet (MCs), Treasury Board Submissions, Question Period Notes, and many other acronyms, I found it came quite quickly [...].”

One reviewer noted that general knowledge about the policy area (e.g., as a client, or through previous experience) as well as operational knowledge will be helpful. Indeed it could be useful to start in a policy area in which you have some existing knowledge.

For Canadian public servants we are fortunate to be able to access learning through the Canada School of Public Service. Here is a recently published roadmap for learning for Policy Analysts.

Part two of this series will be: Writing: The most easily transferred skill though fine tuning may still be needed