What is it like to be a Policy Analyst?
October 16, 2008 7:51 PM Subscribe
What is it like to be a Policy Analyst?
Apologies in advance if these questions sound naive:
Does one really "make a difference" or is it more of a bureaucratic role? What kind of qualifications do you need?
Is it a job that has many international applications or private sector opportunities, or would it be mainly a one-country civil service job?
What kind of personality types are suited to this career, in terms of things like creativity, logic, flexibility etc.? Does one need to excel at maths & have studied statistics?
Is an "analyst" quite a different role from, say, a straight "policy officer"?
I would like to hear from anyone (in layman's terms) who has first-hand / anecdotal experience about this sort of job and whether they found it to be a rewarding career choice. Experience of other Public Policy roles would also be of great interest. I realise, obviously, that this information is best revealed by work experience in said role! But in the meantime, I am just curious...
Thanks!
Apologies in advance if these questions sound naive:
Does one really "make a difference" or is it more of a bureaucratic role? What kind of qualifications do you need?
Is it a job that has many international applications or private sector opportunities, or would it be mainly a one-country civil service job?
What kind of personality types are suited to this career, in terms of things like creativity, logic, flexibility etc.? Does one need to excel at maths & have studied statistics?
Is an "analyst" quite a different role from, say, a straight "policy officer"?
I would like to hear from anyone (in layman's terms) who has first-hand / anecdotal experience about this sort of job and whether they found it to be a rewarding career choice. Experience of other Public Policy roles would also be of great interest. I realise, obviously, that this information is best revealed by work experience in said role! But in the meantime, I am just curious...
Thanks!
Response by poster: Thanks wilful, that's exactly the kind of general info I'm after... sorry I can't be more specific, but I suppose education, youth justice and health-related policies (so, "Social Policy" I guess?) would be vaguely some of the the areas I'm interested in. As background, I'm currently doing a PhD in the arts but am increasingly considering switching to a Masters in Public Policy or similar field, since I don't want to be an academic or museum professional.
What did your "tertiary qualifications" consist of by the way? cheers in advance...
posted by Weng at 9:44 PM on October 16, 2008
What did your "tertiary qualifications" consist of by the way? cheers in advance...
posted by Weng at 9:44 PM on October 16, 2008
The experience I have is in policy in general, but I'm not sure if the people I work with have "policy analyst" as a title, so this is more about the field in general, and I'll hope wilful will correct anything I get wrong.
A Masters in Public Policy is a great degree for anything related to the policy world.
Let's see, requirements:
- An ability to toggle between information and strategy. Ie, not someone whose skills are almost exclusively in the "people" realm, and not someone whose skills are entirely in the "nerd" realm, but being able to switch back and forth.
- People skills. Good people skills in general (eg, friendliness). Confidence is really useful: you'll be in situations where you can't be building a consensus and trying to get everyone to agree; you may know where you want to be going and have to keep your cards close to your chest while thinking about, from the other people's point of view, what things could you say that would get them to come to the same conclusions. Being able to play it cool, not easily ruffled.
- Logic and analytical skills are very helpful. Clear and incisive thinking, being able to cut through all the dross to the most essential information, being able to give someone the bottom line of a situation and not wanting to tell them all the extraneous details.
- Being fast when necessary. Being able to turn around a policy brief overnight if need be. Thriving on that excitement to some extent.
posted by salvia at 9:59 PM on October 16, 2008
A Masters in Public Policy is a great degree for anything related to the policy world.
Let's see, requirements:
- An ability to toggle between information and strategy. Ie, not someone whose skills are almost exclusively in the "people" realm, and not someone whose skills are entirely in the "nerd" realm, but being able to switch back and forth.
- People skills. Good people skills in general (eg, friendliness). Confidence is really useful: you'll be in situations where you can't be building a consensus and trying to get everyone to agree; you may know where you want to be going and have to keep your cards close to your chest while thinking about, from the other people's point of view, what things could you say that would get them to come to the same conclusions. Being able to play it cool, not easily ruffled.
- Logic and analytical skills are very helpful. Clear and incisive thinking, being able to cut through all the dross to the most essential information, being able to give someone the bottom line of a situation and not wanting to tell them all the extraneous details.
- Being fast when necessary. Being able to turn around a policy brief overnight if need be. Thriving on that excitement to some extent.
posted by salvia at 9:59 PM on October 16, 2008
Weng, public policy masters are a new invention for Australia, not yet convinced of their worth, but haven't employed someone yet with one, so I'm agnostic (my one was special, being government sponsored, work-based). If someone had a relevant PhD that would carry a lot of weight - and if you’ve got the stamina to get through it, you get to keep the doctor title for ever, it can open a few more doors throughout your career I reckon, it gives you credibility.
I got a Masters of Environmental Science before I got in on the graduate recruitment scheme. Most of the other grads in my cohort had honours degrees (this is Australian useage, i.e. a four year degree) some also Masters, one or two Doctorates.
I can’t give you any real insight into social policy needs, there’s a cross-over as I understand it between policy and practitioner, with social workers, teachers etc moving in and out of the bureaucracy, and that’s an avenue in, but it’s really not my field.
posted by wilful at 10:04 PM on October 16, 2008
I got a Masters of Environmental Science before I got in on the graduate recruitment scheme. Most of the other grads in my cohort had honours degrees (this is Australian useage, i.e. a four year degree) some also Masters, one or two Doctorates.
I can’t give you any real insight into social policy needs, there’s a cross-over as I understand it between policy and practitioner, with social workers, teachers etc moving in and out of the bureaucracy, and that’s an avenue in, but it’s really not my field.
posted by wilful at 10:04 PM on October 16, 2008
I used to be a policy analyst on a federal grant (US) at a large university. Basically, it was slightly-above entry level (when I got the job I had an MPH + 2 years experience) policy work. We worked on a specific federal grant given to each US state, which meant we gave the state employees of the grant technical assistance to help them do their jobs better, and analyzed what the states were doing and reported back to the federal bureau that funded the grant. My particular work was a combination of data analysis, grunt work (planning meetings, setting up calls), and writing papers and presentations. It varied from extremely interesting to extremely boring, depending on the task. I didn't really feel like I was making a difference, but I think that some of the work we did may eventually have helped people. I think that was more about the particular grant that I worked on, though--it's definitely an effective field if you want to make a difference.
I'd say you need some familiarity with the topic area; understanding of the structure of government you're working under (but not really more than any other well-educated citizen); ability to think about and look at data (both quantitative and qualitative); and an ability to be organized. An ability to be analytical is very key, even if you don't have formal training. I hadn't studied math, but had taken some stats in grad school.
Officer and analyst are basically the same thing. Basically they say early to mid-level employee, i.e., someone 0-10 or so years out of grad school, in my experience.
posted by min at 11:47 AM on October 17, 2008
I'd say you need some familiarity with the topic area; understanding of the structure of government you're working under (but not really more than any other well-educated citizen); ability to think about and look at data (both quantitative and qualitative); and an ability to be organized. An ability to be analytical is very key, even if you don't have formal training. I hadn't studied math, but had taken some stats in grad school.
Officer and analyst are basically the same thing. Basically they say early to mid-level employee, i.e., someone 0-10 or so years out of grad school, in my experience.
posted by min at 11:47 AM on October 17, 2008
What salvia said. They produce their decks and PDFS with lightening speed. I have seen things on the evening news and then gone in to work EARLY the next day and found their little pieces ready to go, all proofread and referenced and linked up.
I suspect it is not for the fainthearted.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:41 PM on October 17, 2008
I suspect it is not for the fainthearted.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:41 PM on October 17, 2008
Best answer: zen_spider's sister answers:
Weng, just for context, I worked for 10 years doing policy analysis for a nonprofit (aka NGO) in the US, focused on human service issues in the legislative branch of government for the states, as opposed to the executive (in the US, there is separation between those branches). People at my organization had a wide variety of educational backgrounds. I have a bachelor's in political science, and am finishing a master's in the same. Public policy and public administration are also good degrees; I worked with a number of "disaffected attorneys" with law degrees as well.
Yes, you can make a difference - what that looks like depends on where you work. Even though my organization didn't advocate or take particular policy positions, I have concrete examples of the work that I did improving policy decisions. It's very satisfying.
I think some of the day-to-day skills already mentioned here are important: ability to take numerous pieces of information, analyze them and present a coherent response; as noted, good communication is essential! You need to be able to take complex, multi-faceted issues and write a one-page policy brief, or prepare a 3-5 minute presentation - that conveys all the essential points. Busy politicians don't have time for more than that. Knowledge of and interest in the political parts of the process are important and I agree - you only learn that on the job. Oddly enough, I did a ton of meeting planning, which is a whole 'nother ball of wax.
I have only the most rudimentary statistics training, which I never used on the job; although other policy analyst roles may need that kind of training. I was most likely to work with numbers when I was analyzing budget information.
Also, I think it's important to have respect for, and belief in, the political process you're supporting. I think it would be very unsatisfying to work in public policy without some fundamental belief that the system is sound - maybe it could use some tweaking and fixing, but essentially, it's filling an important role. People in the US are so cynical about government, but in my job, I developed an overall trust in the process, imperfect though it is, and respect for the elected officials who, in my case, are frequently underpaid, overworked, but have chosen to get involved because they feel a call to serve. Most of them are good people.
posted by zen_spider at 9:17 PM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
Weng, just for context, I worked for 10 years doing policy analysis for a nonprofit (aka NGO) in the US, focused on human service issues in the legislative branch of government for the states, as opposed to the executive (in the US, there is separation between those branches). People at my organization had a wide variety of educational backgrounds. I have a bachelor's in political science, and am finishing a master's in the same. Public policy and public administration are also good degrees; I worked with a number of "disaffected attorneys" with law degrees as well.
Yes, you can make a difference - what that looks like depends on where you work. Even though my organization didn't advocate or take particular policy positions, I have concrete examples of the work that I did improving policy decisions. It's very satisfying.
I think some of the day-to-day skills already mentioned here are important: ability to take numerous pieces of information, analyze them and present a coherent response; as noted, good communication is essential! You need to be able to take complex, multi-faceted issues and write a one-page policy brief, or prepare a 3-5 minute presentation - that conveys all the essential points. Busy politicians don't have time for more than that. Knowledge of and interest in the political parts of the process are important and I agree - you only learn that on the job. Oddly enough, I did a ton of meeting planning, which is a whole 'nother ball of wax.
I have only the most rudimentary statistics training, which I never used on the job; although other policy analyst roles may need that kind of training. I was most likely to work with numbers when I was analyzing budget information.
Also, I think it's important to have respect for, and belief in, the political process you're supporting. I think it would be very unsatisfying to work in public policy without some fundamental belief that the system is sound - maybe it could use some tweaking and fixing, but essentially, it's filling an important role. People in the US are so cynical about government, but in my job, I developed an overall trust in the process, imperfect though it is, and respect for the elected officials who, in my case, are frequently underpaid, overworked, but have chosen to get involved because they feel a call to serve. Most of them are good people.
posted by zen_spider at 9:17 PM on October 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
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I can only give you my experience, which is ten years in a State government in natural resource management, where I’m now on the cusp of proper management roles. Oh and a Masters in Public Administration, which obviously included some dissection of just what is policy, and what makes it good and bad.
Starting with the simplest things you’ve asked about, working to the most diffuse:
officer = analyst, they’re just terms preferred by one department over another.
Tertiary qualifications in the discipline or somewhat associated are basically mandatory these days, we’d not employ a new starter in a junior policy role without a relevant degree. That said, we can interpret relevant pretty widely – a friend of mine had a Doctorate relating to Platonic definitions of love, and started working in the water sector (though she turned out to not be that good…). I started on a graduate recruit scheme, which was an excellent induction.
Maths and statistics skills are no real advantage. Knowledge of data and how to interpret it is valuable, but not a priority. I get by more than fine with first year Uni stats. Communications skills, both written and verbal, are a much higher priority.
Transferability is something I’ve wondered about. I’m very confident I could get a job in my field in another Westminster-type bureaucracy, e.g. NZ, UK (I’m Aussie BTW) or in another State, or the Federal govt. And I’ve identified UN roles I have thought about. Beyond that, I also have considered an offer from a major consulting firm. But future opportunities are easiest to find within the organisation.
There is definitely something innate about being good at policy (and enjoying it). Quite a lot of people just don’t get it. It’s not, as I define it, about delivery and process and this goes there then, that’s a skill we have and need in our Department but it’s not that. It’s about considering problems in context, coming up with some solutions, extracting and using evidence, workshopping and consulting those ideas, explaining them concisely, accurately and consistently to non-expert audiences (your Minister/Secretary/Department head) and advocating them through the blockers and getting funding for its delivery.
These days policy officers need to have contract and project management skills, but that can be on-the-job training.
To be any good at it you have to be attuned to the dark arts of politics, but that’s definitely an acquired experience, and absolutely cannot be taught. An interest in politics and how it works is useful though.
It can be creative, I think it’s creative, I think it’s real, meaningful work that’s about the most rewarding thing you can do while still getting a decent wage. For example, as a somewhat green person, I think I’m doing far more than your average NGO campaigner to save the planet. If you’re into social welfare, well good policy teaches more people to fish than get fish dinners.
Of course like any job it all depends on who you work with and a variety of outside factors. The public service I’m in prides itself on being evidence-based, progressive and offering leadership. That can be pure cant in a lot of places but luckily it’s mostly true around me.
I’m glad I do what I do, not sure what else I’d be doing, but I suspect I wouldn’t be as satisfied.
posted by wilful at 9:23 PM on October 16, 2008 [8 favorites]