Current
position: Economic
Data
Analyst
at
the
Canada
Student
Loans
Program
(ESDC)
Co-op
experience:
The
Canada
Student
Loans
Program
at
Employment
and
Social
Development
Canada,
as
well
as
the
Controlled
Substances
and
Cannabis
Branch
at
Health
Canada.
Academic
background: Child
and
Youth
Care
(B.A),
Ryerson
University
Why did you choose Waterloo's Master of Public Service Program?
I found MPS by complete chance, but what drew me in were the incredibly unique opportunities it offered. MPS goes beyond textbook learning; it provides you with the opportunity to develop practical career skills, acquire 8 months of co-op experience, and build your professional network before you even enter the field. Regardless of what passions or strengths you bring to the program, you will be able to apply them in a way that is valuable to the work that you contribute to your courses and eventually, the public sector.
What are your favorite MPS moments?
The social events! We had a lot of fun – there was the Ottawa trip, bowling, paint night, movies in the building’s auditorium. Overall, there was such a large amount of support and friendship within the program that really made the entire experience complete.
What was your position during your co-op employment?
I had two – my first position was at the Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch at Health Canada, where I worked as a Compliance Program Analyst. The second was at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) within the Canada Student Loans Program as an Economic Data Analyst.
Tell us about your current role and how you obtained it.
I was hired full-time by my second co-op employer after the term completed. My work at ESDC is a lot of fun and embodies exactly what I was hoping to get out of working in the public service – we are focused on providing support to those who face the largest barriers in society, and that opportunity to help really motivates me. At the Canada Student Loans Program, I get to utilize a variety of skills I developed in MPS, specifically those related to critical thinking, writing, data analysis and coding, and data visualization to provide advice to senior management about the student aid program; specifically providing costings of policy proposals, and analyse the impacts of our program on Canadians.
Why do you want to work in the public service?
I am passionate about social policy – working in areas, teams, or programs that have some sort of direct impact on the lives of Canadians. My academic background is not in political science or economics, it’s in a field that is rooted in sociology and psychology. That being said, my interest in working in the public service comes from wanting to advocate for change and to be a part of addressing the inequalities and challenges being faced by certain groups in our society.
What have you learned about yourself as a result of the MPS program and your current career?
I learned that the things about me that I once thought were disadvantages to my career are assets. I always struggled with having ADHD and was only diagnosed just before starting MPS. I was concerned about how it might hinder my success within the program and the field. However, through my decision to proceed with the MPS program anyway and by reaching out to the appropriate on-campus resources for support, I learned that I can do so much more than I thought I was capable of. In the public service, your uniqueness is an asset to your team and will benefit you in your career. Do not be intimidated by your differences but do identify and share what you need to thrive in your workplace.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is getting to work on policies and complete tasks that really make a difference. A lot of my time at work involves analyzing which groups of Canadians face the largest barriers to accessing and completing post-secondary education. It is amazing that I get to work on identifying and addressing emerging societal challenges to groups most impacted. Working with data and literature to build a case that informs the various ways we can offer help to specific groups of Canadians is very fulfilling. I feel very connected to the outcomes and real-life impacts of my work, and that is very rewarding for me.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in the program?
Always be open-minded and embrace all the challenges that come your way. Take the time to learn about the program and ask important questions that will help you decide whether the public service is a good fit for you. You do not need to come in knowing exactly what area of the public sector you want to work in. Part of what makes the program so interesting is that there is such a diversity of opportunities available. What you end up loving may be something you would have never expected.
How has COVID-19 impacted your current work?
Not only has COVID-19 forced me to transform my dinner table into a home office, but it has also significantly changed how I work with my team, the pace of work, and the tasks we now focus on. It has been an interesting time, but overall, it has been a smooth transition and my workplace has really been making an extra effort to welcome new members and students. I think one really amazing thing about the current working from home arrangement is that it has opened up a lot of opportunities for workers, especially co-op students, who may be really interested in working for the federal government but have hesitations about moving away from family. My team went from being fully based in Ottawa to having members in locations such as Vancouver, the GTA, and Waterloo.
Have you been working on any COVID-19 related policies?
I have! In April, the Government of Canada announced a variety of COVID-19 response measures for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year to support students, such as doubling all grants and increasing the maximum amount of loans students can receive. My directorate was very involved in the work that went into this. We were also tasked with providing input for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit.