Academic
background:
Political
Science
and
Economics,
University
of
Waterloo
Co-op
position: Policy
Analyst,
Innovation,
Science
and
Economic
Development
Canada
Why did you choose Waterloo’s MPS program?
Through my undergraduate co-op experiences in provincial/federal government and the private sector, I discovered I am most interested in pursuing a career within the public service. A professor of mine whose opinion I value greatly, recommended MPS after hearing me wax and wane about what I wanted to do next with my career. The icing on the cake of the program was that MPS is a course based program (so no thesis), and it included a mandatory 8 month co-op. The unique design of the program allowed me to test the waters and hopefully embed myself with a ministry with the hopes of being smoothly bridged on full-time by the time I graduated.
Tell us about your current co-op position.
Currently I am completing an 8-month position with the ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). I am working on developing Canada’s patent filing strategy in order to help develop and protect the nation’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. Up until now, I never considered working in the patent space as something that I would be involved in, yet here I am, and grateful to be playing my part.
How did the MPS program, including your co-op experiences prepare you for a career?
The MPS program prepared me for more than I realized. Unlike other programs, MPS treats its courses like attaining a college credit where all the theoretical knowledge is accumulated in the classroom. You then apply all that knowledge in a practical setting during your co-operative education work term. The jargon, hierarchy, process management, acronyms, and my role within the broader public service were made clear to me in the classroom well before my first Zoom meeting.
What are your favourite MPS moments?
My favourite MPS moments were our MPS cohort Halloween party, Christmas party, potluck, and bowling outings. Notice that all of my favourite moments were outside of the classroom. I cherish these moments because they were all times when we were removed from the crucible of the classroom, and they were all times when every member of the cohort was present and given the opportunity to unwind. In reality, your cohort is your greatest takeaway from the program, since those individuals will be the bedrock of your network within the public service for the rest of your career.
What has been your most interesting experience working in the public service?
My most interesting experience working for the public service is purely circumstantial. The Covid-19 pandemic has allowed me to witness a watershed moment for the public service and broader economy as a whole. Being able to peer out at the government’s response in this time of turmoil from the inside has strengthened my resolve to commit to doing my part to help build and grow the Canadian government to shepherd the nation in times of crisis.
What advice do you have for someone interested in taking the MPS program?
My biggest piece of advice take every opportunity provided to you to leverage the networks of professors and members of the program. You don’t quite realise it yet, but the people you see every day in the MPS space are some of the most well-connected individuals you will come across, and they are at your disposal for a very short period of time. Be blunt, be honest, and be upfront about what exactly you are after from this program, and they will more than likely be able to open doors for you that you did not know existed.
How has COVID-19 impacted your current work?
The largest impact of the crisis on my work is obviously that I am working from home. For me as a student without dependents, and for the most part little to no obligations, the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise. I find I am much more productive, although I have to put far more work into being social from home. I am learning to cope and think I will be able to thrive all the same under the circumstances.
Have you been working on any COVID-19 related policies?
My current role has shifted to nearly exclusively Covid-19 related policy. For the duration of my co-op term I will be involved with post-crisis economic recovery planning. It is very exciting, very important, and never been done before, so for the first time I know just as much as everyone else on the team!