Interview with Emmet Collins, PhD in Political Science (2016)

Could you tell us about how you landed your first position after graduate school or about your career path in general? Looking back, what lessons have you learned? Can you think of specific pitfalls that current graduate students should avoid?

When I was writing my dissertation, I moved back to my home province of Manitoba, since that’s where I wanted to settle.  When I was within a year of defending, I started seriously looking for work.  It took a year and a half before I started where I am now [Senior Policy Analyst & French Language Services Coordinator at Manitoba Families].  A combination of few job opportunities, bad fit, lack of job experience and lack of experience interviewing on my part made my life harder than I imagined it would be.  When I did get a job, it was due to a combination of the right background and the right knowledge meeting the right opportunity.

Looking back I draw two lessons from my experience. 

First, I could have done more to get the experience I wanted.  I essentially always knew I wanted to work in government.  However, I went straight from high school to BA, MA, PhD without stopping.  I worked during most of that time, but not in government, which meant that when I finished my formal education I had three degrees in political science but no practical experience.  No co-ops, no internships, nothing.  If I’d gone out of my way to find those opportunities I think my path would have been easier.

Second, I greatly benefitted from volunteering.  I’ve been involved with a variety of non-profits since I was a teenager, and when I was writing my dissertation I became heavily involved with a few.  That gave me something to draw on in the absence of government experience.  Non-profits are generally very open to letting you put a lot of effort into their projects, which you can then parlay into good interview answers.

Did you consider an academic career while in graduate school? Could you discuss why/why not? How does your current position differ from academic positions? What are the tradeoffs/rewards/downsides?

I felt somewhat atypical in that an academic career was never really on my radar.  I very much enjoyed the teaching component (and still do), but hate the publishing process, which meant I wasn’t a good fit for academic jobs. 

That made me fairly different from a lot of my colleagues, who seemed to definitely want to be professors and who would only accept something else as a plan B.  In fact, I remember having a sit down with my advisor, Jon Malloy, and “confessing” that I didn’t want an academic job.  The whole thing feels a bit silly now (and he was very supportive), but it shows how ingrained the notion of a professorship as the end goal is.

My current position is much better suited to my skill set that an academic job would be.  I work with intelligent people doing research and analysis at high levels on topics that interest me, but material gets produced and validated (or sent back) much more quickly.  That’s not to say government work is without frustrations, but it’s a good fit for me.  Plus, I’m able to keep a foot in academia by teaching sessionally.      

How should current graduate students (especially those with little work experience) present themselves and their skills to other professionals and/or potential employers?

As mentioned earlier, if you have little work experience, there are ways for you to build up your skills through volunteering. 

The main thing to keep in mind when speaking to people outside of academia is that no one knows what you do.  I can’t stress that enough.  No one knows what’s involved with writing a social science dissertation.  You’re not in a lab, you’re (probably) not running experiments, so people just don’t know how one spends three plus years writing one thing.

That being the case, help people understand by focusing on your skills.  The dissertation is what you produced, the skills are how you did it.    You didn’t “conduct a lit review,” you read thousands of pages of material, analyzed the content, and produced a succinct summary.  You didn’t “teach a class”, you created tools to consistently and rapidly evaluate a large group of students.  Before you start looking for work, go through this process on your own so that you have a better understanding of what you know how to do.  You might not realize how much you know until you break it down.

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Interview with Jeff Collins, PhD in Political Science (2018)

Could you tell us about how you landed your first position after graduate school or about your career path in general? Looking back, what lessons have you learned? Can you think of specific pitfalls that current graduate students should avoid?

I completed an internship course as an undergraduate with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and that cemented my passion for and interest in working in international relations, public policy, and government.

When I moved to Ottawa to begin my PhD studies, I networked extensively to introduce myself to those working in government and think-tanks to open opportunities for myself in the nation’s capital. Through these efforts, I started volunteering at a Senator’s office which in turn led to paid work in the Offices of the Ministers of National Defence and Veterans Affairs. In each office I got to develop more professional contacts and gain experience in decision-making at the highest level, particularly on defence-related issues (which I studied for my PhD dissertation).

I moved to Prince Edward Island with my spouse shortly after completing my PhD course work. After two years of making headway in my dissertation, I joined the PEI civil service, first working in health before moving on to my current role in 2017 as the Province’s Trade Negotiator and Trade Policy Advisor. It’s an exciting field – I was involved in the new NAFTA negotiations and the ongoing implementation negotiations of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.

Lessons:

(1) network, network and network. If you are passionate about a subject area and think it aligns with your career aspirations do not be afraid to cold call/email people. State your interest and willingness to learn more. That may seem obvious, but I am constantly struck by how few people do it. Every position I have held in the federal and provincial governments was achieved through networking.

(2) start planning ahead now. Time goes by fast. Sketch out how the graduate program and research topic that you are passionate about links into careers (particularly outside of academia). Then follow lesson #1.

Pitfalls:

Sometimes the impression from (some) faculty and fellow graduate students is that the university/graduate program is the only thing that matters, and your life should evolve completely around it. Do not be afraid to seek connections and opportunities outside of academia. My doctoral research and subsequent work on defence policy has benefited just as much from the experiences I had outside of classroom as I had in it.

Did you consider an academic career while in graduate school? Could you discuss why/why not? How does your current position differ from academic positions? What are the tradeoffs/rewards/downsides?

Sort of. The limited job openings mixed with the reality that you would have to move anywhere to land a job were huge disincentives for me. I also wanted to bridge the academic-practitioner divide and felt a strong academic grounding in a related discipline would be beneficial to a position within the civil service or the think-tank/consulting world. I knew this going into my PhD. I also missed Atlantic Canada (where my spouse and I are from) and wanted to plant our roots there.

As such, I went in with the plan that my doctoral research be policy-relevant to open career opportunities outside of academia. I love academic research a lot, so my side career goal was/is to teach sessional courses and publish through think-tanks outside of my full-time career. I’ve managed to achieve both (again, through networking), and am an adjunct faculty at the University of Prince Edward Island and a fellow with a number of think tanks across Canada.

As a trade & economic policy advisor for a small provincial government my current position is very busy with little time to sit back and contemplate the decisions you are sometimes asked to feed into or take positions on. This can be exhilarating, but a trade-off/downside is that there is little time to take deep dives on the issues that cross my desk. I miss that. However, as someone with a background in Political Science, it is exciting to compare my experiences of the inner-workings and functions of government decision-making with what I learnt and studied as a student. Personally advising the Premier at a major conference, co-chairing a national trade agreement committee meeting in the Yukon, and being invited by the US State Department for a two-week tour of the US government have been pretty memorable career rewards so far.

Could you discuss the aspect(s) of your graduate training which you leveraged during your job hunt and/or in the workplace? 

The interview techniques and lessons I learned from my PhD helped me finesse my networking skills and interactions with government stakeholders. The rigour that went into developing questionnaires for my PhD interviewees (including the Research Ethics Board process) have not gone to waste and have enabled me to create effective questionnaires when I participate in consultation sessions with stakeholders.

Attention to detail and research rigour: writing a graduate dissertation, by default, improves those skills initially learned as an undergraduate. Presenting one’s policy work to Cabinet or senior management is not that different from presenting to a dissertation defence committee. Be accurate and prepare for the questions.

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Stephanie Bailey

Master of Social Work (2004)

1. What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?

I am a clinical social worker at a mental health hospital. I am also the professional practice lead for social work at my organization. I support clients and families in their journey towards recovery, as well as supporting other social workers in their clinical work. My duties include practical assistance (community referrals, assisting with locating housing, assisting with financial security), therapeutic skills (individual therapy, family counselling, supportive interventions) as well as professional practice support (ethical consultations, regulatory college questions, identifying, implementing and supporting professional practice standards within the discipline).

2. What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?

I found it difficult to find stable work and ended up working several part-time jobs. I was doing shift work and often working several shifts in a row at different workplaces. I was “working in my field,” but had no job security and felt I was not moving forward in my career. However, each of these jobs provided me with valuable clinical experience and familiarity with resources, and helped me decide which specific area of practice I wanted to pursue.

3. How did you arrive at your current position?

When I did find a full-time job, it was through a connection that I had made during a student placement, and the skills I had learned at my various part-time jobs were invaluable in my new position.

4. What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?

Many positions allow you to gain experience and exposure to the areas that you would like to work in, even if they are not directly in your field of choice. Social work is a diverse profession, and it can take some time to figure out what area of practice is the best fit. Exploring several different areas can help narrow down the options. It can feel like there is pressure to make a decision, to choose a path. Remind yourself that you have time, and you can take the time to find your path.

Stephanie Bailey has been involved with . The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.

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Sogol Naserian

MA in Legal Studies (2011) from ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

LL.B from University of Sussex in the United Kingdom

1. What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?

I practice labour/employment, immigration/refugee and general civil litigation. My job requires a lot of research, attention to detail and persistence.

2. What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?

The main challenge was that the market was (still is) supersaturated with bright and hardworking law school graduates who are looking for work. (Please note: Sogol holds an LL.B or Bachelor of Laws from University of Sussex in United Kingdom.) My main challenge was finding an articling position which would allow me to get through the licensing process (in an area of the law that excited me). Most graduates end up working in an area that they are not excited about and/or take an unpaid articling position. I was lucky to find articles in an area of the law that I wanted (immigration/refugee) and to actually get a pay cheque at the end of the month.

3. How did you arrive at your current position?

Networking. I cannot overstate the value of networking in my field (or any field, really).

4. What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?

There is more than one path to achieving a goal. The basic principles that are common to all paths are: hard work, persistence, a great attitude and trusting in the timing of things.

Sogol Naserian has been involved with . The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.

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Jacqueline Stesco

MA in International Affairs (2011)

1. What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?

I am in Risk Management. Currently, I work at the Canada Revenue Agency in their Enterprise Risk Management function. I am responsible for reviewing the risk management of all Agency projects valued at over $1M, I complete Internal Fraud Risk Assessments and I do ad-hoc risk advisories with clients across the Agency to help identify and mitigate their risks.

2. What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?

I wanted to work for the government and when I graduated, there was a hiring freeze. No jobs to be had. I pivoted and expanded my horizons to the private sector landing a job at EY. Working at EY was the perfect solution. Working out of the Ottawa office, most of my clients were government so I was able to soak up all the experience I needed to eventually transition into government.

3. How did you arrive at your current position?

I found my current position via my network. I knew about the function through my previous consulting work and was intrigued. When I heard that there was an opening, I jumped!

4. What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?

There is no one way to achieve a goal. Few people achieve what they want right off the bat. Often, it takes a little maneuvering. I think that understanding how what you’re doing now will connect to the next step will be more helpful in the long run and will get you to where you want to go!

Jacqueline Stesco has been involved with . The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.

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Ben Nicholson-Smith

Master of Journalism (2010)

1. What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?

I work in journalism, where the demands of the job vary pretty significantly from day to day. Some days I’m at my desk in Toronto, editing and planning our Sportsnet.ca baseball coverage. Other times I’m on the road covering the Toronto Blue Jays or in one of our radio or TV studios. That means my to-do list can look very different from one day to the next, but I’m always relying on writing and communication skills regardless of where I am and what I’m doing.

2. What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?

I was lucky not to search for too long, because I started working for a Chicago-based baseball transactions website while still studying at ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´. Working at MLBTradeRumors.com was a great experience because the standards were high and we had a big and knowledgeable audience. There were still challenges, such as proving to people in the industry that I was capable and respectful. Some of that understandably takes time, because building legitimacy and trust are real challenges as a new journalist.

3. How did you arrive at your current position?

After four and a half years working for MLBTradeRumors.com, I started working at Sportsnet.ca in my current role as baseball editor. Over the years, my coverage of the team has expanded to include some radio, TV and podcast work—really an incredible opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most talented sports broadcasters in North America. I definitely feel fortunate to work in an environment where people set and reach high standards.

4. What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?

To be honest, I think the advice I’d give would apply to students in most fields: show up on time, be humble, learn whenever possible, stay patient, be considerate, listen to yourself and others. As for advice specific to journalism, I’d suggest reading and writing as much as possible. So much goes into a great piece of journalism, but if you can identify the small building blocks (an observation, a follow-up question, some telling background research) that lead to the end result, then you’ll be closer to replicating that in your own work.

Ben Nicholson-Smith has been involved with . The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.

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Petronila Michael

MA in Political Science (2011)

1. What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?

I am in the volunteerism/Non profit sector. I have worked with Non profits for about seven years. I recently joined the Public Service. My work involves research, analysis, stakeholder engagement and reporting.

2. What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?

My biggest challenge was cross-cultural differences around how to apply for work in Canada versus my country of Origin. I also was not aware of the best practices with resume tailoring, networking, strategic volunteering and so forth. I spent nine months sending hundreds of resumes in vain. My breakthrough came when I learned how to customize my application and how to properly prepare for interviews.

3. How did you arrive at your current position?

I applied as an external candidate. After working with non-profits for over seven years, I wanted to serve as a public servant. I studied very thoroughly about how to apply for government jobs. I asked people who work in the government to share some tips. I worked very hard on my applications and went through the interview process. The key thing for me was to prepare as much as I could for every step of the process. I finally got hired at Employment and Social Development Canada in September 2018.

4. What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?

I would advise that they take their time to learn about the sector they want to join. Learn how to tailor your application to each job. Network as much as possible (use social media tools such as LinkedIn). Try to start by volunteering to build your resume. And never take it personally when you receive a rejection letter. Use it as a fuel to get you to the Yes you are keenly seeking.

Petronila Michael has been involved with . The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.

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Glen Barber

MA in Economics (2013)

What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?

I work as an Information Technology (IT) Auditor for the Government of Canada, in an agency called the Office of the Auditor General. My job involves working with other government departments to ensure that projects are successful and money is well spent. Once an audit is done, we publish a report of our work online to be read by parliament and the public.

2. What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?

I didn’t have a job lined up immediately after graduating, so I spent my first summer out of university looking for work. To get experience and keep myself busy, I volunteered at a few different charities. That experience helped me land my first job in the government.

3. How did you arrive at your current position?

For the first couple years of my career I worked on contracts lasting between 6-12 months in a few different government departments. That was fun, as you learn a lot in a short period of time. After a couple of years, I had gained some useful experience and applied to an open recruitment process at my current work.

4. What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?

Three things helped me start my career: 1) volunteering and participating in university clubs and groups, 2) preparing a 5-10 page job market paper that you can share to demonstrate your interests and writing ability, and 3) attending professional networking events and following-up with the people you connected with.

Glen Barber has been involved with . The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.

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Christopher Braeuel

MA in Public Administration (2000)

1. What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?

I’m an international development practitioner and leader with over 18 years’ experience in multilateral negotiations, global project/program management, and organizational stewardship in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. Some of the key responsibilities in my position(s) include/have included national representation in UN and other international fora, conceptualization and management of bilateral poverty-reduction initiatives, contract negotiations and management, project partnership development, stakeholder relations management, and diplomacy. Success in this field of work relies significantly on strong organizational and interpersonal skills both in domestic and foreign settings, a natural desire and aptitude for learning languages, interest in other cultures and ways of living/thinking, excellent oral and written communication skills, the ability to adapt quickly and comfortably to changing circumstances, and patience and resilience among other important skills and attributes.

2. What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?

One of the biggest challenges I faced upon graduation was deciding among various job opportunities. Even when you prioritize your preferences, the timing doesn’t always work in your favour so you may agree to choice 2 or 3 because there are no firm offers or guarantees of choice 1 at that moment, or you are simply under pressure to decide sooner than later. If you accept option 2 or 3, work with the same enthusiasm as if it were your first choice. If you decline option 2 or 3 in hopes that your top choice will eventually materialize, there is always the risk that it won’t in the short-term and you will have missed out on the other opportunities in the process. It’s good to take risks so long as you’re willing to accept the outcomes and adapt.

3. How did you arrive at your current position?

As the Founder and President of CHB International Associates, an independent international affairs and development consultancy formed in 2017, my career journey so far has been long, diverse and fulfilling. Since my career launched at the turn of the millennium when I was recruited by the federal government, I’ve gained valuable experience on key national priorities such as the creation of the Canada Research Chairs program and Public Health Agency of Canada; I’ve represented Canada as a negotiator and national focal point on delegations to key United Nations conventions; and I’ve served abroad leading and overseeing a major basic education development program in Afghanistan, among other challenging assignments. Having continued with the non-profit sector, I lead key projects and programs dedicated to improving the status and livelihoods of children, youth and women in Tanzania and Nigeria. Since I’ve settled back in Canada with my family and established my consultancy, and having cultivated a diverse network of international professionals over the years, I continue supporting various internationally-focused organizations with their key priorities and initiatives. I also enjoy teaching and engaging in community charitable causes as a volunteer Board member, fundraiser and musician. It is the famous quote by Muhammad Ali that continues to inspire me each day: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

4. What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?

Know yourself well (your skills, values and interests), have clear goals and know the challenges and opportunities of working in international development and humanitarian affairs. Identify a few key mentors early on who work in different sectors of international affairs (government, non-profit sector, and private consultancies) so you have a well-rounded understanding of the pros and cons of each and which track might be best to start with or to pursue as a career. International development and humanitarian work depends on highly skilled professionals so the more you specialize in a particular domain over time and according to your interests (i.e. health, education, environment, child protection, conflict management, etc.), the better. Through specialization you will cultivate a valuable niche, develop a strong reputation and be sought after within your global network. It can also be advantageous to focus your experience regionally (i.e. focus on South East Asia or West Africa, for example). Be prepared that your life circumstances, priorities and values will likely evolve over time and this will have an impact on your international career choices. Typically, depending on your future plans, it is best to take on physically demanding, high-risk, overseas assignments when you are younger and fully mobile. This will accelerate your skill development and secure a valuable base of experience on which to grow. Building a solid foundation is imperative. Lastly, while rich and rewarding, an international career can be emotionally taxing at times. You will be involved in high profile, life changing work but will also be exposed to the darker sides of humanity in the process (devastating poverty, inequality, violence and conflict). Maintaining a positive spirit and mature attitude will carry you through the tough times and motivate you to continue working for the cause of good.

Christopher Braeuel has been involved with . The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.

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