Brief Summary
This video is all about how to build a career in public policy. Shatakshi breaks it down into motivation, identifying the right organizations (implementation vs. strategy), crafting a killer CV, and acing those tricky policy cases. She also talks about the importance of networking and getting referrals.
- Motivation behind choosing public policy
- Identifying right organizations for implementation and strategical work
- Designing CVs and applying for jobs
- Preparing for policy cases
Motivation for Public Policy
Shatakshi shares her motivation for working in public policy, highlighting the macro-level impact and the sense of meaningfulness it brought to her work. She felt more peaceful and motivated knowing her work could indirectly impact people's lives. While the starting salaries in policy consulting can be competitive, the pay may not increase as rapidly as in the private sector. The work can be slow and sometimes frustrating due to bureaucratic processes and resistance to change. However, the satisfaction of driving transformative change and bridging income inequality can be highly rewarding.
Identifying the Right Organizations
When building a career in public policy, it's important to identify the right organizations, which can be divided into two categories: implementation and strategical work. Implementation involves expediting and monitoring existing policies, while strategical work involves setting up policy units or addressing procedural challenges. Some organizations focus on one area, while others do both. For implementation, big four firms like KPMG and EY in India are heavily involved in monitoring schemes. State governments also hire young professionals for roles at the district or chief minister's office level. For advisory roles, the landscape is richer, with opportunities at the Ministry of Commerce, Quality Council of India, and firms like Samagra Consulting. Global Governance Initiative (GGI) offers fellowships mentored by top consulting firms. International opportunities exist at organizations like the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and public sector practices at McKinsey and BCG.
Designing Your CV
Crafting a strong CV is crucial. Policy consulting CVs are similar to management consulting CVs, emphasizing quantification of work. If you struggle with quantifying your work, it may indicate a less suitable fit for consulting. Look for sky spike, you need to have one extraordinary element amongst your education, experience, or extracurricular. It's important to put in the effort to create a good CV, as laziness in this area can hinder your career prospects.
Applying and Getting Referrals
Apply on the company website and try to get a referral. Policy consulting is a small, niche circle, so networking is key. Reach out to managers at target firms, but avoid sending long, generic messages. Instead, write concise, credible messages highlighting your strengths and why they should help you. Cold emails can be effective if done well. If a referral system doesn't exist, reach out to mid- or senior-level managers for advice.
Preparing for Policy Cases
Preparing for policy cases is very important. Many candidates fail interviews because they don't prepare for policy cases. Policy cases are often trickier than private sector cases because they are more abstract. Examples include increasing a country's tax-to-GDP ratio or doubling farmers' income. These cases require structure, practice, and experience. GGI provides help with policy consulting interviews.
