Education · 1 of 4

The path

A degree, some government experience, then hired into an analyst pool.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Strong English and a second language if you can. Debate, student government and model parliament are directly relevant.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Political science, economics, public policy, sociology, environmental studies or law. What matters is that you can research and write.

3. 3

   Get inside

   During your degree

   A co-op term, a summer student job through the federal student program, or a constituency office. Nearly every analyst had one.

4. 4

   Optional master's degree

   2 years

   A Master of Public Policy or Master of Public Administration. The Munk School program at the University of Toronto, for example, runs two years full time with a paid internship built in.

5. 5

   Apply to a pool

   6 to 12 months

   Federal hiring runs through advertised processes on GC Jobs (Government of Canada Jobs). Expect written exams, an interview and months of waiting.