Choosing the career of a public servant

In the fall of 2010, Oleksandra found herself travelling over 7,000 kilometres for a three-month internship at SaskPower’s head office in Regina. She spent three months researching, promoting and evaluating the corporation’s energy saving programs. By the time she returned home to complete her MBA, her career goals had shifted.

“A friend I met during my exchange program recommended the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Johnson Shoyama. I did a bit of research and was interested right away,” Oleksandra says.

What drew her to the MPA? “I wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives, and government has the capacity and resources to have a large scale impact.”

Oleksandra arrived on the University of Regina campus for her first classes in the fall of 2011, excited but nervous. “It was very hard at first. My English was still not very good, so I had to work very hard that first semester just to understand the lectures. And the fact that I didn’t have the same background on the issues we discussed in class made it harder.”

There were subtle cultural differences too. “In the Ukraine, my MBA program focussed more on ideas and how to come up with solutions in certain situations. At Johnson Shoyama, the focus was on evidence-based analysis. Everything had to be cited. It was not so much about what you think, but about what the evidence says. That was a big shift, and it took some time to adapt,” Oleksandra says.

It was also unsettling to see her marks that first semester. “I always got very high marks in school, and my first marks in the MPA program were not what I was used to, so I was very disappointed in myself,” Oleksandra says, “My parents were very supportive during that time. I would call and talk to them, and they would tell me not to worry, it takes time, be patient.”

Her parents did, in fact, know best. Oleksandra found her footing, not only academically, but socially as well. “I met my future husband in my very first class,” she says with a smile. “We went through the program at the same time. He helped me a lot! He proofread my papers and shared the background on some of the issues we discussed in class.”

Looking back, Oleksandra says she gained something from each of her classes at Johnson Shoyama. She remembers a block class on municipal governance for its balance of theory and practical learning. “We had great speakers from different areas of municipal and provincial governments, and also from outside government, and we talked about current issues and hot topics.”

She enjoyed the core class on public policy analysis, saying it provided a strong foundation for working in government. The negotiations and conflict resolution class also stands out in her memory, for slightly different reasons. “It was out of my comfort zone,” Oleksandra says. “I’m not a confrontational person, and in negotiations, you sometimes have to be in order to stick to your plan. I learned good techniques and strategies, and I learned how negotiations work in the real world, but the biggest lesson was that negotiation wasn’t my strength.”

After finishing her class requirements, Oleksandra applied for a paid internship with the Government of Saskatchewan—another serendipitous choice. In the fall of 2013, two years after arriving in Canada for the MPA program, she became an executive intern to the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Planning and Policy Division in the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.

“An internship gives you access to the world you learn about in school; it’s practical exposure to that world. You shadow senior leaders, listen to conversations and ask questions. You also get to try your hand at some projects, and your mentor helps with feedback and advice. It is very beneficial,” Oleksandra says.

The internship not only proved to be a great opportunity for Oleksandra to stretch her wings, it gave her a chance to actually test drive her career. “The internship was for eight-months. At the end, I was offered the position of the Executive Assistant to the ADM of Planning and Policy. I have been in this position since.”

EA positions generally require a bachelor’s degree, but with government growing in complexity, an increasing number are coming in with master’s backgrounds. The EAs generally draft and review internal and public documents for consistency, manage various policy issues and projects on behalf of the ADM, prepare briefing material and reports, and provide advice to the ADM on issues regarding ministry policies, programs and legislation. Oleksandra, for example, describes an average work week as ‘fluid.’ She may be focused on administrative policies and procedures one day, acting as gatekeeper for division communication and public relations activities another day, and getting involved in research and analysis the next day.

“I jump in and work as part of the team wherever necessary. I work on projects on behalf of the ADM, collaborate with other team members, provide a link between divisions, help identify and resolve issues, coordinate communications, write documents as needed,” she says. “Wherever my ADM is going, I’m following.”

Oleksandra was recently nominated to serve as the Ministry’s representative on the Engaging and Developing Government Employees (EDGE) committee. EDGE is a network created to provide leadership and development opportunities to young professionals in the Saskatchewan public service.

“EDGE is a great opportunity, you get to work with a lot of talented people across government and the public service. EDGE is the voice of young, emerging leaders in the province’s public service,” Oleksandra says.

Oleksandra is happy with the choices she’s made. “Living in Canada for almost five years,” she says, “I can say with confidence that I made the right choice in moving here, entering Johnson Shoyama and choosing the career of a public servant.”