Overview
Policy analyst roles in government, think tanks, and charities require a specific combination of research skills, writing ability, and the capacity to turn complex data into clear recommendations. For graduates, the challenge is demonstrating these skills with limited professional experience, which is where internships, student union work, and independent research projects become essential.
Hannah Roberts is a politics graduate from Queen's University Belfast who completed an internship at the Northern Ireland Assembly. Her resume works because it shows real policy output, committee-level work, and the ability to produce research under time pressure.
What Makes This Resume Work
Assembly internship with deliverable-focused descriptions. Drafting 5 committee briefing papers and responding to 18 MLA research requests within 48-hour turnarounds shows Hannah can produce high-quality work under deadline pressure. These are the core tasks of a policy analyst.
Data analysis connected to real policy questions. Analysing 3 years of NISRA hospital waiting time data for a health committee inquiry is a concrete example of turning numbers into policy-relevant insights. It shows Hannah can work with government datasets and present findings for decision-makers.
Student union experience that mirrors the role. Managing a campaign that reached 3,200 students and organising consultation events demonstrates stakeholder engagement and the ability to gather and synthesise public feedback, which are core policy skills.
An independent project with a real audience. Co-authoring a youth policy report, surveying 340 people, and presenting to MLAs shows initiative and the ability to produce professional-grade research outside of a formal employment setting.
Key Takeaways
For policy analyst roles, your resume needs to show that you can research, write, and communicate findings to decision-makers. Describe every briefing paper, report, or research memo you produced, naming the topic, the data sources, and the audience. If you have student union or campaigning experience, frame it around consultation, stakeholder engagement, and evidence gathering. Policy employers value candidates who can turn data into clear, actionable recommendations quickly.
