Overview
Politics and International Relations graduates have a clear path into policy research, but the competition for roles at think tanks, government departments, and NGOs is intense. The Institute for Government, Chatham House, the Resolution Foundation, and the Civil Service Fast Stream all attract hundreds of applicants per position. Your resume needs to demonstrate that you can analyse policy, write clearly for non specialist audiences, and handle evidence.
This resume belongs to Declan, a Politics and International Relations BSc graduate from the University of Exeter who interned at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and volunteered as a constituency researcher for an MP. His resume works because every bullet describes a deliverable: a briefing paper, a data analysis, a stakeholder meeting attended.
Think tank internships
If you interned at a think tank, lead with the specific publications or projects you contributed to. Declan's IFS internship involved analysing spending data from 150 local authorities, contributing to a published briefing note, and preparing charts for a public presentation. These are tangible outputs that a hiring manager can verify.
Parliamentary experience
Working for an MP, even as a volunteer, gives you exposure to the policy process that no academic programme can replicate. Declan handled 40+ constituency casework enquiries per week, drafted 12 parliamentary questions, and attended 3 All Party Parliamentary Group meetings as a note taker. Each of these is a concrete contribution to the political process.
Evidence synthesis and briefing writing
Policy research roles require you to synthesise large volumes of evidence into concise, actionable documents. If you have written a policy briefing, a research summary, or a background note, describe it with word count and topic. "Drafted a 3,000 word briefing on local authority funding disparities" is much stronger than "strong written communication skills."
Quantitative skills for policy roles
Many policy researcher positions now expect some quantitative competence. Declan lists Excel, Stata, and R alongside his qualitative skills. Even basic proficiency with data analysis and visualisation sets you apart from candidates who can only do qualitative work.
