Dough Life: A Day in the Life of a Public Affairs & Communications Summer Analyst
- Canada Dough
- Jun 21, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 4, 2020
Name: Bryan
Role: Public Affairs & Communications Summer Analyst
About Me
My name is Bryan, and I am a Public Affairs & Communications Summer Analyst at CPPIB (Canada Pension Plan Investment Board).
I am a Schulich Alumni (BBA 2019), and a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA 2023).
I love working at CPPIB and I am happy to be returning for another summer. Working downtown is awesome and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working with the same department. In this article, I will be sharing about my experience from Summer 2019.
1. What is your role? What does your job entail?
My job is to support the Public Affairs & Communications in several different projects. That has ranged from digital transformation and strategy, research on provincial issues, financial planning policy, and other needs for the organization’s Public Affairs & Communications.
2. What does a typical day look like for you? How is your work-life balance?
As a commuter, normally, I woke up at 6AM, got into the office just before 8AM, and would leave between 6PM or 7PM. I get home between 8 to 8:30PM.
After work, I would spend some time at home for dinner, or go out with some co-workers and friends to grab a quick meal and catch up.
My work-life balance differed from others. Some people worked with Investment teams and were in the office much later. Others lived closer to the office, so they could go to the gym at 7AM and come into the office by 8:30AM.
3. What appealed to you about this particular organization?
I work at CPP Investments and I was originally appealed by the chance to work in an organization with a mission to serve the public, surrounded by some of the most talented staff in the country. It was amazing to work in an organization bringing together a diversity of experiences and expertise. It is one of the most enriching places to work.
4. What aspects of your job do you enjoy? What keeps you up at night?
I enjoyed the opportunities to learn through my work and seek guidance from very talented people. Nothing keeps me up at night about this organization.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
5. What would the ideal candidate look like? Describe any relevant skills, experiences, traits, etc.
The ideal candidate is smart, ambitious, and has demonstrated an ability to do good work. My coworkers and other interns were phenomenal candidates. One intern was a campaign manager for a leader of a major political party, another just graduated from Cambridge to study international relations and law, and another was a part-time filmmaker. These were all very interesting and accomplished candidates.
They offer very specific postings, so the nature of the role and work is outlined very early on. As such, the ideal candidate would demonstrate skills, interests, and experiences linked to the position.
For example, a role with the sustainable investing team would probably want some demonstrable skills, interests, or experiences in either sustainability or investing. This can be very different from other organizations that might have a boilerplate response for 40+ roles.
6. What did the application/interview process look like for you? How did you get your foot in the door?
I had two in-person interviews at a “super day” [a single day where applicants are physically at the organization or office and interviewed with the recruiter and then the managers]. In hindsight, networking would be a good way to get into the door.
7. How did you stand out in the application process?
I stood out in the application process as someone who was very well-prepared for the work at hand, and knowledgeable about the role and organization. As part of my preparation for the interview, I researched the history of CPPIB at length and educated myself on CPPIB's recent investments, its executive leadership, and its recent initiatives.
My interviewers also noted that I previously worked in a number of project management and design roles. Previously, I supported a design consulting project at my university and the experience that I had developed aligned with the team's needs for that summer term.
8. Looking back, was there anything you could have improved during your application process, or mistakes that you noticed other applicants had made?
I would have networked to better demonstrate an interest and understanding of the organization.
9. Were there any surprises in your job search experience or things you wished you had known earlier?
I wish I was better prepared for networking. It is an essential part of recruitment within professional services. Whenever there are jobs or industries with more applicants than positions, interest, “fit”, and sociability will always be important to recruiters.
10. What advice would you give to someone who wants to break into your role/program?
I would tell anyone looking for work, anywhere, to network and demonstrate interests and “fit” through their experiences. It may not be easy to demonstrate “work experience” without breaking into a field, but recruiters also look for the ability to work in teams, handle complexity, or master new skills. These things can shine through.
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