Though there is a tendency to only think of policy analysts in a political sphere, they are actually found in any organization. A policy analyst’s job is simply to identify problems within the organization, and then research and craft possible solutions. The vast majority of policy analysts will have a bachelor’s degree and will major in things like public policy, politics, economics, or any research/analytics-based major; with many policy analysts also having a master’s degree in the field they have chosen to specialize in.
In addition to educational qualifications, there are specific skills needed to succeed in the field. Policy analysts spend a considerable amount of time researching. It is therefore important for you to emphasize your ability to do in-depth and accurate research, and show that you can digest large amounts of information and data. Likewise, communication skills are important as you may likely find yourself working in a group or needing to effectively present your crafted solutions for adoption. Highlighting both of these skills, amongst others, would be very beneficial.
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As the title suggests, this position requires an analyst to interrogate current policies or problems, do in-depth research and data analysis around a problem and be able to offer workable solutions. You will most likely work under a senior analyst and possibly as part of a team of analysts. You should therefore be an effective team player.
This resume does a great job of highlighting the applicant's extensive research-based background as well as their ability to develop effective solutions. It also does a great job of emphasizing the applicant’s ability to successfully collaborate with colleagues.
You want an employer to be confident in your capabilities to properly research any assigned topic. You also want to make it clear that not only do you have extensive experience as a researcher but you are also capable of synthesizing the research into solutions. So, highlight your crafted solutions - especially those that were adopted.
A policy analyst is supposed to create workable solutions that should have positive results. Show your effectiveness by quantifying how your suggestions and policy saved resources, increased revenue, or otherwise benefitted your previous employers.
An insurance policy analyst evaluates insurance policies to identify the relevant risks to both the insurance company and the policyholders. They may also calculate associated risk to determine which insurance policy is best suited for a client, and interrogate insurance claims to ensure they are legitimate and can be processed successfully.
This resume effectively shows a professional with extensive experience in the insurance industry, which would be highly preferred. Furthermore, the resume demonstrates promotions with each position change, highlighting employer confidence in the professional’s capabilities.
Quantify your value add to your previous and future employers by expressing your success in actual numbers. How much money did you save them? How many claims did you process in a certain period? These numbers will make it easier for a recruiter to appreciate your successes.
Policy analysts need to be experts in their specializations. Therefore, if you want to apply to be an insurance policy analyst, you should demonstrate that you have lengthy experience in the field. Showing that you have worked in multiple positions in the industry is an extra benefit to show you have a multi-dimensional understanding of the field.
A junior policy analyst works as a support for their superiors and departments. They may be tasked with organizing and conducting research, collecting interviews or appointments, providing summaries of collected data, presenting research-based solutions, and whatever other task they are assigned.
As this position can be multifaceted, this resume succeeds in highlighting the variety of tasks this applicant had successfully completed. It also highlights the policy successes that the applicant has been, at least, partially responsible for, which is impressive for someone in a junior position, and would be attractive to a recruiter.
Because you will be asked to complete a variety of tasks in this position, be sure to list all of the skills you have to complete these tasks. E.g. List the various areas of research you are skilled in, as well as any subject areas you are particularly knowledgeable about.
Because you most likely do not have a lot of real-world experience as an analyst, feel free to include any relevant experience you acquired in university. It will help bolster your potentially scarce resume and will show an early and sustained interest and passion in the policy analyst field.
As a hiring manager who has recruited policy analysts at top think tanks and consultancies like Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, and Deloitte, I've reviewed hundreds of resumes for this role. The best policy analyst resumes effectively showcase the candidate's analytical skills, policy expertise, and communication abilities. Here are some key tips to make your policy analyst resume stand out:
Employers want to see that you have strong research and analytical skills relevant to policy analysis. Highlight specific projects or experiences that demonstrate these abilities:
Quantify your achievements where possible, such as the number of sources used, size of data sets analyzed, or impact of your work.
A resume summary is a short section at the top of your resume that highlights your most relevant qualifications for the job you're applying for. It's optional, but can be a useful way to provide context or add details that aren't already in your resume. This is especially true if you're a career changer and your past experience doesn't directly align with the policy analyst role you're targeting.
However, avoid using an objective statement, which is an outdated resume feature that focuses on what you want rather than what you can offer the employer. Your summary also shouldn't repeat information that's already in other sections of your resume. Keep it concise, no more than a paragraph, and tailor it to the specific policy analyst position.
The work experience section is the most crucial part of your policy analyst resume. It's where you highlight your relevant professional background, key accomplishments, and the specific ways you've driven impact throughout your career.
Let's break down step-by-step how to write an effective work experience section that will capture the attention of hiring managers and help you land your next policy analyst job.
The education section of your policy analyst resume should be concise and highlight your relevant academic background. This section is particularly important if you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience in the field. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when crafting your education section:
Strong action verbs tell a recruiter your role in a specific accomplishment. Policy analyst resumes should use action verbs relevant to research, solution creation, and policy implementation. Action verbs like ‘Surveyed’, ‘Developed’, and ‘Championed’ do well to emphasize the different processes of policy analysis.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
When listing your skills for a policy analyst position, there are 2 things you have to keep in mind. Firstly, pay attention to the industry you are applying to. This will inform the type of tasks you will be doing and will help decide on the skills that are most effective to accomplish those specific tasks. Secondly, policy analysts generally have 3 steps – identifying a problem, researching the problem and potential solutions, and crafting the most optimum solution. Ensure that the skills you list address all 3 steps.
Here are some skills suggestions from policy analyst job postings.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Policy Analyst job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
