Policy Analyst (Criminology and Human Rights & Human Diversity, BA)

Petek Yurt, AdvantAGE Ontario

By: Olivia Condlln-Wilby, BSW Practicum Student

When Petek enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2014, she planned to attend law school and become an attorney. She started by completing an Honour’s Bachelor of Arts in Criminology in combination with Human Rights and Human Diversity. But over the course of her undergraduate experience, she became increasingly involved in volunteer and extracurricular activities that made her doubt her future as a lawyer. For example, she joined Laurier’s Students’ Union and engaged in advocacy, policy development and union meetings. This experience motivated her to veer away from law school and instead pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto in 2018.

As a policy analyst, Petek leads multiple projects and initiatives such as a senior housing portfolio. On a daily basis she conducts interviews, attends meetings and drafts policy recommendations. In addition, she works to clarify COVID-19 protocols for community and organization members. Every week she leads the development of a weekly executive report that outlines new research and general updates to be distributed amongst the team and other stakeholders.

Petek believes that a successful policy analyst is adaptive and open to change. She explains that many projects come up at the last minute so she must be prepared to adjust her priorities. A career in policy is also best suited to those who are organized, with strong time management and multi-tasking skills. Importantly, Petek notes that aspiring policy analysts should enjoy a fast-paced environment as the workdays can be busy and change without notice.

While this may sound hectic, Petek likes the fact that the environment isn’t monotonous. She says that her favourite part of the job is the fact that she’s always learning, especially given that she had no experience with long-term care or senior housing before entering the sector. 

Petek’s advice to students and recent graduates is to prioritize volunteer and work experience rather than focusing exclusively on credentials and degrees. Some employers are impressed by those who spend two or three years at the same company, but Petek emphasizes the value of moving between sectors and experimenting with different roles. She worked in government and not-for-profit agencies before working with AdvantAGE Ontario and had a chance to explore a few policy issues before committing to a main focus. Students may also be interested in research internships and co-op placements which provide an opportunity for hands-on experience and resume building.

In the future, Petek sees more remote opportunities becoming available. She encourages students to look for virtual volunteer work in research, grant writing and other areas related to policy.