Do all political science students just end up going to law school?

My name is Serina Woo. I am an incoming 4th-year student at the University of Toronto. I am pursuing a BA with a specialization in political science and a focus on economic development and international affairs. In addition to that, I have also completed a certificate in international affairs. Like many of my peers, I aim to translate my skills as a political science student into a career in an industry I am interested in. Here are my reviews, learning reflections and key takeaways from the “Illuminate x Grant Thornton: The World of Social and Public Sector Consulting” work-integrated learning experience. 

Intro to Social and Public Sector Consulting

In many of my political science classes, when our professor or TA asked us about our future career plans, 9 out of 10 people expressed a desire to work in the legal field. But is law school the only career path for political science students? This work-integrated learning experience covers a wide range of industry-specific information and acknowledges different aspects of public sector consulting. I have gained valuable insights into the components of social and public sector consulting. It is important to understand the impact of social and public sector consulting because consulting firms like McKinsey and Grant Thornton collaborate with different types of organizations to address respective social issues to improve the well-being of their members and the broader society. Governmental organizations on all levels are often responsible for the overall well-being of their community, whether this be policy-wise, or public services. Social organizations and NGOs on the other hand work independently from governmental organizations to reach their unique social and political goals. Potential consultants need to understand the differences and the structure of each type of organization. 

Strategy is one of the main themes mentioned throughout this work-integrated learning experience. It informed me of the importance of a clear structure for a consultant’s thought process, from setting a specific goal, and identifying target audiences, to outlining the steps needed to achieve desired outcomes.  To a political science major student like me, constructing a strategy is like structuring an essay. Each argument made has to be supported by evidence, and before writing an argumentative or informative essay, I would have to consider my target audience, and factor in different views and potential counterarguments. To have a clear structure for an essay is the same as having a clear strategic plan for social and public sector consulting. 

In addition, engagement with your identified audience and stakeholders would also help give your audience a better consulting experience. Networking is not limited to job seekers trying to network with recruiters. The purpose of networking is to expand your network and to help you grow. By learning more about relevant stakeholders, a consultant candidate can develop a well-rounded strategy suitable for their clients and minimize unintended consequences to enhance customer satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

From this work-integrated learning experience, I acquired key takeaways and learning insights. In my political science courses, I often come across socio-political topics such as Indigenous communities within Canada and social issues like poverty and the housing crisis in Canada. However, I have yet to learn about the environmental side of city planning and politics. Specifically, I learnt about a term called “cap and trade.” Under a cap and trade system, companies are often given a limit to the pollutants it is allowed to produce. The cap and trade system is a market-based approach the government uses to encourage companies to buy and sell permits. If a company produces below its cap, it can sell its extra permits. Not only does this incentive promote lower rates of emission, but it also encourages technological innovations. This system has been successfully implemented in several countries. The Ontario government cancelled its cap and trade system back in 2018. A potential consulting case would be to advise a governmental organization through the process of integrating this system locally to reduce pollution. 

Additionally, on the topic of environmental advocacy and policy, I also learned about ways to address the current gaps and/or tips for future steps. For instance, on the subject of cap and trade, I learnt that the key to successful implementation is to have a suitable cap and ensure trading efficiency. I reflected on each subject and understood that social and public sector consulting isn’t only about developing effective policies, but also ensuring their practical implementation and monitoring. This can only be done by having a specific and detailed understanding tailored to the issue of the consulting case. This was opposite to my original understanding of social and public sector consulting, where I thought it was solely about consulting organizations on their current and future policies on certain issues. 

My Reflection

This work-integrated learning experience encouraged me to explore career options beyond what’s most expected of students studying my field which in my case is law school. This learning and leadership journey also encourages personal growth. Just as finance, accounting, and engineering students can go into different consulting sectors, political science students can similarly explore public sector and social consulting. A political science student’s curriculum often includes a diverse range of focuses, including Indigenous politics and Canadian politics. Thus, it allows political science students to view consulting with a policy-oriented perspective. 

I have learnt that all types of consulting consist of detailed considerations of an issue’s historical background, beliefs, values, and more. For example, when consulting for Indigenous communities, it is important to understand the unique challenges this community has faced historically. For instance, key challenges are Indigenous communities’ continuous struggle for self-determination and sovereignty and different Indigenous communities' relationships with settlers. Awareness is an overall theme I have observed throughout my journey with Illuminate Universe’s consulting learning and leadership experience.

This process taught me how to apply my critical thinking skills in areas outside of my academics and encouraged me to make connections to my daily life and career aspirations. Content creation can seem daunting for many, including myself when I first explored this work-integrated learning experience. People often worry about maintaining creativity or dedication. I found that connecting content creation to daily experiences and career goals simplifies the process. I am a political science student actively looking for jobs post-grad. Hence, learning about the industry of social and public sector consulting informs my job search. I would like to specialize in one area of consulting because it would allow me to excel and become a more credible candidate.

Before I conclude, I would like to reflect on my leadership journey as part of my learning experience with Illuminate Universe. I’ve come to appreciate how leadership extends beyond traditional roles and responsibilities such as setting examples for your teammates and coordinating events. More importantly, it involves a combination of strategic thinking, effective communication, the ability to maintain social networks and the ability to ensure the quality of products. These soft skills are crucial for excelling in social and public sector consulting and also reflect effective leadership. I see my leadership style as a mix of democratic and coaching approaches since I enjoy fostering discussions for continuous improvements while assisting teammates in unlocking their full potential. Although I always knew that these qualities were crucial for effective leadership, I hadn’t considered how closely related they are until now. This learning experience has challenged me to incorporate these qualities as part of my leadership journey more actively within and beyond Illuminate Universe. 

Lastly, 3 pieces of advice! 

Here are 3 pieces of advice I have for you to work on if you’re looking for a job in social and public sector consulting: 1) Be attentive to details, consulting is all about accuracy.2) Be respectful and maintain awareness of an audience because being culturally and historically aware is a must. 

3) Being committed to your client is one of the basic qualities of a consultant. 

Finally, my journey with “Illuminate x Grant Thornton: The World of Social and Public Sector Consulting” work integrated learning experience has expanded my understanding of the multifaceted nature of the consulting industry. Specifically, I gained insight into the importance of strategic planning, through which I was able to make connections between my educational background in political science and consulting. As well, I leave with a better understanding of how important thoroughness is in the field of social and public sector consulting. Coming out of this learning experience, I now know that social and public sector consulting isn’t just about crafting policies, but also the practicality and impact of those policies. I am also more confident that political science students who spend their undergraduate years perfecting their analytical and strategic skills are more than qualified to contribute to consulting roles. I aim to utilize the knowledge I gained from this experience to navigate my future endeavours in the industry confidently. This is the end of my reflection on Illuminate Universe’s work-integrated learning experience. Thanks for reading!