Laura Reznikova, Class of 2020

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND?

I graduated in the summer of 2020, from the Master in European Affairs at the School of Public Affairs. Prior to this, I completed a MSc in International Political Economy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA in International Relations with Spanish and French at the University of Exeter in the UK.  

Since early 2019, I have been working at the OECD, more specifically at the OECD Centre for Skills. I first started as an intern while I was still studying at Sciences Po, and had worked as a consultant before I began my current role of a Policy Analyst. 

How was the recruitment process at the OECD and what are the main characteristics of your job today? 

The recruitment process at the OECD can vary slightly depending on the specific position. The process I went through for my current role consisted of a pre-screening phase, a written test and a panel interview.  

In my job today, I work on developing policy advice for strengthening countries' skills systems and/or implementation guidance for implementing specific skills reforms. This typically involves in-depth analysis of the country's skills system, developing targeted policy recommendations and providing relevant international best practices that the country can learn from going forward. All of this is done through a collaborative process together with the country, and involves several rounds of engagements with a range of local stakeholders through workshops, focus groups and bilateral meetings. In my role, I have had the opportunity to work with a broad array of countries, including Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Portugal, and the Slovak Republic. 

What were the main stages in the construction of your professional project? 

From the beginning of my studies at Sciences Po, I knew I wanted to gain relevant work experience alongside my studies. In this respect, I was grateful for the simple and straightforward process through which Sciences Po signed off on my internship at the OECD (part-time during the semester), and for the support I received from the university. Equally, having the opportunity to pursue my professional interests during the last semester at Sciences Po allowed me to further progress in my role at the OECD, which then became the basis for the job that I have now.

What have been the contributions of your academic background at the School of Public Affairs to the position you hold today?     

Several of the courses I took during my studies, such as on labour markets policies in a comparative perspective, are directly relevant for my role today. The studies at the School of Public Affairs also allowed me to further develop several transversal skills that I now use in my job on an daily basis - most importantly analytical thinking, drafting and working in a team. Also, several of the projects I work on are carried out in close collaboration with the European Commission, which allows me to apply the understanding of the workings of EU institutions I had developed during my studies. I was equally able to further improve my French, from which I am now able to benefit given that the OECD's official languages are English and French. 

Do you have any advice for a student who wants to work in an international organisation today? 

There is a large variety between and even within international organisations in terms of their objectives and the areas of focus, so having an idea of the fields that one is interested in is a good first step. Once you figure out what roles you could see yourself in, my experience is that investing into research and preparation during the application process pays off. Reach out to people, use your alumni networks, ask questions and be proactive in your search. As recruitment processes tend to be competitive, do not be discouraged by rejection - I have myself received several before starting in my current role. Once you start at the job, make the most out of the expertise that will surround you, be willing to try new things, embrace the challenges that will come your way, and most importantly enjoy it!

learn more

• The Master in European Affairs at the School of Public Affairs
• The Europe in the world policy stream at the School of Public Affairs 

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