Wiola, Junior Policy Analyst at the Crises & Fragility at the OECD

Coming from Poland, Wiola Stasieluk has graduated in International Security. She works as a Junior Policy Analyst at the Crises & Fragility at the OECD.

What is your role and main responsibilities? 

I really love my job! My main responsibility is to contribute to broad fragility analysis. It includes research, writing and publishing different kinds of products. I was lucky to publish my first paper on women and girls well-being and potential in fragile context (PDF), and I am currently co-writing the upcoming States of Fragility Report with my team members (stay tuned! It is coming out on the 19th of September!). My daily tasks vary and range from building partnerships, organising events, and preparing some contracts to working on the team’s communications strategy. If you are interested in my team’s work, here is our interactive data platform. 

How did you secure this role? 

I was really lucky! I was exploring the option of doing an internship at a different team in the same directorate at the OECD and I contacted a fellow Sciences Po student who was an intern at that time. After our conversation, I realised I would not be a good fit for that team, and he suggested the Crises & Fragility team. He kindly recommended me to a policy analyst in that team and I sent my CV and motivation letter. However, at the time there were no jobs available. Despite that I still asked for an informal meeting over a coffee, stayed in touch for the next couple of months and when the position opened a year later, I was directly contacted by the hiring team. The interview was extremely difficult and I honestly did not think I would get the job! But I got very lucky, and I joined as a team member 3 months later.

What is the most fascinating and/or surprising aspect at your role?

There is so much that fascinates me! The top three best things about my job:

My inspiring team! I am very lucky to work with people from a variety of different fields (humanitarian, development, military, academic etc) and it makes the dynamics and exchanges on our projects extremely enriching. I learn a lot from my colleagues, but I am also impressed by their modesty, professionalism, kindness and flexibility to include different perspectives and points of view.

The extent to which data can inform qualitative analysis! I am currently working on analysing the relationship between the increase of military coups and fragility, and the data analysis is really telling. OECD is renowned for its data-based evidence analysis and I can really see why!

The quality of products that the OECD produces is extremely high. The amount of work that goes into one publication (even the shortest one!) is really impressive. At each stage of the preparation of the publication, there is an expert that takes care of each of the parts, for example, the peer reviewers (internal and external), editing, proofreading, graphic design, data analysis, publishing, communication experts and so on.

How did your PSIA experience help you with the role? 

The breadth of topics addressed during my masters allowed me to smoothly fit into my role. Coming to my team with a political and security analysis background, I was able to understand and interact with development, environment, economics etc

The careers services offered by both Sciences Po and PSIA have helped me a lot in shaping how I present myself and my candidature (when applying for jobs) professionally

The friends and professors that you interact with are your true network when looking for a job. Sciences Po has an amazing network across all sectors, and I continue to use this connection to help my team build new partnerships!

What advice would you give to others? 

Network, network, network! Take your time as a student to develop networking skills, build your LinkedIn account and share your professional interests with others during conferences, internships and seminars. Remember that networking always works both ways - be ready to kindly offer your help, time and connections. 

• About OECD Crises and Fragility
• About the Master in International Security