The Launchpad by Second Day

Overall estimated read time: 12 minutes

Last updated: July 2021

Social change is complex, and it takes significant focus to understand the nuances of social challenges, develop potential solutions, and advocate for more resources for those solutions. Policy and research play a fundamental role in shaping public discourse and influencing governments to invest in social impact. Many politicians and government officials rely on the research and ideas of policy researchers to implement new agendas or to raise awareness of critical social challenges. For example, several think tanks had advocated for decades to implement a more robust child tax credit, which was implemented in early 2021 and may cut child poverty in half in the US. Others continue to build the case for potential transformations in housing, healthcare, and education. Research and policy are critical to building the case for action and providing a roadmap for legislators, nonprofits, and businesses to follow towards social change.

If this career path sounds exciting to you, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about working in policy and research. To inform our work, Second Day has spoken to experts in the field and gathered the best information out there for upcoming and recent graduates. First, the guide will take you through the different entry-level positions to look out for in this field. Then, we’ll provide tips on actually getting those jobs in policy and research. We’ll finish with our next three steps: actionable items you can take to make progress towards finding your first job. Let’s get started!