Give Government a Chance

I remember my second year of the PR program. I was attending a co-op info session and a professor asked us who in the room planned on pursuing a career with the government. Only I and two other classmates raised a hand.

You often hear people say that a government job is boring tedious work. When I told someone that my next co-op was with the federal government I received many sympathetic sighs. I never understood the hesitation, or outright disapproval of this sector. It’s common, I know, but in my opinion, completely unjustified. My terms with the government have both been great experiences.

Two of my three co-ops were with the government (my second co-op was with the Law Commission of Canada and my third was with Veterans Affairs Canada). These two co-ops taught me a lot – I practiced what I had learned in my courses and broadened my skills to include tricks that just aren’t taught within the walls of a classroom. Sure, sometimes my work will take a couple of weeks to make it through the approval process, but I’m always busy with the next up-coming thing on my list!

I think the government is an exciting place to be right now. There are a lot of changes going on and communications is a highly valued function in any department. The support systems are fantastic, the salaries and benefits are great and the career opportunities post-graduation are pretty favourable. I finished my courses this past summer and I am now working with my last co-op employer, Veterans Affairs Canada in a contract position for the fall.

I think everyone has to rethink their stance on government jobs. Give it a try, and remember that any co-op is only what you make of it!


Melinda Miller
BPR 2007, Co-operative Education

Melinda Miller is a recent graduate of the BPR program. She hails from Greenwood, N.S., but currently calls Ottawa, ON her home. Melinda is presently a communications officer for the Atlantic Region’s Canada Remembers division of Veterans Affairs Canada. Melinda was selected for the EU-Canada Mobility project in her final year at MSVU. She spent six months in Vienna, Austria studying and interning with the United Nations. To read more about Melinda’s experiences read her personal blog: http://www.melindamiller.blogspot.com/.