Reaching a Career in Foreign Policy by Working for a Subnational Entity
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AUTHOR: AUDrEY JEAN
Audrey Jean is the European & Multilateral Affairs Director for the Quebec Government Office in Brussels.
She holds an MSc in Management of International Development and Humanitarian Action as well as a Bachelor in Political Science both from Université Laval (Québec, Canada).
Over the course of her career, Audrey gained a wide variety of work experience within the Québec Public Service. Before starting her position within the Quebec Government Office in Brussels, she worked for the Quebec Anti-corruption Commission, developing prevention programs and international partnerships for this police force. She is also a Lecturer for the Faculty of Continuing Education of Montreal University.
A bit about my background
I knew quite early on that I wanted to work in diplomacy. I was lucky enough to be the daughter of a driven mother who made her dreams of working in foreign policy a reality, despite her lack of diplomas or the expected network to allow for this to happen. Expatriations in both Egypt and Belgium as a teen enriched me greatly and made me realise that this was the life I wanted for myself. I felt comfortable in the unknown and wanted the chance to be an eventual bridge between various cultures, an individual ambassador sent into a world I had everything to learn from.
Those experiences in my bag, I wanted to make my own mark and be independent, so I moved far away... to a place that became home. Quebec, Canada! But if you would have told me that I would work for Quebec, a subnational entity from a country that I wasn’t born into, I probably would have frowned… Highly doubtful! But here I am, acting as the EU & Multilateral Affairs director in the Quebec Government Office in Brussels, contributing to Quebec’s outreach to the European Union institutions through dialogue, exchange of good practices and collaborations.
Prior to making my way to my actual position (my dream job!), I worked for years within the Quebec government as a first-generation immigrant. My first concrete international relations mandate was within an anti-corruption police force as a Prevention and Risk Management Advisor. This position allowed me to engage with international organisations and public institutions abroad in charge of fighting corruption in order to share good practices and enrich our own set of preventive and risk management tools.
The road to get to careers in foreign policy varies depending on the different regions or countries I’ve lived in. But one of my first mentors gave me very important advice: To work in foreign policy, I’d have to bring something to the table. In this piece, I will share parts of my journey and highlight the benefits of considering subnational players as an interesting path to take on, as well as diversifying your experiences in order to make your profile more attractive to a foreign policy job offer.
The reality of the field
Diplomacy is definitely a competitive sector, attracting people for various reasons, including the perceived perks that come with it. In the mid-20th century, people in the foreign policy sector started considering a wave of new actors as valuable diplomatic players: regions, cities, religious organisations and sports associations to name a few. Some authors associate these entities with “paradiplomacy”. Working for Quebec, I understand how a subnational entity can develop strong partnerships with other regions or states in various countries. As a subnational entity, the province of Quebec has its own areas of jurisdiction. According to the Gérin-Lajoie doctrine in 1965, Quebec decided to embrace its spheres of competence at an international level. Quebec, therefore, has the legitimacy to negotiate international alliances with entities in its areas of jurisdiction. Subnational actors can be very proactive on the diplomatic scene and highly contribute to the strength of relationships in sectors such as research, education, or even the economy.
These players often have limited resources compared to national entities so rely on smaller teams of employees. Working in foreign policy for a subnational entity has been very beneficial for me. It allows me to meet with diplomatic players at all governmental levels and from civil society. Starting at the position of European and Multilateral Affairs Director within the Quebec Government Office in Brussels, I assumed I would mostly interact with subnational entities such as regions or territorial communities, but supranational organisations are very interested in some of the sectors in which Quebec excels like research and innovation, especially in the field of electrification of transportation, or artificial intelligence.
Also, working for a subnational entity means I need to be able to take on a variety of tasks, be proactive, and show initiative. Each member of the team covers a wide range of issues and always considers how their work can benefit Quebec actors, expanding their outreach and opportunities for collaboration. The team not only watches out for opportunities but also creates them. These qualities are therefore required to keep informed of available opportunities, and adequately represent my organisation in this multi-layered diplomatic arena. In order for this to be possible, you are strongly encouraged to be curious about international relations, but also research and innovation, human rights and so much more.
A few recommendations
I’m at the beginning of my career in foreign policy and still have a lot to learn but I hope that the following recommendations can be helpful to some of you and encourage you to consider such a path:
Don’t fear the non-traditional route: New players on the diplomatic scene mean new opportunities. Consider subnational and local entities as a step or a goal in your career in foreign policy. It will allow you to enrich your experience and offer you other options to embrace such a career. Working for such entities allows you to expand the responsibilities you take on being part of smaller teams, and therefore the skills you’ll gain. Because the diplomatic legitimacy of subnational entities is not always recognised or understood, you will sometimes have to raise awareness and further your organisation’s agenda simultaneously.
Bring something to the table: There is an ongoing debate within the field of foreign policy between whether to specialise and become an expert in a field or to remain a generalist caring for multiple subjects. When it comes to subnational players, I think the balance is in favour of generalists… but with a twist. Many entities prefer or look for well-rounded individuals who have a breadth of knowledge and experience over people with a bunch of degrees. Those skills are required to address the variety of challenges faced by a smaller team. Remember what my mentor said: bring something to the table.
Expand your horizons: You must care for more than the subject you chose in school. Some valuable pieces of advice were offered in a previous Zig Zag article. Diversify your experiences to illustrate the qualities believed to be necessary for these types of positions. If you want to work in diplomacy, especially for a subnational entity, you need to think about different skills and experiences you can bring. Think of these as puzzle pieces. Each piece represents a different experience: foreign language learning, an internship abroad, volunteering with an NGO with an international mission.
Seek advice and do not hesitate to reach out to people: It’s so important to network and to get advice from people who work in the field. LinkedIn is a really good way of doing this, it can connect you with people from all levels. And in my experience, not everyone will respond but those who do really take the time to listen to you and to guide you. If someone does offer to virtually meet you (or do it in person), come in prepared with a list of concrete questions but also to answer simple questions such as: who you are, and why you requested this informal meeting, what’s your plan… Do not hesitate to ask them about their path to the actual job and more importantly, and depending on the level of openness, follow-up with some news on your path towards foreign policy, if you per example want their advice on an organisation they worked for and that offers an internship you are considering.
Careers in foreign policy can be embraced in various ways. If you dare to think outside of traditional paths, consider working for a subnational entity. It is both interesting and rewarding. If you consider this as an option, expand your horizons in order to have something to bring to the table. Proactivity, a sense of initiative and versatility will be your best tools, as no day ever seems to be the same when you work for such an entity!
Published 1st December 2021
Edited by Ashvini Rae