Being a part of the federal public service: A remarkable student experience! –Yashpreet Birdi

March 27, 2023 - Defence Stories

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Yashpreet Birdi

The top 5 lessons I've learned & observations made while being in the federal public service so far…

For the past year, I had the incredible opportunity to be part of the Federal Public Service through the Department of National Defence (DND). I had a wonderful experience working in the Internal Disclosure Office (IDO), Assistant Deputy Minister (Review Services) through the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), while pursuing my Master's degree at the University of Windsor. For as long as I can remember, I've always had a strong desire to work in public service and government administration. During my FSWEP experience, I've made valuable relationships with my colleagues and learned exceptional skills from them. As a student, I had the opportunity to support the office on a variety of projects ranging from administrative tasks for information management to web content development for the IDO's communications-related priorities.

Every day is a new learning opportunity for me here! From trying to accurately locate myself and my team in one of the Government of Canada's largest federal department, to understanding hierarchical structures in place for organizational reporting! One of the most significant elements of this experience for me has been developing my skills in operating efficiently in a non-traditional work environment. Managing both school and work priorities virtually from home has been both a challenge and greatly convenient at the same time. In the past months I found myself using the same desk in my room but simply alternating between work and personal computers in order to complete my work priorities and then write my Major Research Paper for grad school during the day!

Prior to joining DND, my previous employment experiences have been in the Ontario Public Service. I've brought many lessons from my previous Ontario Public Service employment experiences to the Federal Public Service work environment and have applied them to help me successfully carryout my duties. Lessons such as understanding the importance of diversity, transparency, and developing the ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities have all proven to be valuable. Receiving the opportunity to join the Federal Public Service at this early stage of my career helped me add some more significant points to this list.

Here are the top 5 lessons I've learned and observations made in my time being in the Federal Public Service so far. For me, these lessons will certainly serve as frequent reflection points as I continue ahead with my journey in the Federal Public Service.

1. Always remember: Your work contributes to broader government priorities!
   I find that in our day-to-day work, we tend to sometimes forget the larger picture to which our individual tasks are contributing towards. For instance, in my case the broader priorities, directives, and visions of DND and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) surrounding digital modernization, defence ethics, and organizational culture change. Priorities which are shaped by various domestic and international factors truly influence the nature of our work in various capacities and therefore, are significant to keep in mind. I feel that as students or new professionals, it can be easy to forget about these visions, or understand them in detail. However, committing to embed some form of practice for such reflections on broader government priorities into your daily work routine can help provide deeper purpose and motivation for work when things may become more challenging!
2. It's all about trying to improve efficiency, collaborating with others, & investing energy where it's needed the most!
   Through working on team projects and tasks, I've observed that my colleagues always ensure to carry the mindset of trying to find new and more efficient ways to perform their tasks. Whether this means to revisit traditional ways of operating, initiating improvements to fundamental work tools, or simply reflecting on their team's purpose or mission - staying curious and initiating change is a wonderful mindset to have. In addition, collaborating with other units or teams for certain projects when suitable not only helps ensure consistency in all our services but gives us the opportunity to focus our energies where required the most. I've observed that being strategic in regularly investing time for improving core team systems, structures, and operations eventually helps to put everything else in place for effective delivery of services!
3. Clear & effective communication is key!
   The power of effective communication cannot be underestimated. Overtime, I have learned that this is a skill that is not only important in operational work, but also during daily informal conversations with others. Taking time to develop clear communication skills allows you to effectively share your needs and indicate to others how they can best support you. In my student experience I've realized that it is also important to understand the different approaches and methods that can be used to communicate with others. There are a variety of communication methods which one tries to develop skills in overtime, including professional emails, formal briefing presentations to senior management, team meetings, informal conversations with colleagues, etc. For me, I've realized that there is value in trying to get into the habit of choosing the most appropriate communication method for the situation I find myself in and then, attempt to be as clear as possible in the overall messaging - and it's an ongoing learning process!
4. There are a variety of learning & professional development opportunities out there for you!
   In my short time within the Federal Public Service so far, I have realized there is a wide range of opportunities that surround me. Federal public servants truly have significant opportunities to advance their careers and gain professional experience in any field imaginable. From second language training to data analytics to digital innovation, there are various options to help you move towards your dream career. As a student, I took the initiative to take a few interesting self-paced courses and attend virtual events on topics of defence ethics, indigenous studies, geopolitics & national security, and career planning through the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) learning platform. I am looking forward to continuing this journey of learning in the Federal Public Service by hopefully having the opportunity to enroll in second-language training in the near future!
5. It's important to frequently reflect back on the core values and ethics for the federal public service!
   Reflecting and learning more about the core values of the Federal Public Service is important not only to perform your work to meet higher standards, but to gain perspective on the larger public service community to which you belong to. When explored closely, values such as integrity, loyalty, excellence, and respect for democracy and people, each contain significant and distinct elements within them. Whether you're a student or an experienced public servant, through deeper reflections and absorbing such values that define our broader organization, I feel you can see yourself as being part of and contributing to not only the present, but the future of the Federal Public Service!

A big thank you to the Department of National Defence & the federal public service!

I would like to conclude by saying that this student opportunity within DND has opened many doors for me. I am eternally grateful to the Internal Disclosure Office (IDO) team for this outstanding student experience. Moving forward, I am pleased to continue my path in the Federal Public Service by now joining the Conflict of Interest (COI) team within Assistant Deputy Minister (Review Services)! I truly appreciate the ongoing support and encouragements I receive from my colleagues and greatly thankful to the Federal Public Service for providing me the opportunity to contribute and grow!

Last but not least, I would strongly encourage all of us to frequently take the time to reflect on our individual experiences in the public service! Whether you're a student, new professional, or experienced public servant, there is immense value in asking yourself: What's one of the most valuable things I've learned throughout my career journey so far in the Federal Public Service? I hope we can all benefit from reflecting and sharing our unique experiences as we continue with our paths towards contributing to the Federal Public Service!