Senior Policy Advisor Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Senior Policy Advisor resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
As a policy advisor, you’ll be tasked with analyzing and interpreting complex issues, crafting solutions, and implementing plans. You’ll work closely with senior leadership to help shape key initiatives and set the direction of an organization.
If you’re interested in working on the front lines of government or corporate decision-making, a role as a policy advisor could be right up your alley. But before you can land the job, you need a resume that highlights your unique skills and experience. Here are some tips for writing your own plus an example for reference.
How to Write a Senior Policy Advisor Resume
Here’s how to write a resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The best way to make your resume stand out is to use specific examples and numbers. So rather than saying you “managed policy initiatives,” you could say you “managed policy initiatives for 100+ employees at five locations, resulting in a 15% increase in productivity over six-month period.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the results of your work. It also includes a quantifiable result (15% increase in productivity).
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a senior policy advisor role, your resume will likely be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This program looks for certain terms related to the position, like “social welfare” or “poverty reduction” in order to determine whether your experience is a match. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, the ATS might disqualify you from the pool of applicants.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure to include relevant keywords throughout all sections of your resume. You can find a list of commonly used keywords below:
- Policy Analysis
- Public Policy
- Politics
- Government
- Legislation
- Government Relations
- Strategic Communications
- Legislative Relations
- Coalitions
- Strategic Planning
- Community Outreach
- Grant Writing
- Political Campaigns
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Politics & Government
- Public Speaking
- Research
- Policy Development
- Program Evaluation
- Issue Advocacy
- Policy Debate
- Strategic Planning for Development
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Communication
- Project Management
- Business Strategy
- Consulting
- International Development
- Strategic Partnerships
- International Relations
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a senior policy advisor, you will need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to do your job effectively. This might include familiarity with policy research databases, case management software, or presentation tools. Additionally, many organizations are now using social media platforms to engage with the public, and policy advisors who are familiar with these platforms will be better equipped to take advantage of this growing trend.