Public Affairs: What young professionals are learning (and why it matters)
Brussels is rich with sharp, multilingual, and tech-savvy young people who carving out their careers in public affairs, advocacy and communications. From consultancy to policy teams, they’re rising quickly—often moving from university to management roles in just a few years. But the journey from academic theory to fast-paced advocacy work brings real challenges—and real learning. And communications skills are key as well as self management.
So what are they learning?
📘 The obvious list
- How EU policymaking works – the regulatory paths
- Communications skills – writing with impact, confident public speaking
- How to build relationships—because Brussels runs on them
- How to stay informed with news, podcasts, LinkedIn
But that’s just the start.
The real shift is from the academic “comfort zone” to the real-world demands of negotiation, teamwork, and audience-focused communication. In university, the focus is on context, methodology, and solo work. In public affairs, it’s all about collaboration, clarity, and speed.
🔑 New skills young professionals need to master:
- Analytical thinking: understanding audiences and political nuance
- Negotiation and influence: getting buy-in from others
- Relationship-building: trust is the currency of advocacy
- Emotional intelligence: giving feedback, navigating tensions
- Strategic communication: clear structure, sharp messages
🎤 They also need to rethink how they present ideas: no more 10-minute preambles—just tell us what’s happening, who’s involved, why it matters, and what you want.
🤖 And then there’s AI. Young professionals are leading the way in adopting tools like ChatGPT for summarising, drafting, and speeding up content creation. But the human element still matters: curating ideas, reflecting team positions, and truly understanding what’s been said in the room.
AI is saving time. The question is: what will you do with it?
Use it to go deeper. Think strategically. Build better relationships. And never forget—the human insight behind the message is what really makes it matter.
