Tania knew she wanted to make good use of her education

After graduating from university, I knew I wanted to work in Parliament to make use of my Politics degree. It was just my luck that, in 2023, there was a vacancy in the House of Lords, and I would be able to come in as an Attendant within the Property and Office Services team. 
  
Joining as an Attendant allowed me to familiarise myself with many different departments and learn more about the procedures within the House of Lords. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes of the State Opening, especially since the Attendants help with the setup. Managing the room booking system for Members of The House of Lords, committees and Parliamentary staff helped me navigate around this historic building we work in, and I am grateful to have worked in such a role which introduced me to a wide variety of people. 
  
After a few months, I was promoted to an Administrator in the Legislation Office which further put me in the heart of the work of the House of Lords. I learned a lot about the different types of legislation Parliament produces and had the opportunity to sit in on many committee meetings. My main tasks were to aid the Bar Counsel and make sure the department had the equipment they needed to conduct their work smoothly. Working within the Legislation Office allowed me to see how members submitted amendments for bills. Now, I get to see things from the perspective of a Member of The House of Lords through my work as an Executive Assistant to the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers. 
  
Working in the Crossbench Office is an experience quite unlike any other as I get to help the Convenor manage his day-to-day schedule as well as assisting other crossbench members with any queries they have regarding their work. I have arranged for numerous high-profile guest speakers to attend the crossbench weekly meetings, which has allowed me to meet so many incredible people in the process. It is always delightful speaking with the crossbench members and hearing about their work. 
  
In addition, I also work with the Printed Paper Office part-time, which gives me great access to various papers related to past and present legislation. I very much enjoy learning and refreshing my political knowledge, and I can’t think of a better place to do it than in the House of Lords. 
  
My advice to those wanting to join Parliament is this: stay curious and open to learning. No two days are ever the same here, and each one brings new challenges and opportunities. Curiosity has been a key driver in my journey, and I am grateful it allowed me to end up in the Crossbench Office!