Students sat in Newcomb Hall Feb. 9, eagerly soaking up all the wisdom they could from the five panelists sitting in front of them. What were they looking for? Career advice. It's what many third- and fourth-year students are looking for this time of year as they scramble to find jobs and internships for the summer, and it's what the International Career Workshop sought to provide.
Professionals with experience in international development, public health, non-government organizations, the Department of State, Capitol Hill and the intelligence community offered their two cents about how to start an international career. While all of the panelists emphasized a few important qualities students should have if they're planning to enter a career in international relations -- such as study abroad experience, language skills and strong writing skills -- each panelist also had his and her own advice to give.
"There's a need for a sense of vision, a sense of purpose, a sense of passion," said Lou Dunn, senior vice president of the Science Applications International Corporation think tank. Dunn, who specializes in technical and policy issues and works with NGOs in the international security field, noted that he has encountered a variety of academic concentrations in his field.
According to Christopher Clary, an employee at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, even though government internships and high-level jobs are hard to come by, there are a number of ways for prospective employees to obtain positions they are seeking, at least in the long run.
Master's degrees are important, Clary said, but he also suggested alternative ways for students to work themselves into the executive branch, such as becoming a contractor and doing impressive work with a government client, working in the intelligence community or maintaining a strong network with good connections in order to become a political appointee.
Despite the steps a student may take, there is an element of chance involved in finding a first job, according to Penelope Anderson, director of food security at Mercy Corps, an international relief and development organization.
"You kind of have to get lucky with your first position," Anderson said, adding that she recommends students join the Peace Corps after graduating if they are interested in relief and development. According to Anderson, on-the-ground work experience is the key to getting an international career.
Anderson said she first went to Hungary with the Peace Corps when she graduated from college and then landed a position with Mercy Corps and has traveled to Indonesia, Kosovo, Albania and Afghanistan. She emphasized how her travel experience and work in the field benefited her career and her insight.
Rebecca Dillingham, an HIV specialist and program director of the University's Framework Program in Global Health, gave advice on global public health, noting that communication skills, especially in a foreign language, are the key to any international career.
"The discipline in learning a foreign language will help you come to a better understanding of a foreign culture," she said, adding that foreign language capabilities show the dedication and aptitude needed for learning another language that employers generally like to see.
Dillingham, along with other panelists, also emphasized the importance of quantitative skills, such as statistics, especially in global health and relief work.
When asked what should an applicant like if he or she plans to go into an international career, the panelists emphasized their love for travel, but noted other items on their lists, too. According to Dunn, for example, "if you like to make your own kind of music," working at a think tank might be the best option. Dillingham advised that those pursuing a career in global public health should have an interest in conflict and problem-solving and should be willing to travel to uncomfortable, hot, stuffy places -- not the Ritz, for example.
In response to questions about recommended academic concentrations, Dunn listed government, political science, and history as the majors he most frequently saw students applying with to work at think tanks and in the government, though he does see a certain number of students with degrees in the "hard sciences."
According to Dillingham, careers in global health span most disciplines. Though she is a physician herself, Dillingham does not recommend medical school for everyone who wants to get involved in public health.
"You really have to have a fascination with disease ... Don't go to medical school if you're not interested in the science," she said.
Dunn noted the importance of creating a resume "that sets you apart from all the other resumes." International volunteer programs can be an excellent way to get the on ground experience while still presenting a unique quality on your resume, he added.
Clary emphasized internships as extremely important when trying to start an international career. While summer internships can be hard to come by, Clary suggested trying to work out a schedule with the University, if possible, to arrange a spring or fall internship. Leigh Grossman, vice provost for international affairs, emphasized it is important to always keep doors open to various opportunities -- as students never know what they will end up loving.
"In the end it always helps if you're around when someone says, 'Help! I need somebody!'" Dunn said.
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