Prospective students often ask questions about the types experience we look for and the types of careers graduates of our programs pursue.  One great resource related to this topic is the book Careers in International Affairs.

It is quite common for career services offices at colleges to carry the book so if you are still in school I would recommend dropping by to see if it is available. If not, ask them to order it.  If you are out of school you might check public libraries or it is available in book or digital form via Amazon.com.  Below is the very robust table of contents – it is a great book no matter your age or experience level.

Part I: Strategies

1 INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS JOB MARKET
Maria Pinto Carland

2 INTERVIEWING
Maria Pinto Carland

3 NETWORKING
Maria Pinto Carland

4 FINDING AND WORKING WITH A MENTOR
Maria Pinto Carland

5 CHOOSING A GRADUATE SCHOOL
Candace Faber

Part II: Types of Employers

6 THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Careers in the U.S. Government
Matthew McManus

Careers in the U.S. Foreign Service
Maura Harty

Reflections on Joining the Foreign Service
Yvonne Gonzales

Careers on Capitol Hill
Denis McDonough

Careers in Intelligence Analysis
Volko F. Ruhnke

Introduction to the Presidential Management Fellows Program
Robert F. Danbeck

A Presidential Management Fellow Looks Back
Beth Flores

7 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Careers in International Organizations
Jorge Chediek

Starting Out at the United Nations
Alf Ivar Blikberg

8 BANKING

Careers in Banking
Jeff Bernstein

Getting Started in Banking
Jae Lee

9 BUSINESS

Careers in Business
Karla Sullivan Bousquet

10 BUSINESS-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

Careers in Business-Related Organizations
Jonathan Huneke

Getting Started in Business—Government Relations
Stephen Ziehm

11 CONSULTING

Careers in Consulting
Lindsey Tyler Argalas

12 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RELIEF

Careers in International Development
Kristi Ragan

Careers in Relief
Patricia L. Delaney

13 NONPROFIT AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Careers in Nonprofits
Denis Dragovic

14 RESEARCH INSTITUTES

Careers in University Research Institutes
Elizabeth Gardner

Getting Started in Research Institutes
Emile El-Hokayem

A common question prospective students ask is, “What do SIPA students go on to do after graduating?”  I often respond by saying that the more appropriate question might be, “What don’t SIPA students go on to do after graduating?”

SIPA students have diverse goals and will often jump between sectors during their career lifetime.  All sectors, for-profit, not-for-profit, and public, are well represented in our employment statistics which you can find by clicking here.  I thought I would provide the following timely example of the variety of things SIPA graduates to go to do.

Last night was the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.  I know that soccer is the world’s sport, however the NBA is highly international.  The NBA is seeking to expand its presence and a SIPA graduate is on the forefront of that effort.  Vinod and I sat on a panel at The Clinton Foundation recently and I asked him if he would be up for a short interview.  He graciously agreed.  Enjoy.

Name: Vinod Raghavan

Degree Program: MIA

Concentration: International Economic Policy

Graduation Year: 2005

Current Position: Senior Manager, Global Marketing Partnerships

Organization Name: National Basketball Association

Organization Location (city, country):  New York, USA

What were you doing prior to attending SIPA?

Prior to attending SIPA, I was working at the Office of Former President Bill Clinton as Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor, where I focused on the creation, management, and execution of programs and initiatives in line with the Former President’s commitment  to fostering service and economic empowerment, paying specific attention to underserved communities domestically.

What are you doing now?

Currently, I work for the National Basketball Association in International Business Development, where our aim is to continue to grow and develop the game of basketball around the world. We have a strong global presence and continue to look for opportunities to expand our footprint in meaningful ways, including basketball development, strategic partnerships and international games and events. Specifically, I am tasked with liaising between our international offices and headquarters here in NY in an effort to align our goals and our and approach, both tactically and strategically.

Did you take classes at other Columbia Schools during your time at SIPA?

In addition to SIPA’s curriculum, I also took classes at the Business School, the Law School and even audited a course in the Philosophy department. If there’s something you’re interested in, it’s more than likely that you’ll find a way to get to it while at SIPA.

In your view, what type of person is “right” for SIPA?

Although it is difficult to identify the type of person who is exactly “right” for SIPA, it is clear that those that stand to benefit the most are those who are willing to share with and learn from their peers. The student body is one of SIPA’s strongest assets, owing to its broad diversity in nationality, ethnicity, experience, personality, and culture. There is a wealth of experience to be gained not only inside the classroom, but outside it as well.

What was it like to attend graduate school/work in New York City?

There is no city in the world quite like New York City. The city has so much to offer, it’s hard to decide where to begin. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re likely to find here. From a professional standpoint, New York is also a great place for new graduates. Almost all roads converge here, including finance, entertainment, the arts, non-profit/NGO, and politics. Opportunities are everywhere.

When describing SIPA to prospective applicants I will often say that SIPA is not an employment agency, however it is our job as a school to produce graduates that are prized in the policy marketplace.  Our curriculum is designed to equip graduates with the tools and skills that are desired by organizations in all sectors – public, private, and nonprofit.

The Office of Career Services (OCS) plays an important part in the development of our students.  OCS is responsible for running our professional development classes and assists students with resume and cover letter writing along with interview training.

The OCS mission extends beyond student development and includes extensive outreach to employers.  This includes site visits to employers, setting up recruitment opportunities at SIPA, hosting an annual career conference in Washington DC, and posting internships and jobs available to SIPA students and alumni.

Newly admitted students will have the opportunity to begin working with OCS during orientation.  As a short preview of the outreach that OCS performs, click here to view the OCS Recruiters’ Guide (PDF document).

Our Office of Career Services (OCS) is very active in the lives of our students.  The job of OCS is to help our current students prepare for immediate engagement in the policy world upon graduation and to assist alumni with continued career development.  The following are some of the highlights of the most recent OCS Newsletter that was sent to our students.  This list should give you a peek into the wonderful service afforded to our students and alumni.

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Economic and Political Development, Human Rights and Urban and Social Policy Alumni/Student Networking Reception

On Thursday, February 17, 2011, from 6:00-8:00pm, the New York City Career Series will host the Economic and Political Development, Human Rights and Urban and Social Policy Alumni/Student Networking Reception at the Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue (near East 38th Street). Hundreds of alumni from the New York City area and series panelists are invited to attend. The reception will provide an exciting opportunity to network with alumni in your field of interest.

Japan Travel Program for U.S. Future Leaders – Application Deadline: Friday, February 18, 2011

The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), in collaboration with the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), will implement the Japan Travel Program for U.S. Future Leaders for the third time. The goal of the program is to foster a new generation of future leaders in the United States who are interested in achieving a greater understanding of Japan and its roles in global affairs, and in engaging in dialogue and interchange with their counterparts in Japan.

The Program will invite approximately twelve (12) first-year graduate students – no more than two from each U.S.-based APSIA school with full membership – to Japan as a group for a period of approximately ten (10) days in August, 2011. The group will consist of students who currently are or previously have been engaged in Japan studies as well as those who successfully demonstrate a serious interest in Japan but may not have previous exposure to the country.

To see a sample itinerary, visit SIPAlink’s Career Resource Library section and click on “Japan Travel Program 2010 Itinerary Reference Only.”

This itinerary is for illustrative purposes only.

CGP will organize all aspects of official programs and bear all program-related costs of the group, including travel and per diem (accommodations and meals). Costs not covered by CGP include but are not limited to the following: passport application fees, U.S. domestic travel to and from the nearest airport, personal incidentals during the program such as gift purchases, personal time excursions, etc.

F-1 Student Optional Practical Training (OPT) Information Session

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) staff will outline your employment options for off-campus work following completion of an academic program. We will discuss eligibility requirements, time limitations, and application deadlines and procedures for off-campus employment (Practical Training) after your program of study.

The New York City Career Series

The New York City Career Series was established in 2005 by the Office of Career Services and is designed to provide a forum for students to discuss career trends with professionals in their fields of interest. It is comprised of approximately 20 career panels that take place throughout the school year, including topics such as Human Rights, Urban Policy, Gender Policy, the United Nations, Public and Private Consulting, Finance and Media.

Panelists include a mixture of SIPA alumni and other professionals working in New York City. The Career Series allows SIPA students to make important connections for jobs, internships and informational interviews.  Many of the private sector career panels were held during the fall semester, while those with a more public sector focus will be held in the spring.

Here is a list of the upcoming career panels for the Spring semester:

Monday, February 28, 2011: Gender Policy Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1512 IAB

Monday, February 28, 2011: Urban Policy and New York City Government Career Panel

6:15-7:45pm, Room 1501 IAB

Tuesday, March 1, 2011: Foundations Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1512 IAB
Wednesday, March 2, 2011: Security and Political Risk Analysis Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1512 IAB

Monday, March 7, 2011: Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1510 IAB
Tuesday, March 8, 2011: Social Enterprise Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1512 IAB

Wednesday, March 9, 2011: Non Profits/NGOs Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1501 IAB

Monday, March 28, 2011: Public Sector Consulting Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1512 IAB

Tuesday, March 29, 2011: Environmental Policy Career Panel

6:00-7:30pm, Room 1512 IAB

India Employer Outreach Trip: Report by Irene Coffman, Director of Employer Outreach

In my new role as Director of Employer Outreach, I took my first overseas trip to India in November 2010, along with representatives from three other Association of Professional Schools in International Affairs (APSIA) schools.  During the course of the trip we met with 28 organizations located in Mumbai and Delhi, as well as alumni.

We met with a spectrum of organizations that included private sector firms, think tanks, NGOs and multilaterals that included: Monitor Inclusive Markets, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Infrastructure Development Finance Company, Azure Power, TERI (The Energy Research Institute), Oxfam India, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Centre for Social Research, UN Development Programme, Aga Kahn Foundation, and American India Foundation.

Several of the organizations we met with have already posted internships for the summer and we are in the process of following up with the rest.

Peer Perspectives Series

Would you enjoy the opportunity to share with your classmates your professional experiences prior to or during SIPA? Give back to the current student body by sharing your expertise in a structured setting. If you have full-time professional work experience in a specific field, sign up to be a speaker as part of the OCS Peer Perspective Series that will showcase one of SIPA’s greatest resources, its student body!

Alumni Career Advisory Program (ACAP)

Attention students! Please note that you have access to the Alumni Career Advisory Program (ACAP), which is part of the SIPA Global Connection alumni website. ACAP is an online directory of SIPA alumni who have volunteered to serve as career mentors to current SIPA students and fellow alumni. ACAP is an excellent source for networking.

Online Job Search Resources

Current students have access to Vault Online Career Library. Vault is the world’s leading source of career information.  It will make your efforts at researching employers, industries, and career subjects infinitely easier and more efficient. In addition, students have access to Wet Feet Library. Since 1994, WetFeet has been a trusted third party for job seekers, helping students and young professionals make smarter career decisions. The Wetfeet Career Resource Site gives you access to the complete Insider Guide library and the inside scoop on more than 1,000 companies, careers, and industries, along with videos and tips to help find and score your ideal job.

Also, please check out our new subscription to the Going Global database! Packed with country-specific career information, this research tool provides expert advice and insider tips for finding employment opportunities domestically and abroad. Explore career and employment opportunities in countries around the world.  Listings are updated daily.  Resources include: business and networking groups, job search resources, cost of living data and more. H-1B employer listings are included in each City Guide, as well as a state-by-state roster.  Access more than 400,000+ country-specific company profiles.  (Available to students and alumni, UNI authentication required.)

The following post was contributed by second year SIPA student Richard Parker.  Richard is working in our office this year and he, along with several other students, will be contributing posts throughout the year. One item of note to consider when reading the following entry is that recent changes to the curriculum have made a capstone workshop mandatory for all SIPA students.

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It has been extremely busy this semester. Classes are definitely in full swing!!!  October was a busy month and  between working in the Admissions/Financial Aid Office and midterms, I barely had time to write this entry. However, there were some moments of levity one of which was my 27^th birthday and the SIPASA Halloween Party which is always a good time.  So I have had some time between all my various assignments to take a proverbial breather.

This month I also began my job hunt.  I figure it’s never too early to start. In that regard the Office of Career Services (OCS) has been my new stomping grounds. I went there more than a handful of times to get advice on how to strengthen my resume and cover letter as well as to get advice on how to best start my job search. They are very helpful over there and I feel more confident now than I did before. I guess I should get the office some cookies or popcorn for Christmas huh?

We just came off of our fall break and I took that time to go to Washington D.C. and hangout with my buddies and talk to a few of my mentors. That break was definitely needed and I am so looking forward to Thanksgiving.  I’m also looking forward to finding out if I get accepted into a capstone workshop. Capstones are mandatory for MPA’s and optional for certain MIA concentrators (I’m a MIA) but  I am hoping that I get accepted into one (hint hint professors).

Workshops apply the practical skills and analytical knowledge learned at SIPA to a real-world issue. Students are organized into small consulting teams and assigned a substantive, policy-oriented project with an external client. This will definitely augment my overall SIPA experience by providing me with valuable experience and contacts for post-graduate employment. I’ll let you know next month what the outcome is!

Part of being a professional school is taking the career development of students seriously.  From the day a student arrives at SIPA the Office of Career Services is involved in making sure there is a strong focus on developing career management skills.

The message below was recently sent out to incoming SIPA students.  I thought I would post it here for students interested in our program to provide a glimpse of the type of resources available.  Note that most of the links in this message require a user name and password that is only provided to incoming students.

So, if you are an admitted student please take advantage of the links.  If you are a prospective student, this message is just meant to provide general information about the first steps new students take with our Office of Career services when they join us for Orientation.

____________________________

Dear incoming SIPA students:

We in the Office of Career Services at SIPA are looking forward to meeting you upon your arrival for Orientation on Monday, August 30, 2010. It will be an exciting time as you embark on this journey to prepare for careers in international and public affairs. Obtaining internships and getting the opportunity to apply your new knowledge will be an important part of your experience at SIPA.

Many private sector employers and some federal government agencies begin recruiting for interns as early as September, while other public and nonprofit recruitment begins in the spring. You will be able to prepare for your internship search through various OCS programs available throughout the fall, including the Professional Development Class, career-related workshops and career advising appointments. Those of you interested in the private sector should register for the Private Sector Professional Development Class which will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2010. A schedule of additional classes will be available during Orientation.

We suggest you review the following information to ensure a successful internship search.

SIPAlink: OCS uses SIPAlink to advertise job and internship opportunities, career events, employer information sessions and on-campus interviews. As an incoming student, you will be able to register with SIPAlink at http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/find_job.html on Monday, August 30, 2010.

Resume: Make sure you have a well written and clearly formatted one page resume. You may refer to our Online Career Resources for sample resumes and fact sheets, such as Resume Writing-General Tips and Resume Writing Tips for Positions in Finance and Banking, listed online at http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/career_resources/fact_sheets.html.

Business Attire: If you’re interested in private sector employers, be sure to have a conservative business suit to wear to all business/finance employer information sessions and on-campus interviews. For some public sector and nonprofit employer presentations, business casual attire is acceptable.

Employer Information Sessions: These sessions offer a company/organization overview and provide excellent networking opportunities with employers. You should conduct prior research on the employer and arrive with well formulated questions. This will demonstrate your seriousness and interest in the particular employer and their industry. Once you have registered on SIPAlink, you will be able to view and sign up for employer information sessions of interest to you. In order to see a list of recruiters who came to campus last year, please look for a document entitled On-Campus Recruiters 2009-2010 in the SIPAlink Resource Library.

All students attending employer information sessions should order professional name tags through OCS. They can be ordered by logging into your SIPAlink account at https://www.myinterfase.com/cusipa/student/. Under On-Campus Recruiting and Career Events, click Career Events. From there go to the event labeled Office of Career Services: Getting a Name Tag First-Year Students Only (Class 2012) and sign up for this event by clicking the RSVP button. The deadline for the orders will be Monday, September 13. In addition, it is a good idea to order business cards to give to employers after their formal presentations. These can be ordered during your first week at SIPA through the Journalism School or Printing Services at SIPA.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to seeing you on during Orientation!

I know that the location of a graduate school is an item on the minds of those applying, but I wanted to offer a bit of perspective. Many applicants for example might think that if they want to get a job at the United Nations, SIPA would be the best choice because the U.N. and SIPA are both in New York City.

While it is true that SIPA and U.N. are both in NYC and that many SIPA students do take advantage of this, it is also true that many of those who hold positions at the U.N. hold degrees from schools located outside of New York City.

Why am I bringing this up? Well it came to my mind when I received this email from our Career Services Office recently:

Stay Connected with Columbia During Your Summer in Washington, D.C.

Columbia’s Office of Government and Community Affairs will sponsor several events for Columbia students spending the summer break in Washington DC. In addition, they will maintain a listserv to help get the word out about these and other events and opportunities of interest.

An interesting item of note is that Washington, D.C. ranks second in terms of cities with the most SIPA alumni. It is probably not surprising that NYC is ranked first. Just like it is possible for students that graduate from schools outside of NYC to work at the U.N. (or any of the multitude of organizations in NYC) it is possible, and actually highly likely, that many of our graduates will work in Washington, D.C.

Last summer when I finished a recruiting event being held in D.C. I randomly ran into three current SIPA students that were doing internships in D.C. and two students that have worked in my office this year are both moving to D.C. shortly to start working full time.

D.C. is just one example of course, we have over 16,000 graduates living in over 150 countries across the globe. But as I stated in my pro-con entry a while back, NYC is a great place to spend two years of your life. I will warn you though, you might end up addicted to NYC like me.

The Office of Career Services sends out  weekly bulletin to current students and here are some highlights from the recent edition.

Graduating Student Survey

In order to pick up your graduation tickets, please be aware that you must first fill out the Graduate Employment Survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22A2PGDFPSF

Tickets will be distributed beginning on Monday, April 26, 2010.

Whitman Family Foundation 2010 Summer Fellowship in Environmental Policy

With financial support from the Whitman Family Foundation, the Energy and Environmental Policy (EEP) concentration is pleased to offer the 2010 Summer Fellowship in Environmental Policy. An award of $1,000 will be given to a student in the environmental track participating in an unpaid summer internship related to environmental policy.

Chris Hill MPA Internship Grant

SIPASA is pleased to honor the life of former MPA student Christopher Hill with a scholarship fund for continuing MPA students undertaking public interest summer internships with government or nonprofit organizations.  Christopher died in March 2000, while still studying at SIPA, after a courageous battle with cancer. Christopher’s friends and family created and funded the first year of the scholarship.

More details and eligibility requirements are available on SIPAlink.

SIPA Travel Grant Program

SIPA provides internship grants to qualifying students to help defray the costs of summer unpaid or low-paid internships overseas.

The application deadline is Friday, April 23, 2010.

SIPASA/OCS Business Cards and BBQ

Get ready for an evening of food, fun and networking on Friday, April 23 from 5:00-8:00pm on Ancell Plaza! SIPASA and OCS present a new twist on our annual barbecue – “Business Cards and BBQ”. In addition to the usual BBQ, beer, music and games, we also encourage students to bring some of their business cards to share job and internship experiences. This event is FREE to SIPA students with their CU ID.

Graduates of our program go in a lot of different directions.  Policy training can benefit those interested in all three major sectors: profit, not-for-profit, and public.  A policy based mindset can help individuals succeed in all walks of life, and policy training can actually open doors.

Recently Sandhya Chari, a current student that used to work at Google and is now pursuing Economic and Political Development at SIPA, took a moment to interview Gabriel Stricker, an alumnus of our program currently working employed with the storied company.

Name: Gabriel Stricker
Degree Program: MIA
Concentration: IFB (now International Finance and Economic Policy)
Graduation Year: 2001
Current Position: Director, Global Communications & Public Affairs
Organization Name: Google, Inc.
Organization Location (city, country): Mountain View, CA

Describe your background prior to attending SIPA?

Before attending SIPA I worked on political campaigns – some international, some in the US.  Nearly all of them were for underdog, progressive candidates… and many of them lost.

What are you doing now?

I’m currently Director of Global Communications & Public Affairs at Google, where I head Search communications – addressing everything from web search and other search properties (such as Maps, Earth, News and Books) to issues pertaining to partnerships, content, and the use of intellectual property.

Why did you choose to attend at SIPA?

I really wanted to get a solid grasp of finance and business, but in the context of international affairs.  It was clear to me that the theories of commerce and trade were best understood in that context rather than in a vacuum.  I was also impressed that International Affairs students had to have fluency in a second language.  That prerequisite alone made for a diverse student population, and one in which people approached things differently if only because they brought some entirely different worldview to the table.

What was it like to attend graduate school/work in New York City?

It was just amazing.  You’d read about folks in the New York Times one morning, and that night they’d give a lecture in your class – or maybe they’d actually be teaching your class!  I’ll never forget taking finance and accounting from Andrew Danzig who was an adjunct in the evening, and by day was a financial analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank.  It was incredible to get instruction from someone who was putting the principles he taught into practice every single day.

What’s your most vivid impression or recollection of SIPA?

I remember taking a course on privatization, and our professor began the class by explaining that he had just flown in from Russia where he had been providing guidance on privatizing its telecommunications industry.  There were so many times when instructors’ real-time experiences were far more compelling than any textbook could ever achieve.

The Admissions Committee continues to work away and today I present the following student entry.  The following was prepared by SIPA student Joshua Huneycutt, a second year MIA student concentrating in Energy and Environmental Policy.

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So you’re interested in working for the U.S. Government, but are worried that SIPA may be too far from Washington, D.C. for you to effectively work your way in.  Well, have no fear – SIPA has a strong track record of placing graduates in civil service positions and a large (and friendly) alumni network within government.

For those students at SIPA seeking government jobs, opportunities abound for networking and gaining entry to special career development programs at various agencies.  SIPA career panels frequently feature U.S. government-employed alumni, and the annual D.C. Career Fair features site visits with alumni to various government agencies.

Another great way to gain access to a career in government is through the Presidential Management Fellows Program.  Thanks in part to the dedicated effort of the Office of Career Services and the various workshops, guides, and one-on-one consultations, 18 SIPA students were recently named as PMF Finalists for 2010.

Below you can find the employment statistics for recent graduates, provided by the Office of Career Services.  A link to the information is here.

In addition to SIPA being a great “in,” you will also have the pleasure of enjoying all that NYC has to offer, prior to beginning your days as a resident of the lovely, yet very culturally different, city of Washington D.C.  Policy schools in D.C. certainly have many things to offer, but a significant advantage over SIPA for government positions is not quite one of them.

I was recently speaking with our Director of Alumni Relations about some various topics and she said she was working on a short list of notable alumni for a project.  I asked for a copy and she was happy to pass it along.

SIPA has over 16,000 alumni living in 150 countries around the world – an incredibly powerful networking tool for students and graduates.  The list below is divided by concentration area.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY POLICY

Madeleine K. Albright (Certificate ’68), Former U.S. Secretary of State; Principal, The Albright Group LLC

Victor Cha (MIA ’88), Former Director for Asian Affairs, National Security Council; Associate Professor of Government and D.S. Song-Korea Foundation Chair, Georgetown University

Daniel Fried (MIA ’77), Assistant Secretary, European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State; Former U.S. Ambassador to Poland

Francesco Mancini (MIA ’03), Associate, International Peace Institute

George Tenet (MIA ’78), Former Director, CIA; Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University

HUMAN RIGHTS

Frederick Abrahams (MIA ’95), Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch

Scott Campbell (MIA ’95), Executive Director, Elton John AIDS Foundation

Malika Dutt (MIA ’86), Executive Director and Founder of Breakthrough: Building Human Rights Culture. Malika testified before the House Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, along with actress Nicole Kidman, UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador. Their testimony was to encourage passage of the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), which seeks to ensure that the fundamental right to live a life free from violence can become a reality for the world’s women.

Priscilla Hayner (MIA ’93), Director, Peace and Justice Program; Director, Geneva Office, International Center for Transitional Justice

Judy Cheng-Hopkins (MIA ’78), Assistant High Commissioner, UNHCR Geneva

Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia (MIA ’82), Attorney at Law. Rochelle has won two major cases in asylum law, one of which, Mohammed v. Gonzales, is “the leading federal appellate case” on female genital mutilation as grounds for asylum. Her second major refugee case was Ndom v. Ashcroft, where Rochelle successfully petitioned for asylum for a Senegalese man fleeing political persecution. Both these cases “are positioned quite prominently in global refugee law,” notes Nwadibia. “Foreign courts are citing our courts in taking the lead in these cases.”

Ana Cutter Patel (MIA ’98), Deputy Director, International Policymakers, International Center for Transitional Justice

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE & ECONOMIC POLICY

Christian Deseglise (MIA ’90), Managing Director-Global Head of Emerging Markets, HSBC Global Asset Management

Kirstin Frivold (EMPA ’03), Vice President, Goldman Sachs & Co.

Jong-ho Kyun (MIA ’00), Deputy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of South Korea

James Leitner (MIA ’77), President, Falcon Management Corporation

Bart Oostervled (MIA ’97), Senior Vice President, Moody’s Project Infrastructure

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Anna Giovinetto (MIA ’02), Vice President, Public Affairs, Noble Environmental Power

Lloyd Kass (MPA ’98), Director of Energy Department, NYC Housing Authority

Kedin Kilgore (MPA ’95), Head, Global Environmental Markets, JP Morgan Chase

Marcus Tripp (MIA ’99), Vice President, Business Development, Exxon Mobil, Libya, Ltd.

Qian Wang (ESP-MPA ’03), Deputy Director, State Environmental Protection Administration, Beijing

ECONOMIC & POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Andrea S. Camoens (MIA ’97), Manager of Emerging Markets Group.

John Melone Deidrick (MIA’ 85), Country Representative, Cambodia, Population Services International.

John Lockwood (MIA ’97), Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity New York.

Monique Pierre-Antoine (PEPM ’94), Chief of the Poverty Unit, UNDP, Haiti.

Karen Paulina Poniachik (MIA ’90), Chile’s Special Envoy to the OECD

URBAN & SOCIAL POLICY

Alisa Blum (MPA ’00), Manager of Field Operations, National League of Cities’ Center for Federal Relations

Diana Bruce (MPA ’97), Director of Policy and Government Affairs, AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families

Neil Hernandez (MPA ’98), Commissioner, Department of Juvenile Justice

Diego Andres Molano (MPA ’00), CEO, Water and Sanitation Company, Bogota, Colombia

David Saltzman (MPA ’86) Executive Director, Robin Hood Foundation

The following was composed by John Hughes, a second year MIA student studying Political and Economic Risk Analysis.

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With the semester winding down and finals looming, most students are looking forward to a nice, long winter break.  Though many students will return home for the holidays, many also have big plans.  These include trips all over the world, some self-initiated and others as part of the travel component of a workshop.  Wherever the break takes students, however, many will come together at the end for a career trip to Washington, D.C.  This year’s conference will take place from January 13-15, and is the 34^th annual trip.  Unlike previous years, which have featured a two-day trip, this year’s conference is packed with three full days of events.

On Wednesday, alumni working in industries including trade, development, energy and security will participate in informational career panels throughout the day, with students able to choose four to attend.  The alumni will discuss their positions, how they found them, and give students general insights on the field.   It is a great way to gain knowledge on a specific field students are interested in, or to explore a completely new one.  On Thursday SIPA has arranged site visits to a range of employers in the D.C. area, including the State Department, Treasury Department and USAID.  These visits will give students an additional opportunity to learn about organizations that interest them, while meeting with more SIPA alums at each employer who will be available to answer any student questions.

After going around the city during the day, the conference participants will come together that evening at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown for a cocktail networking reception.  More than 150 alumni are expected to attend this swanky event, giving students the perfect opportunity to schmooze with them over a glass of wine.  Finally, if students haven’t gone into a networking-induced daze by then, they have the opportunity on Friday to conduct one-on-one or group informational interviews with alumni.  The Office of Career Services has provided each participant with a list of willing alumni, who students can then contact to set up meetings.  Though ambitious, it’s not unheard of for students to set up as many as five such meetings over the course of the day.

The DC conference gives students a great chance to learn about potential future fields of interest and meet wonderful alumni.  More importantly, for many students it provides a crucial first step on their way to gainful employment in Washington.  Many students keep in contact with the alumni they meet at the conference as the semester moves forward, with some of these connections leading to internship and job referrals or even offers.  Of course, at the end of the day it is up to students to put in the effort to find a job, but the Office of Career Services D.C. career event certainly helps students interested in Washington along this path!

The following is an interview with Kirsten Bokenkamp, Head Organizer of SIPA’s Office of Career Services Washington D.C. Career Conference which takes place each January.

What is the Washington D.C. Career Conference?

The Washington D.C. Career Conference has taken place annually for the last 33 years.  As SIPA is located in New York, the Conference allows students to learn more about job and internship opportunities in the Washington D.C. area.  The Conference also allows students to get to know alumni and potential employers in the D.C. area.

Which employers participated in last years conference?

There was a wide range of employers represented at the Conference.  This past year’s employers included: AECOM International Development, Americans for the Arts, Ashoka, Bearing Point, Booz Allen Hamilton, Brookings Institution, Brookings Institution, Business Civic Leadership Center, Carbon Finance Unit, World Bank, Catholic Relief Services, Center for Naval Analysis, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, CGAP, Chemonics International, Chevron, DAI, Deloitte Consulting LLP, ENOUGH Project, Export-Import Bank, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Garten Rothkopf, Institute for Defense Analyses, International Civil Society Action Network, National Democratic Institute, National Democratic Institute, National Geographic Magazine, NPR, Office of Congressman Steve Israel, Office of Management and Budget, Peterson Institute for International Economics, QED Group, RAND Corporation, Refugee Protection Program, Human Rights First, Refugees International, Roll Call, Search for Common Ground, Sentinel HS Group, LLC, Society for International Development, The Advocacy Project, The Cohen Group, The Stella Group, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. State Department, US Green Building Council, William James Foundation, World Bank, World Resources Institute

How does the Conference work?  What is the process that the students go through?

Interested students must register for the Conference in advance.  At the time of registration, students pay the fee (this year it was $60), and sign up for the panels they would like to attend.  The Conference takes place during winter break, on the Thursday and Friday before classes start.  On Thursday, there are usually about 15 panels, with 3-5 speakers each.   Panel topics include all of SIPA’s functional concentrations, in addition to career paths such as consulting, microfinance, and corporate social responsibility.  The Conference also includes the Alumni Networking Reception on Thursday evening, where students and alums are able to socialize in a less formal environment. For the past two years, the Networking Reception has been at the Four Seasons Hotel, in Georgetown.  On Friday, students have the chance to schedule informational interviews with alums and participate in employer site visits.  This year employer site visits included the World Bank, the U.S. Department of State, and Treasury, USAID, and American Development Bank.

Overall, was the Conference well attended?  Did participants and employers seem pleased with their experience?  Any comments you received from them are welcome.

Each year the Career Conference is well attended by about 160 students and 150 alums.  This is one of the most popular programs that the Office of Career Services offers.

Our Web site is obviously the best resource to use when researching questions you might have about our MIA and MPA programs, however each year we publish a small brochure that highlights the most frequent questions asked of us.  Questions like:

• What is the make up of the SIPA student population?
• What kinds of employers do SIPA graduates work for?
• What are the core requirements for an MIA/MPA degree?
• What are the fields of study available at SIPA?

These questions, and many more, are answered in a brochure that you may view by clicking here.  The document is a PDF and you also have the option of saving it to your computer.

Last week I put up a post listing the universities/colleges our incoming MIA, MPA, and MPA-DP students attended.  I thought it might be of interest to do the same thing with most recent employers.

This list does not include every single incoming student and some students worked for the same employer.  The list is also “self reported” and I did not attempt to look up all the acronyms or nail down regional locations.

Quiz question for you – what was the number one former employer of the incoming class by nearly a two to one margin?  See the end of the list for the answer.

Accenture
ACLU of San Diego & Imper
Actual Solutions
AdAsia Communications
Advancement of Girls’ Education
African Development Bank
Al-Tayer Group
American Inst. for Research
Aradiom
Araujo Ibarra & Asociados
Assoc to Benefit Children
Associated Group (AG)
Associated Press
atlantic-community.org
Australian AID
Azarmehr & Associates, PC
Banc of America Securitie
Bank Information Center
Bank of StandardChartered
Barack Obama’s Campaign
Barclays Capital
Barun Policy Institute
Beach-Oswald Imm. Law
BearingPoint, Inc
Beijing Bailijia S&T Deve
Bharti Foundation
Bloomberg L.P.
BM&A Advogados
BNP PARIBAS
Booz Allen Hamilton
Boston Pacific Company
Braskem S.A
Bridgewater State Hospital
British Army
BrMedia
Brown Lloyd James
Brown University
Bureau of Economic Analys
Bureau of Labor Statistic
C.I.A.N.A.
Cabinet Office
Cabinet Secretat of Japan
California State Assembly
Carnegie Endowment Int’l
CE Composites Baseball In
CEMEX
Center for Work-Life Pol.
Central Bank of Chile
Central Bank of Turkey
Central Middle School
Centre for Talented Youth
CEPOL
Childrens/Family Health
China Radio International
CIDA City Campus
Citibank, Japan LTD.
Citigroup Global Markets
Clara H Carlson Elem
Climate Lab
Clinton Foundation
Clinton Global Initiative
Coca-Cola
Commerzbank AG
Community in Action
Competition Commission SA
CONFINDUSTRIA
Congressman George Miller
Constellation NewEnergy
Constructora Pijao S.A.
Consulate General Mexico
Cornerstone Research
Council of Europ
County of Santa Clara
CP Media Communications
Createdebate.com
Credit Suisse
Credivalores S.A.
Ctr Gender & Refugee
Cuatrecasas Abogados,SLP
D.C. Public Schools
Darjin Corporate, Ltd
Davis Brody Bond Aedas
Delegation of the Europea
Democratic Leadership Council
Departament of State
Dept. of Foreign Affairs
Der Spiegel
Deutsche Bank AG
DHL Exel Supply Chain AP
District of Columbia Gov.
DLA Piper UK LLP
Drinker Biddle & Reath
Earth Institute, MVP
Ecovolve Bioenergy
Electronic Arts
Embassy of Rwanda
Emporio
Energy Market Reg. Auth.
Enrst & Young, LLP
Environment Ministry Japa
Euromonitor International
European Investment Bank
European Union at the UN
Experian
F. I. Proctor Foundation
Fairfield Greenwich Group
Fed Res Bank of Dallas
Fed. Reserve Bank of NY
Financial Literacy Founda
Fincere Limited
Flip Media FZ-LLC
Food & Wine Magazine
Foreign Affairs Ministry
Fragomen
Freelance Writer & Editor
French Government
Freshfields Bruckhaus
Frommer Lawrence & Haug
Fulbright Teaching Asst.
GE Corporate Audit Staff
General Atlantic
Genocide Prevention Proj.
German Parliament
Global Environmental Inst
Global Water Challenge
Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs JBWere
Google
Government of the Punjab
GRADE
Grameen America
Grassroots Campaigns Inc.
Green Mountain Coffee
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Greenpeace
GreenPrint Technologies,
GTZ Kenya
Gwangmyeung Buk
Gyeonggi Office of Ed.
Hackers Language Research
Hagerty Consulting
Heartland Alliance
Helping Hands
Henry L. Stimson Center
Hercules Studios
Hertie School of Government
HFM U.S.
Hiranandani Upscale
Hong Kong Insitute of Education
Hoosiers for Jill
Hotel “Sonce-GA” / “LIPA”
House of Representatives
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
HSBC Securities Egypt
Human Rights Watch
IBM Business Consulting
ICRISAT
IGCC, UC System
ILumiLA
Independent Contractor
India Abroad
Infinity s.r.l.
Infocap
InfoUSA, Inc.
ING USFS
InsideTrack
Insight Collaborative
Institutional Investor
Insurance Deposit FOGAFIN
Intermost
International Fund Service
International Institute
International Rescue Committee
Int’l Justice Mission,IJM
Intl Medical Corps
Intl Rescue Committee
Intl. Org. for Migration
Intl. Rescue Committee
Intrepid Sportswear, Inc
IREX
IRG
IRG, Ltd.
ITESM- Mexico City
J.P.Morgan Chase
James Irvine Foundation
Japan Emergency NGOs
Jenner & Block LLP
JICS
Johns Hopkins CCGHE
Juice Energy, Inc
JWAC- Defense Department
Kats for CongressCampaign
Khemka Foundation
Kids with Cameras
KPMG LLP
KWDI/ Korean Women’s Deve
KyungHee U.Medical Center
L.E.K. Consulting, LLC
LANDMARK EDUCATION
Larovere Consulting
Law Office of Allen Bloom
Lawyers for Human Rights
Leeb Capital Management
Lehman Brothers
LEK Consulting
LG Electronics Inc.
Liechtenstein Mission -UN
Local Self-Gov’nt Unit
M Squared Strategies
MADRE
Management Solutions
Management Systems Int’l
Mantech International
MaPS
Marginal Change
Mars & Co Consulting
Maryland Center China
MasterCard
Mayor’s Office
McKinsey & Company
McMaster University
McMaster-Carr Supply Comp
MDRC
Media International
MennoniteCentralCommittee
Mercedes-Benz Japan
Merrill Lynch
Metro Denver Partners
Millennium Challenge Corp
Min. of Fin. & Econ Plg
Min. of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Interior, Mex
Ministry of Production
Mint Newspaper
MIT
Mitsubishi Corporation
Mnstry of Foreign Affairs
MOFA
Monetary Authority
Morning Star Development
Motcor S. A.
MSA Kazakhstan
Music Haven
N. Univ. of Singapore
N.O.Citizen Dipl. Council
Nachman & Associates P.C.
Nat. Asso. Financ. Inst.
National Congress of Peru
National Geospatial Intel
National Personnel Autho
National Security Agency
National Security Council
National Water Comission
Nat’l Endowment for Dem
NERA Economic Consulting
New Immigrant Community
New York City Dept. of Ed
New York Digital Corp.
New York Legal Assistance
NextFoods, LLC
Nishikawa Board of Educ.
Nomura Research Institute
Norwegian Embassy Amman
Novartis  Pharmaceuticals
Nutrition & Education Int
NY Army National Guard
NY County DA’s Office
NYANA
NYC CCRB
NYU Child Study Center
OAS
Obama For America
ODAM
Office of Yuji Fujimoto
Office for Public Management
Optimise Africa
Oracle India Pvt. Ltd.
Org. of American States
Oxfam America
Oxfam Japan
Pacific Alternative Asset
Pacific Injection Molding
Pak Microfinance Network
Parametrix
Partners In Health
PayUp Holding BV
PBS&J
Peace Corps
PFM Strategic Consulting
Planned Parenthood
Planning and Dev. Board
Point Made Films
PricewaterhouseCoopers LL
Prime Ministry
Procter & Gamble Asia Pte
Proskauer Rose LLP
Public Agenda
Public School 003
Punjab Police
PwC Advisory
Ramasai Housing and Const
Ray Magazine
Red Cross Society of Chia
Refugee Resettlement and
Room to Read
Ropes & Gray, LLP
Rotary International
Royal Hashemite Court
Rudy Giuliani Campaign
Rush University Hospital
Russia Partners
Saint Mark’s Cathedral
Samba Financial Group
Santi Organization
SAP AG
Saudi Aramco
School of the Future
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
SEIU Healthcare 775NW
SEVAI
SF Works
Shirakawa City Hall
Singapore Police Force
SME Business Support Fund
Société Générale
Solana Consultores
Songmasters
SouthrnCntr for Int. Stud
Spina Bifida Association
STA Travel
Standard & Poor’s
Standard Bank Asia
State General Auditory
Stephen Jeffries & Assoc.
Sturgeon Fund
Suedostschweiz
Superior Court of CT
Survivors International
Suzhou Ivy Education Cons
Swadhaar FinServe Pvt. Lt
Swedish Mission to UN
Swedish Trade Council
Swedwood LLC, IKEA Group
Taiwan News
TCF NATIONAL BANK
Tea Lounge
Teach for America
Teach For India
Tech Mahindra Brit Teleco
TechnoServe
Tert. Educ. Commission
The Advisory Board
The Boston Consulting Gro
The Chinese Government
The Copywritingsecret LLC
The Fulbright Commission
Government of Japan
The Hudson Institute
The Jeffrey Group
The Korea Times
The National Assembly
The Office of Health Prom
The Prime Ministry Office
The Trevor Project
The Washington Group
The Word Bank
Thomson Reuters
ThoughtStorm Strategic
Tianjing Electricity Comp
TIME Magazine
Topview
Transatlantic Institute
Transparencia Mexicana
Trialogue Learning Group
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Dept. of Justice
U.S. Dept. of Treasury
U.S. Senate,Senator Boxer
U.S.A.I.D.
UANI
UBS Investment Bank
UBS Securities Japan Ltd
UIC
United Nations Industrial
UN Global Compact LN-GCC
UN Mission in Afghanistan
UN office in Georgia
UN World Food Program
Undersec of Foreign Trade
Undersec. Foreign Trade
UNDP
UNHCR
UNHQ-DESA
UNICEF
Union Bancaire Privee
United Nations
United States Embassy
United States Congress
University of Indonesia
Upwardly Global
US Army
US Attorney’s Office
US Department of State
US Holocaust Memorial Museum
US Marine Corps
US Navy
USAID Southern Africa
Van Bael & Bellis LLP
Vice Ministry of  F Trade
Virilion, Inc.
WBUR Boston’s NPR Station
WeatherBug
Wells Fargo Financial
Wensli Group
Westex Group, Inc
Westside Community Church
Westwood One/FOX News
WI Conservation Voters
Wildlife Trust
WilmerHale
WMH Corporation
Women Moving Millions
Women’s Initiative
World Bank Headquarters
World Economic Forum
Xinhua News Agency
Yangtze Delta CDM Center
Yeh Wah Arts and Language
Youth Initiative for HR

And the answer to the question – the number one most recent employer of students joining us this fall was the U.S. Peace Corps.

Several news outlets recently have published good news for those interested in careers related to the public sector.  Career opportunities are expected to rise in the coming years which bodes well for those interested in professional degrees related to public administration and international affairs.  The following comes from a May 11th article in The Chronicle of Higher Education.  The quote is in response to a rise in the number of applications submitted to public policy related programs this past year:

The main reason the schools cited was the expectation that the public sector will be on a hiring spree at a time when the private sector is still laying off workers. Two factors could result in the hiring of an additional 600,000 government workers—representing one-third of the federal government’s current work force—in the next three years, says Tim McManus, vice president for education and outreach at the Partnership for Public Service, a Washington, D.C., group that encourages careers in the federal government,

Baby boomers who entered government service soon after the Kennedy era are beginning to retire, and as President Obama’s economic rescue and recovery plan kicks in, a wave of new government jobs will be created.

SIPA is a professional school and we take career development very seriously.  Our job is to produce graduates who can hit the ground running and make an immediate difference in the policy world.  Meg Heenehan is the Executive Director of the Office of Career Services (OCS) and she recently sat down to speak with us about the services her office provides.

There are many activities and opportunities directed by OCS that promote professional development including workshops, recruitment fairs, job and internship postings, and even a professional development class.  OCS not only helps students to market themselves, they also market our degree programs to potential employers.

Graduates also have life long access to the services OCS provides.  So whether it’s 10, 15, or 20 years down the road, you can contact OCS to brush up your résumé and cover letter or network with alumni.

To view the full video with Meg please click here (Time of Video, 6:48).

Each year the SIPA Office of Career Services hosts a Career Fair in Washington, D.C. It is a two day event featuring panel discussions, a reception, and a day dedicated to informational interviews in the D.C. area. The Office of Alumni Affairs also is involved in planning the event and helps to ensure strong alumni participation. Dan Perez is a SIPA student that attended the event who volunteered to write about his experience.

The Washington D.C. Career Conference was a superb event and was incredibly helpful for my ongoing internship search. The first day of the event was broken out into four different information sessions organized by career sector. I attended four sessions that day, including National Security, Consulting, Capitol Hill / Govt, and Research / Advocacy.

In all four cases, the panels were well organized with alumni showing breadth of experience in those sectors. During each session, the alumni discussed their current positions, a bit about their time at SIPA and how the two were related. In all cases, they were very open about how SIPA had positively influenced their career prospects. Each session concluded with some spare time to approach the alumni individually, ask more specific questions and inquire about ongoing opportunities.

The first day was capped by a reception held at the glamorous Four Seasons Hotel in the Georgetown neighborhood of D.C. With more than a hundred alumni in attendance, it provided opportunities for mingling both with new alumni and those at the earlier sessions. I followed up with an alumnus from Bearing Point from the session and asked him in-depth questions about the company’s work and culture. I met younger alums only a year out of SIPA whom confessed of their longing to be back in New York City. I also talked with older alums who provided a great outlook on the D.C. job market and how great a time it was to enter government service.

The second day of the conference provided time for scheduled informational interviews as well as previous site visits. I utilized the time to reach out to two alumni, one from my previous employer, the other from the Office of Management and Budget in the White House. In both cases, the alumni were very eager to chat about their careers as well as to catch up at current developments at SIPA. I left the conference very renewed in my job search.