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Career Resources

Undergraduate Success by Year

You may not believe it, but your time as an SIS undergraduate will go by quickly. To help you envision your time during your bachelor's program, and take smart steps to set you up for career success during and after your degree, we have this list of suggested steps each semester to land the internships and post-graduation job that you want.

Transition and Exploration

  • Activate and complete your Handshake profile (with photo) 
  •  Meet with a career advisor at least once to identify 3 top areas of career interest and how to explore these 
  • Create/revise your resume to be up-to-date and international relations-focused (see sample in right column)  
  • Create/revise a basic LinkedIn profile to be up-to-date and include picture, headline, summary, education, experience 

 Chart Your Career Paths

  • Build relationships with at least 3 AU faculty and staff who can serve as professional references 
  •  Internship #1: Network with alumni/employers of interest to secure internship/other relevant professional experience by the summer after sophomore year 
  • Meet with an academic advisor and decide if you will study abroad (and or do an internship abroad) junior year 

Global Adventures and Career Development

  •  If you have not yet, gain a professional mentor related to your interests through the SIS Career Mentoring Program, Alumnifire, or other contacts 
  • Internship #2: Network with alumni/employers of interest to secure internship/other relevant professional experience by summer after junior year 
  • Research and consider applying to fellowships during and after their undergraduate studies to gain valuable relevant experience (Critical Language Scholarship, Pickering, Fulbright, PPIA, Boren, Gilman, etc.) 

Graduation and Post-Graduation Plans

  • Network with alumni/employers of interest throughout the year to inquire about hiring timelines post-graduation and best practices for applications 
  • Hiring timelines vary wildly from 6-weeks to 18-months; in general, expect a longer timeline for federal government (especially intelligence community) and large corporations 
  •  Apply to relevant post-graduation positions throughout the year and ideally secure one within 3 months after graduation 

Graduate Success by Semester

Your graduate program will pass much quicker than your undergraduate degree experience, so getting a early start is one of the keys to finding success in your career development. Creating a ‘blueprint’ or ‘roadmap’ can help you to be organized and prepared. Here is a semester-by-semester guide to help you organize and plan your time at SIS. Attending grad school part-time? No problem. Semester 2 steps are equivalent to those you want to take halfway through your program, and Semester 3 steps, three-quarters of the way through.

  •  
  • Activate and complete your Handshake profile (with photo) 
  • Meet with a career advisor at least once to identify 3 top areas of career interest and how to explore these 
  • Revise your resume to be up-to-date and international relations-focused (see sample in right column)  
  • Create/revise your LinkedIn profile to be up-to-date and include picture, headline, summary, education, experience 
  • Meet with the SIS Office of International Programs if interested in international internships, study abroad, or other international experiences during your degree 
  •  

 

  •  Build relationships with at least 3 AU faculty and staff who can serve as professional references 
  • Internship #1: Network with alumni/employers of interest to secure internship/other relevant professional experience this semester or the summer afterward 
  • If you have not yet, gain a professional mentor related to your interests through the SIS Career Mentoring Program, Alumnifire, or other contacts 
  • Research and consider applying to fellowships during and after your graduate studies to gain valuable relevant experience (Critical Language Scholarship, Boren, Fulbright, Presidential Management Fellowship, etc.) 
  • Internship #2: Network with alumni/employers of interest to secure internship/other relevant professional experience this semester
  • Network with alumni/employers of interest throughout the year to inquire about hiring timelines post-graduation and best practices for applications 
  •  Hiring timelines vary wildly from 6-weeks to 18-months; in general, expect a longer timeline for federal government (especially intelligence community) and large corporations 
  • Apply to relevant post-graduation positions throughout the semester and ideally secured one within 3 months after graduation 

Meet with Us!

Whether you are an undergraduate student or graduate student, we recommend you meet with us at least once a year and attend at least one event (we hope more!)! The SIS Office of Career Development is available to support you with all these milestones from resume formats, job search strategy, interview preparation, and salary negotiation support, to introducing you to alumni and employers through our network and events. 

Revising your resume and LinkedIn profile should happen regularly as you gain new experience. Likewise, you will always tailor your resume and cover letter for each position you apply to (internships and jobs). 

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