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Career Development
La Follette School students apply their academic and professional skills when they present their analyses to real-world clients. Here a student presents her team's capstone research to the Madison economic development and planning commissions.
Whether you are a current student, a graduate, or a prospective employer, the Career Development Office is your key resource for information and assistance.
La Follette School students work with Career Development Coordinators to ensure success in today's employment market. In addition to their academic programs, students complete a mandatory series of short courses in professional development and receive individualized career guidance.
Alumni have a variety of rewarding opportunities to stay connected with the School and current students. La Follette School graduates hold important positions in international organizations; federal, state, and local government agencies; and private industry. They are an invaluable resource for students in the development of their careers.
Prospective employers regularly contact the Career Development Office because they know La Follette School graduates take initiative, work responsibly, and expertly apply a wide range of skills and practices in policy analysis and public management.
Contact us by email at
careerdev@lafollette.wisc.edu
or
telephone at 608.263.2409.
For Students
The most important role of the Career Development Coordinator is to help La Follette School students transform the knowledge and skills gained through a rigorous program of advanced professional training into success in a competitive employment market. Here are a few of the ways this is done.
- Professional Development Series
- The La Follette School offers first-year students a series of short courses that cover essential skills they must have to be successful in graduate school and in their careers. Topics may include PowerPoint, Excel, professional writing, presentations skills, résumé writing and interviewing tips.
- Alumni Connection
- Students have the opportunity to meet and work with La Follette School alumni, many of whom hold important positions in international organizations; federal, state, and local government agencies; and private business. Our alumni are an invaluable resource for students in their career development. One way students and alumni connect is through speed networking.
- Internships
-
The La Follette School recommends that students obtain professional work experience, typically in the public sector, during the course of the program. Each student may gain this experience through an internship for which they receive graduate course credit, although enrolling for internship credit is not mandatory.
Many students hold internships in the summer after their first year. This gives them the opportunity to apply a significant body of new knowledge and skills during the internship experience. Students should actively search for internships in areas of interest using their own and office resources, including the E-Update. Students must submit for approval by the career development coordinators a proposal for receiving internship credit. - Recruitment Visits
- The La Follette School hosts informational and recruitment sessions with a variety of employers throughout the year, including the U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Directorate of Intelligence, and several Wisconsin state government agencies. Students have the opportunity to meet and interview with recruiters from these and other organizations.
- Resources
- Career Development Coordinators maintain a database of internship and employment opportunities to which every La Follette School student has privileged access. This includes an Internship Database, Grants and Scholarships Database, and Employment Database.
- Employment Information
- La Follette School grads have successful careers in the federal government, state and local governments, not-for-profit arena, and increasingly in the private sector. Employment information can be viewed on the Career Statistics page.
For Alumni
In today's competitive job market, finding work after graduation has become more difficult and time-consuming. For many students, a huge task at the outset is gaining an understanding of the possibilities to guide their job-search process. Many La Follette School alumni provide students with information about their jobs and workplaces, participate in professional development functions where their knowledge and experience are highlighted, and provide informational interviews for students. Students interested in contacting alumni should contact the Career Development Office: careerdev@lafollette.wisc.edu or
608.263.2409.
For Employers
The La Follette School graduates public affairs professionals who are the best of the best. The career development coordinator at the La Follette School works closely with employers to identify suitable job candidates among recent graduates or students graduating soon. The coordinator arranges on-site recruitment visits to put employers in direct contact with outstanding students, offering employers the opportunity to interview students and offering students the opportunity to learn more about recruiting organizations.
Career Development works with government, private and nonprofit agencies to establish project assistantships and internships for current students.
We welcome employer's internship and job announcements. Please e-mail the descriptions, including contact and deadline information, to .