Career Development
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.
NEWS
Mentor program builds bridges between students, alumni, friends
Public affairs student Nate Inglis Steinfeld spent the summer before he
started law school learning about the state of Wisconsin’s employment
relations through a mentoring program La Follette School career
development coordinator Mary Russell set up for him and 12 other
continuing public affairs students.
Read more ...
Other Career Development News
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 e-mail at
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.
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Alumni Connections
- 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.
For many students, a huge task is gaining an understanding of the possibilities to guide their job-search process. Many La Follette School alumni share with students with information about their jobs and workplaces, participate in professional development functions that highlight their knowledge and experience, 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.
- Internships
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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.
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- 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 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 .
