Resources for Your Future Career

Good old-fashioned networking continues to be one of the best ways of getting a job. 

You can also look for jobs via these online resources: 

• Idealist (to search for jobs in non-profits/NGOs). 
• Handshake (managed by SeattleU). 
• DevelopmentAid (subscribe to receive weekly customized alerts for international development jobs and opportunities)
• Google (you can set up alerts, narrow search by location, type of job, or field). Learn more here

• See other online resources here. 

• Once you have found a job or internship of interest, learn how to craft (or improve) your resume, cover letter, interviewing skills and career exploration with the Career Engagement Office. 

• Do not forget to list all of the skills your INST degree has helped you develop on your resume. 

• It is always a good idea to do a mock interview before your first job interview. Make sure the person interviewing you is not afraid to push you to answer tough questions.  

• The first question to ask when thinking about graduate school is what discipline is the best fit for my professional goals. Your INST faculty come from a range of disciplines -- Anthropology, Geography, History, International Studies, Political Science, Sociology – and can help you find programs in their fields that will help you achieve your professional goals. See below for advice on selecting schools.  
• The second question to answer when thinking about grad school is whether you want a Master’s, a PhD, a JD or a more specialized degree. 
• If you are not sure what level of degree is required, look at the job requirements for jobs of interest. They will give you a sense of the degrees required for an entry-level job. Sometimes a BA is sufficient.  
• Know you can apply to grad school well after college. Sometimes taking a break before going back to school allows you to better understand what degree level and degree program is needed for you to meet your professional needs.  
• Most grad school deadlines come in December or January for a fall start date. 

See this document for more information on how to choose a program, how to apply to grad school, and the application timeline [pdf] 

• Ask your professors! Your INST faculty are well equipped to answer questions about graduate school options in their fields. They can give you insights about the best programs for your specific career interests and the programs that have high-profile reputations but maybe leave a little to be desired on the student experience front.
• What papers/books have you found interesting?  Look up the authors of papers/books that address questions you would like to study. Professors are easy to find on-line!  Pay attention to the department/school where the author works and see if their university has a graduate program that fits your interests. 
• See examples of graduate programs chosen by our students or join the LinkedIn INST alumni group to see more grad school ideas. 
• Search for International Studies related programs (US and abroad) at APSIA or at InternationalRelationsEdu 
• Search for schools by concentration, discipline, region etc. You can use many online guides such as  Idealist.org, Peterson’s Grad School Finder, or GradSchools.com 
• Ask your professors and use online resources (i.e., US News) to explore the quality/reputation of different programs. 
• Think about cities and countries where you think you would enjoy living for a few years. Once you have a short list of programs/schools that you are interested in, it is always a good idea to contact the program coordinator and/or professors to learn more about the program before applying. It is also smart to email students who are enrolled in the program to get a sense of the program: do they like it? What do they think about the quality and rigor of the program? Does the program live up to their expectations? More info on how to contact programs Applying to Grad School-Contacting Programs.   
• Finding the right school takes time. Make sure to give yourself time to do research about the programs and to contact professors well before the application deadline.

Each program/school has different recommendation letter expectations, but generally they ask for 3-4 letters from your college professors. Here is what you need to know: 

• You need letters from professors that know you very well (i.e., you’ve taken one or two classes with them, they are your academic advisor, you’ve worked in projects with them, etc.)
• Email your professor 1-2 months in advance about your ideas of applying to grad school. Ask them if they are willing to write a letter for you. You do not want your recommenders to be rushed; instead, you want to give them enough time to write a comprehensive and accurate letter.
• Give your recommenders a copy of your resume, a copy of your unofficial transcripts, a draft of your personal statement, the website links to the programs that you intend to apply, and the deadlines to submit the letters. You might also consider sharing a copy of a final paper written for one of the classes you took with the faculty member.
• It is okay to ask a professor you had 5-10+ years ago for a letter. Make sure that you remind the professor of who you are and consider meeting them for coffee or taking the time to chat on the phone about what you have been up to since graduation (they will need to reference it in their letter).
• Don’t be shy about asking for letters. Writing letters to support students after graduation is part of faculty members’ jobs – and for many, helping students succeed in achieving their dreams is one of the best parts of the job.
• Make time to let your recommenders know the outcome of your graduate school search; it is considerate, and they will want to know.

Most personal statement prompts ask three basic questions: Who are you (the subtext: why the program should accept you)? Why do you want a career in this particular field? Why is this program well-suited to your interests and goals?  

• See specific ideas on how to write a personal statement here and here. 
• Schedule a Coaching Appointment with SU Career Engagement Office  
• Schedule a Consultation with SU Writing Center 
• See personal statement examples: here, and here. 

• Dozens of International Studies majors have earned prestigious internal and external fellowships and scholarships, see their stories here. 
• Search for International Affairs scholarships at APSIA 
• See other online databases: GoGrad, Scholarship America, Unigo