JumpStart January – Panels
What is JumpStart January?
Join us for a series of industry-focused career programs designed to jumpstart your career exploration, focus your job and internship search, and expand your Hoya network. In order to make the most of the JumpStart January events, take some time to get your resume and pitch in order. Panelist bios for 2023 will be updated in the coming weeks. In the meantime, feel free to read past alumni bios, panel details, and how to get prepared in Canvas! https://georgetown.instructure.com/courses/107971
This event is hosted by the SFS Career Center. For questions, please email sfscc@georgetown.edu.
For accommodation requests (such as closed captioning) due to a disability or medical condition, please email sfscc@georgetown.edu by December 21, 2022. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests received after this date.
Wednesday, January 4
9:00 AM – Careers in Intelligence and Security
Join the National Security Career & Leadership Institute (NSCLI) team for a conversation with experts from across the intelligence and security fields as they discuss career paths and candidate considerations across nonprofit, private and public sectors.
12:00 PM – Careers in International Affairs: An Overview
Learn about the most common — and some of the less common — uses of an IA degree. Diplomacy, intelligence, intl. development, the Hill, think tanks — what are each of these paths like? How to you enter, and what is the journey like? Hang onto your hat–we’ll cover a lot, including all of your questions!
5:00 PM – Curating Your Digital Presence
We are increasingly in a “gig-economy” and even if you don’t participate, you are competing against those who are; therefore, having a digital presence is critical. Come and hear HR professionals discuss the potential gains and learn to avoid professional pitfalls while curating your digital presence.
7:00 PM – XXX (World Bank?)
Hear first-hand from a variety of development professionals on what “expertise” they look for most, and how can you cultivate it, especially in pandemic times.
Thursday, January 5
9:00 AM – XXX Regional Affairs
Hear first-hand from a variety of development professionals on what “expertise” they look for most, and how can you cultivate it, especially in pandemic times.
12:00 PM – Careers in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL): What, Why, and How?
MERL has been called the growth edge of hiring in the idev space. What kinds of roles are there in this field? What can a “day in the life” be like? The arc of a career? How can students best prepare for and enter into it? How is it evolving? Hear from SFS alumni who have been involved in various roles (e.g., funding, in the field M&E, research, data analytics, etc.) and within multiple sectors (e.g. USAID, implementors, private sector consulting). Hear about their career trajectories and professional decisions and ask all your questions!
5:00 PM – The Road Less Traveled: Using Your SFS Degree in Less Typical Fed Gov Dept
Hear from Hoyas at agencies and departments like Labor, Commerce, and Energy. What was their path like? How did they get in? What directly IA-relevant work have they most enjoyed in their role? What advice do they have for SFS students interested in these less common uses of an international affairs degree within public service?
7:00 PM – Leveraging Your IA Degree in International Business
How can your understanding of international politics, intercultural communication, and international economies give you a competitive advantage over someone with a business/finance degree? What are the areas of international business in which you can work? Hear from several SFS alumni who have found fulfilling private sector careers to learn more.
Friday, January 6
9:00 AM – Careers in Political Risk
Political risk consulting involves helping a variety of client types (public, private, charitable) understand threats to their operations and developing strategies to manage those threats. How are current global challenges impacting some of these clients? What skills can help you thrive in this field?
12:00 PM – Thinking Think Tanks
Would you like to help shape public policy through specific research on political, economic, or social issues? Thinking Think Tanks will allow for a glimpse into the world of Research Centers, how to make your applications competitive, and the various career paths within.
Monday, January 9
9:00 AM – Careers in Law
What career opportunities exist at the intersection of international affairs and law? And what can you do at the SFS to help prepare for them? SFS alumni will share insights gained from their legal careers.
12:00 PM – Careers in Federal Government Contracting
A significant amount of US government work is conducted by federal government contractors. From defense to cultural exchange programming to international development projects, the opportunities are varied and often feel opaque. Join us in hearing more about these public service-adjacent roles and the ways to make a career as a contractor or use a contracting opportunity to position yourself for federal employment in the future.
5:00 PM – Military/veterans – Career Transitions
Student veterans and military-connected students have a wide world of professional opportunities and options for continued service. However, translating the accomplishments and responsibilities of a military career for civilian audiences can require patience and persistence. Join us for a discussion with other veterans about their career transitions.
7:00 PM – Careers in Dispute Resolution
Dispute resolution is an ever-evolving field of professional practice, both in the U.S. and around the world. The escalating costs of conflict for countries, organizations, and individuals have led to an increased demand for specialists. Join us for a panel discussion with professionals who have worked across sectors engaged in local and global negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus-building initiatives.
Tuesday, January 10
12:00 PM – So You Want to Be a Diplomat?
The technology to gather and quickly process personal/private data has reached unprecedented levels and warrant ethical discussions regarding the boundaries that are needed to limit these technologies. Learn how alumni in fields that utilize powerful technologies are navigating the relevant ethical challenges between civil liberties and the public good.
7:00 PM – Career Paths for International Students
With a tight labor market, changing immigration regulations and restrictions, working as a foreigner in the United States has become increasingly complex. Join us for a discussion with recent international alumni who have persevered and found their place in the US job market as well as in other countries.
Wednesday, January 11
12:00 PM – Consulting 101
Join us for a discussion with experts from across the intelligence and security fields as they talk about the available career paths in both the public and private sector.
7:00 PM – IA Careers in Tech
Students who study science, technology and international affairs prepare for roles in which scientific, technical, and biomedical issues intersect with foreign affairs. Come hear insights and perspectives from alumni who have found ways to combine IA and technology into rewarding careers.
Tuesday, February 7
Time: TBD – Workshop on Networking Strategies
“The most successful people view networking as an opportunity to connect with others to share useful information and resources.” Come to this workshop to review some of the “whys?” and “hows?” of professional networking and give your career path a powerful boost.