Career Development Services is prepared to help graduate students find their way through this tough question. Through individual advising sessions, “Fields At-A-Glance”, career programs, and internship opportunities, students are able to work their way through the maze.

The first step is to think about building your résumé with relevant experience. We maintain an extensive listing of internship/part-time job openings updated every day in TSPPPA Career Central system. Another way to prepare yourself for the future job market is to make contact with specialists in your field of interest. You can also get the "inside track" for jobs and internships by joining a professional organization. These abound in Washington, DC, and cover just about every field. For instance, think about becoming a member of the American Management Association (ASA), the Society for International Development (SID), or American Association of Budget and Program Analysis (AABPA). You will meet seasoned professionals as well as recent graduates. Most of these groups provide memberships to students at discounted fees and offer services like networking receptions, on-line job databases, and brown bag luncheon series. Listing these organizations on your résumé also helps.

Yes. TSPPPA has designed its programs specifically with working students in mind. As most classes do not start until late in the afternoon, it is possible to work even full-time while attending classes. Career Development Services maintains the TSPPPA Career Central system, an online resource which enables students to easily register personal, academic, and work experience information; upload résumés, cover letters and other important documents; search for jobs and internships; create automatic job search agents; and download important articles and documents - all from a single web application.

The CDS database of alumni is found in TSPPPA Career Central system. In addition, the GW Career Center offers "Colonial Connection," a listing of GW alumni who are willing to be contacted by students. We also encourage students to take advantage of any of TSPPPA’s program events during the year that feature alumni speakers, such as career panels, brown bag lunches, workshops, and speakers brought in by the school and research institutes. Check the Career Calendar for these upcoming events.

Career Development Services is available to review résumé and cover letters via email and during individual advising appointments. Please send all submissions to tscareer@gwu.edu. When sending a cover letter, please ensure that you also send a copy or description of the job to which you are applying.

The Career Library houses a resource library featuring a variety of career-related books, Fields At-A-Glance, and assorted company literature. You can access it online through the TSPPPA Career Central. Hard-copy resources are also available in room 602 of the MPA building on campus.

Call us at (202) 994-6295 or e-mail us at tscareer@gwu.edu to set up an after-hours appointment. We will try to schedule a meeting that is convenient for you either earlier in the morning or later in the evening, depending on staff availability. Appointments by phone are also an option.

Our office conducts a definitive survey of graduates six months after graduation. From 2006-2007, approximately 92 percent of graduates were employed, had fellowships, or had pursued further education within 6 months of graduation. Obviously, success in the job market depends in part on market factors and in part on the timing and effectiveness of each graduate's job hunt. More details can be found in the Employment Report section.

The salary level of TSPPPA graduates varies tremendously, depending on both employment sector and field, but also on geographic location. Salaries can range from as low as $20,000 for a non-profit position to $120,000 for a private sector position for a graduate with a great deal of prior work experience. More details about salary information can be found in the Employment Report section.

75-85% of TSPPPA students are usually employed during the academic year. 30-35% of TSPPPA students hold internships each semester, and many (48%) have internships during both the summer months and the academic year. More details on current student employment can be found in the Employment Report section.

Many internships, especially in the public and non-profit sectors, are unpaid. TSPPPA students cannot earn credit for internships but can register for a 0-credit course-at no cost-if required by their employer or immigration regulations.

TSPPPA encourages students to augment their professional development with professional opportunities domestically and internationally. TSPPPA students have participated in international work/internship opportunities in the fall, spring and summer terms.

TSPPPA has over 3000 alumni all over the world, working in a wide range of professions. Students can search for alumni by professional field, employer, geographic location, graduation year, and concentration via the TSPPPA Career Central system. This resource is available to all students and alumni and is an important networking resource.