CLAS CAREERS PAGE

CLAS students and alumni are employed in an impressive array of organizations and geographic locations. While some alumni work in the private sector for companies large and small, others work at multi-lateral organizations such as the IDB and the World Bank, for think tanks such as Brookings and the Inter-American Dialogue, for the U.S. government, for non-profit organizations, for international relief and development organizations. Each year, a handful go on to pursue a doctoral degree. In essence, as there is no "typical" Latin American Studies Masters candidate, there is no "typical" professional route that our graduates follow. Both our students and our alumni are extraordinarily diverse groups of individuals.

Internships and Jobs

CLAS encourages students to hold internships during the academic year and during the summer between the two years of graduate study. Internships can serve as an important bridge between the classroom and the workplace, enabling students to apply their education to the work environment while exploring career options. CLAS also encourages students to begin their job search early in their academic career.

Washington, DC is an amazing place to hold an internship. Various international organizations, non-profit groups, the federal government, and many other organizations provide sites in which students can gain valuable work experience. CLAS students have held internships at places such as the World Bank, Human Rights Watch, Inter-American Development Bank, and many more.

Employment Resources

CLAS presently houses a small library of career-related information. There are various books and binders that provide information about international organizations in the Washington D.C. area and throughout the country, as well as about specific job and internship listings. The Center also houses various sources of information about programs for foreign and summer study, as well as sources of information on fellowships.

The University's MBNA Career Education Center and the School of Foreign Service Career Development Center for Graduate Programs makes available its library resources and computers, as well as campus interviews, resume referrals, and various other services to graduate students of the School of Foreign Service. Both career centers sponsor a regular schedule of seminars and workshops designed to help students identify the employment for which they are best suited and to master the skills of the job search.

The School of Foreign Service Graduate Career Development Center also offers many resources and services for students in the six graduate programs in the School of Foreign Service. Individual career development and planning is available, and appointments may be made with staff to discuss any aspect of the job search, such as resume writing, cover letters, self-marketing, interview skills, salary negotiation, and general career direction. In addition, the Career Development Center sponsors workshops and recruitment events, including employer information sessions and alumni panels. The Career Development Center publishes a weekly newsletter, Career Bulletin (for Georgetown students and alumni) which provides information on upcoming events, and lists the most recent leads for internships, fellowships, and jobs. The Career Development Center also maintains a bulletin board of current job and internship listings, binders listing opportunities received within the past several months, and files with information on organizations, including applications and annual reports. Several serial publications are also available in the Career Development Center to facilitate the job and internship search, such as Current Jobs International, The Jobs Book, International Career Employment Weekly, Monday Developments, and the International Employment Hotline. The Career Development Center's reference library features a selection of current books on job and internship searches.