The World as We Know It
You are interested in tackling immigration policy issues on a global level:
Name three international organizations you can potentially apply to for an entry-level position this year?
What are UNHCR; Amnesty International; Doctors without Borders; Human Rights Watch?
You recently got scammed by an online bank in the Bay that offered students savings accounts with 10% yearly interest. (It seemed so sweet at the time!) You are now devoted to helping protect consumers— especially older folks and new-arrivals to the US—from financial fraud and ensuring that they have access to secure banking and investing systems.
What two federal regulatory agencies are places where you might want to work someday?
What are the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?
You’ve heard that there is a single on-line portal used to post and submit applications for all open Federal agency positions. What is its exact url?
What is USAJobs.gov?
Sometimes the best way to serve the public good is to help target funds for good. According to figures published by Giving USA, approximately $100 billion in US assets fall under the jurisdiction of private foundations whose mission it is to support non profits and others.
Name three of the biggest US foundations you could explore working with during a college summer?
Hint: Cars, Computing and Oil!
What are Ford, Gates, and Getty?
You graduated a few years ago and like working on public policy issues at a small non-profit in Washington, but you might need further studies to advance your career. Law school is a non-starter–too expensive and three years is too long! What is another academic path for you?
What is a Master’s degree in Public Policy/Public Administration/IR/Public Health, etc?
You are a frosh and killing it in CS this fall, but you also have an interest in education issues and kinda dream of being another “Emily in Paris” this summer. Which international organization could you approach for an internship?
What is the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); What is UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)?
You are thinking about medical school, but it seems like a long, hard road right now. Last week, your family friend told you that she can’t often find adequate supplies of routine prescription drugs in her lower-income community. You are now considering focusing your sights on a career in health equity.
What regulatory agency do you apply to for a summer internship position to test this out?
What is the State Board of Pharmacy?
You grew up in Michigan and saw how badly the clean water disaster in Flint was handled. You want to move home and work on water safety issues there – not live in DC.
What key agencies there could you consider applying to?
What are the US EPA in MI, State of Michigan Dept. of Environment, and Great Lakes & Energy?
You are interested in local housing issues and go to a Haas event for ideas of where to target your job search. People keep talking about 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s.
What are they referring to?
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is typically created for religious, charitable, educational, scientific, and/or educational intent. They are tax-exempt, conduct research, and are limited to an amount of lobbying or advocacy. (Should these causes spread into the political realm, 501(c)(3)s are not allowed to endorse specific candidates!)?
A 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization is a “social welfare group” that can advocate for issues/causes, like 501(c)(3)s BUT can also endorse specific candidates – one of the most substantial differences between the two.
You gave your heart and soul to a Senate campaign, but your candidate lost! You’ve graduated and really want to work on Capitol Hill, but right now you have no plan. What are three concrete things you can do to advance your search for a House or Senate staff job?
Nepotism! :-)
What are Candidate—donors; SU alum network; Committee staff; DNC/RNC; State legislature; other candidates in off-year elections; cold search…?
You have been so distressed about the Middle East situation that you decided that you must work to settle these horrifying disputes between nations and/or help ensure that identified individuals are held accountable for war crimes. Where will you decide to look for work?
1) What is the International Criminal Court (ICC=people)?
2) What is the International Court of Justice? (ICJ=countries)--both in the Hague
You have heard about deplorable conditions in local beef factories while growing up in Texas. You are sure that fighting for workers’ rights is what you will do back home.
What is the regulatory agency you will explore this quarter when you focus on informational interviews during your Pathways class?
What is the Texas Workforce Commission?
Forget this coast—I am crashing with my Aunt and Uncle in Brooklyn this Cardinal Quarter–NYC is where it’s at! It’s a big move, though, and there don’t seem to be very many posted positions in local government there.
What are two possible options for you (of many)?
What are the NYC City Council, Borough Presidents, and NYC Urban Fellows Program?
You are passionate about securing funding for music and art in low-income communities and get an amazing job at a non-profit that is advocating for more tax dollars to do this. You meet with legislative staff to try to persuade them to fund legislation to make such funds available annually. What are you called?
What is a (registered) lobbyist?
You love talking tech, but the start-up culture is not where you head is at—as a CoTerm, you focused on dealing with free speech, misinformation, and AI policy and want take off a few years before you head to law school. Name a place in the public sector where you could do this kind of work:
What are the ACLU, Center for Public Sector AI, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation?