Overview of Services

One-on-One | Workshop Series | Alumni Connections | Job/Intern Database | Job Lists
Handouts | Resource Books | Washington, DC | NC Internship Fair | Internship Fund
What We Don’t Do

One-on-One Career Counseling
Make an appointment to see Donna Dyer for questions about your career or internship search plan.  If you are interested in global policy or the Geneva program, contact Elizabeth Gill for questions.  At the beginning of each semester, we will post signup sheets for meetings, but you may request an appointment any time by emailing Donna Dyer or Elizabeth Gill.  Walk-in appointments are also welcome whenever the office is open.

Professional Development Workshop Series
During the fall semester, Career Services will sponsor a brown bag lunchtime seminar on Mondays. Each brownbag workshop will cover a specific topic that will help you get ready for applying and interviewing for internships in the spring semester. 

Alumni Connections
We have an MPP Alumni Database.  Our alumni love to help students.  We will provide paper versions of the alumni directory to you, indexed by location, policy area, and class year. You can contact any alumni in the directory.  In addition, Career Services can suggest which alumni might be helpful. 

If you are interested, we will also work with you to identify an alumni mentor.  An alumni mentor can provide an ongoing connection to the “real world” of policy work in an area of interest to you. 

We will also offer mock interviews, often with local alumni.  Mock interviewers will provide written evaluations of your performance to help you improve your interview skills. 

Job/Internship Database
We have a job and internship database on the Sanford Institute at www.sanfordcareerlink.com  We’ll show you how to create an account during orientation.

We put information into this database about specific job and internship opportunities we receive from employers and alumni.  You can register at the web site to receive emails when a job is posted that meets your criteria. 

You can also post your resume so that staff can send it to employers on your behalf.  Employers who use Sanford Career Link will also have access to your resumes by class year, language skills, policy interests, and other criteria. 

We create physical folders of information we receive from employers.  These folders hang inside the Career Services office.  We also post current information on the bulletin boards in the hallway outside our office. 

We also have evaluations of internships done by previous students. These are a great “insider” resource for anyone considering an internship, both for who to apply to and what to expect.

Throughout the year we will provide opportunities for you to meet with potential employers.  We will email you to announce information sessions or determine your interest in particular positions.  Nicole Kubinsky coordinates communications with employers who want to hire MPPs.

We also have a fax machine available for you to send information to potential employers.  We give out long distance and international telephone cards for you to use in pursuit of internships and jobs. We can help you order business cards for you to distribute in networking settings.

Job Lists
Career Services also subscribe to several job lists, publications that contain classified job ads, and directories of people and offices to contact. The most current of these resources are located in the Career Services office or previous editions are in the Sanford Library.

• Our job lists include:

International Career Employment Weekly
The Job Seeker
Monday Developments (international NGO’s)
Opportunity NOCS (Nonprofit Organization Classifieds)
Opportunities in Public Affairs
Nonprofit Times
Governing

• The publications we receive include:

National Journal is a weekly magazine on politics, policy and government.  It does not list specific positions, but its articles are filled with quotes and references to organizations involved in policy development at a national level. 

• Our directories of federal, congressional, and other Washington offices include:

Duke Alumni Directory
Almanac of American Politics
Capital Source
Washington Representatives
Yellow Book Directories for Federal Agencies, Congress, Foreign Representatives, and Government Affairs Representatives

Handouts
We have prepared a series of handouts on topics including resumes, cover letters, networking, interviewing, and negotiating.  We also have a handout on the Presidential Management Fellowship.  In addition, we have lists of previous internships by class year.  The handouts are available in the Career Services office and on our webpage under "Career Resources." 

Resource Books
Career Services has key print guides that will help in your search.  Students can borrow these resources. They include:
Finding Your Perfect Work
If You’re Clueless About Getting a Great Job
Job Interview Almanac
Careers in International Affairs
Knock ‘em Dead Job Seeker’s Handbook
Knock ‘em Dead Cover Letter Guide
The Federal Resume Guide
The Perfect Resume
What Color Is Your Parachute?

Washington, DC
For those of you who want internships in Washington, DC, we offer a seminar during the end of winter break.  We arrange two days of panels, seminars, and appointments with MPP alumni and other people who will give you insights about how to maneuver on beltway. The speakers will also bring information about internships in their organizations. 

The Sanford Institute also hosts a summer reception on Capitol Hill each year.  We invite all our interns, MPP alumni and other friends for networking and informal conversation.

NC Internship Fair
We also provide an opportunity for students to meet various intern sponsors from the Triangle Area.  Most of you are new to North Carolina, which is an rapidly developing area, particularly in fields related to technology, children, education, poverty, environmental quality, and community development.  Your policy interests may be best served by a local internship.

Internship Fund
The Internship Fund is a pool of money that is given out to students who take unpaid internships during the summer to help them pay their living expenses.  The fund is operated primarily by 1st year MPP students.  Students plan the fundraising activities (with help from Institute staff), and students determine the formula and methodology for distributing funds. 

What We Don’t Do
The Career Services Staff can not find you a job or internship—that is up to you!  Everyone gets an internship; don’t worry.  We are here to support you and give you the tools needed to undertake a systematic and successful internship and career search. 

The more you visit our office and take advantage of our events, assistance, and resources, the more likely you will be to find an internship or job that you want.