Career Development at SPEA Your degree is not a destination; it’s just the beginning of a lifetime of opportunities. At the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), career development is a top priority as our students train to become the next generation of leaders across all employment sectors. The SPEA Career Development Office (CDO) offers a diverse range of programs, events, and customized services to help facilitate the bridging of academic excellence to career opportunities for the SPEA community. The CDO assists the SPEA community in connecting with professional networks of alumni and Erin Culp employers to learn about career paths, jobs, and internship opportunities. By MPA 2013 empowering SPEA students to build both their career skill sets and professional Nonprofit Management and Policy Analysis connections, we facilitate successful lifelong learning and career exploration. Undergraduate Institution: Elon University (Elon, NC)
Array of Services
The CDO offers a wide range of services for students including: • On-campus interviews and employer information sessions • Informational interviews • Customized career coaching — including assistance with job/internships searches, networking, and resume and cover letter writing • Interview preparation — including mock interviews, employment offer negotiation tips, and follow-up advice • Annual SPEA Career Expo • Career development workshops and alumni panels • Free continuing career development assistance post-graduation
SPEA involvement: Service Corps Fellow, Foundation of Monroe County Community School Corporation; President, SPEA’s Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Association; Internships: SPEA’s Development Office; Development Assistant, Foundation for Monroe County Community Schools Corporation Current position: Consultant, CCS Fundraising, LLC (Midwest region)
“When I signed up for the informational interview, I knew very little about the company. My intention was to practice my interviewing skills in a low-pressure situation. As I learned more about the company through my preparation for the On-campus Interviews and Employer Information Sessions interview, I found that I was very interested in its model and The CDO partners with employers from across the country to host on-campus the work it did. The person with whom I interviewed, a interviews and information sessions. Employer participants vary from year to year, SPEA alumna, was brilliant and inspired. I left the but past participants include: US State Department (multiple locations); interview knowing that this was the position I wanted, US Environmental Protection Agency (multiple locations); Grant Thornton, LLP and this was the company I wanted to work for. I (Alexandria, VA); Crowe Horwath, LLP (multiple locations); PricewaterhouseCoopers, know that initial informational interview and my LLP (multiple locations); CCS Fundraising, LLC (multiple locations); Education Pioneers follow-up helped get my application considered (multiple locations); Eli Lilly (Indianapolis, IN); Rolls-Royce Corporation (Washington, D.C.); and was one of the reasons I was and Cardno Ltd. Emerging Markets Group (multiple locations). able to get the job.”
Career Exploration Trips
SPEA’s master’s students get a competitive advantage with career exploration trips to Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, and Indianapolis. Career Exploration Trips offer students the opportunity to network with practitioners and alumni in their fields, learn about career and internship opportunities, and gain insights on career preparation and the job search in a particular field or location. Each year, many full-time positions and internships directly result from students’ participation.