University of Massachusetts Boston



Career Handbook: Public AffairsMcCormack Graduate SchoolDepartment of Public Policy and Public AffairsTable of ContentsWhy Public Service? From ………………………….… p.3-4Public Policy and Affairs Career Fields ……………………………….…………..…. p. 4How to Apply for Jobs in the Public Policy & Public Affairs Career Fields …… pp.4How to create an effective CV and Conduct a Job Search …………………… p.4Job Search …………………………………………………….……………………….. p.5Career Services at UMass Boston ……………………………………………... p.5Talent Source: A Network for Professionals of Color………………………. p.5Other Job Search Engines and Postings……………………………………….. p.5Professional Organizations ……………………………………………………. p.6Additional Job Resources ……………………………………………………… p.7Why Public Service? The Opportunity to Make a Difference!Overview of Careers in the New Public SectorFrom HYPERLINK "" What makes a professional career in public service so unique is the emphasis on tackling "wicked problems" -- the challenging issues that define the public agenda and call for talented individuals to devote their efforts to finding solutions. Here are just a few of the "wicked problems" on the agenda today:Managing global climate change and controlling its underlying causes such as carbon emissions Supplying food, energy and clean water to the growing populations in developing countries Securing the United States and other countries against the possibility of chemical, biological and nuclear terrorism Redeveloping older urban areas that have lost their economic base in manufacturing Transitioning recently incarcerated persons into productive, nonviolent lives in society Ending the epidemic of HIV infection in developed and developing countries. Providing quality education and health care to children living in poverty. These high profile problems are only a piece of the entire picture of public service careers. Many worthwhile careers in the new public sector are devoted to providing absolutely vital daily services to the public in cities, counties, states and nations around the world. Professionals in these careers often must tackle very challenging problems such as expanding services to meet the needs of changing populations without necessarily raising taxes, implementing information technologies that better connect citizens to their governments, and improving responses to natural disasters. Employment demand for professionals to provide leadership, financial management, policy analysis and other such skills has never been stronger.Challenges of the New Public Sector.The "new public sector" refers to the complex network of relationships among organizations that has emerged over the past thirty years in response to the realities of today's public policy and public administration needs. Whereas a public service career once meant government employment, we now recognize the connections between governments, nonprofits, NGOs the private sector, and universities. Persons employed in any of these types of organizations can have highly productive careers that contribute directly the public good.For just one example, consider the problem of helping recently incarcerated individuals to reenter society. In the United States, governments at all levels are working closely with community-based nonprofit organizations to help former prisoners to lead productive lives. Those nonprofit organizations also are receiving financial support from philanthropic foundations. Some of that support is paying for university-based researchers and think tanks to evaluate alternative strategies for successful reentry. Outreach to the private sector is essential for these efforts to succeed. Anyone involved in leading or managing such an effort must be prepared to work effectively across the sectors.Professional public service today thus offers many career opportunities including those in governments at all levels, in nonprofit organizations and NGOs, in higher education, and in private sector companies that work under contract to governments. These opportunities provide good pay and benefits, numerous choices of where to work in the United States and around the world, and resources for further training and education.Public Policy and Affairs Career FieldsThe Maxwell School of Syracuse University has a comprehensive list of different career fields and their descriptions. Visit their website () for more information, including salary information, typical qualifications, sample employers, and much more.See Also: NYU Wagner Schools offers helpful links to how-to guides, print resources and professional associationsHow to Apply for Jobs in the Public Policy and Affairs FieldsThe first step in pursuing any career is to effectively market yourself to employers. Below are examples, tips, links and resources to help you prepare for a career in Public Policy or Public Affairs. HYPERLINK "" \t "_new" \o "Student Resources for Jobs"How to create an effective CV and conduct a job searchHow to create an effective resume and conduct a job searchHow to organize/write headings for your resume?Tips to make your resume stand outSample?CVs, Resumes,?Cover Letters and Thank you Letters?Job SearchNow that you know how to market yourself for your ideal job, here are some links to job search engines and services available to help you find a career in public policy and/or affairs.Career Services at UMass BostonUMass Boston offers its own career counseling services, available to all students and alums. Create a?MyCareer Online?account at to access the on-line resource library, search for jobs, and sign up for various workshops on resume, cover letter and interviewing skills. Individual counseling services are also available on campus. The Career Counselor appointed for the McCormack Graduate School is Michael Gaskins. Feel free to contact him at michael.gaskins@umb.edu. Talent Source: A Network for Professionals of ColorMcCormack Graduate School’s Commonwealth Compact has recently launched the first social network for professionals of color. Their mission is to:Increase the representation of people of color and women throughout our organizations, especially in management, senior management and board governance positions.Retain and promote people of color and women.Encourage our organizations to reflect, and connect with, the diversity of the communities and customers we serve.Visit their site for more information, and to join the Talent Source, at: . ?Other Job Search Engines and PostingsGovernment, Non-Profit and International Occupations, Careers and Job Hunting LinksVillanova lists other on-line job resources in government and public affairsProfessional OrganizationsDidn’t find what you were looking for? Below is a list of policy-related professional organizations and links to their websites with additional career ideas and postings.American Association of Political ConsultantsAmerican League of LobbyistsAmerican Political Science AssociationAmerican Society for Public Administration?(ASPA)American Society of Association ExecutivesAssociation for Conflict ResolutionAssociation of Former Intelligence OfficersAssociation of Professional Researchers for AdvancementAssociation for Public Policy Analysis and Management?(APPAM)?Association of Women in DevelopmentAssociation of Women in International TradeGovernment Finance Officers Association ?Euronet InternationalForeign Policy AssociationInternational City/County Management AssociationInternational Personnel Management AssociationInternational Studies AssociationNational Association for Government Training and DevelopmentNational Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration?(NASPAA)?National Council of Nonprofit AssociationsNational Defense Transportation AssociationOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentPhiladelphia Region Organization Development NetworkSociety for Human Resource ManagementSociety for International DevelopmentWashington International Trade AssociationWashington Network GroupWomen in Government RelationsWomen in International SecurityWomen's Foreign Policy GroupWomen's Transportation SeminarAdditional Job ResourcesState and National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)State Government Jobs (Internet Job Source) (U.S. Department of Commerce) (U.S. Government’s Official Web Portal)USAJOBS (Official Jobsite of U.S. Federal GovernmentNon-profitBridgestar (The Bridgespan Group)Chronicle of PhilanthropyCommunity Career Center (Enterprise, Inc.)NC Center for NonprofitsPhilanthropy JournalOther Job ResourcesAlmanac of Policy IssuesAmerican Society for Public Administration (ASPA)Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management?(APPAM)Kennedy School of Government at Harvard UniversityMoving IdeasNational Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)Opportunities in Public AffairsPublic Roll Call (Capitol Hill Newspaper)DISCLAIMER: The Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of web sites noted on these pages.?? ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download