Where Do You Want To Work After Graduation?

[mpp_hopeful]

So I saw the thread about what everyone's work experience is prior to applying to government affairs programs. I thought I'd

Thinking a few years down the line, what's everyone's career goals? Do most folks want to work for the government (Federal/local or legislative/executive)? Or perhaps work for a think tank? Is anyone considering going back to the private sector to do lobbying/government relations work to pay back those hefty student loans? Maybe even make a run for elected office?

I'm just curious to see where most peoples' interests lie.

[mpp_hopeful]

So far, it looks like most people are wanting to go to think tanks and consulting. Where are all of the state/local folks?

[Cornell07]

I voted for both federal items (either State Dept or Legislative Branch would suit me fine) and for a think tank. If I could have put down another vote, it would be to run for office, although I would work on the campaign side, not the candidate side, as a way to transition onto the Hill.

[Dreams]

So far, it looks like most people are wanting to go to think tanks and consulting. Where are all of the state/local folks?

I am one the state people. Though I also chose academia (non research).

[policy_applicant]

I put think tank/research and consulting. I also put academia/further ed, since I may try to get my PhD--probably to go into a think thank/research career.

I may have to rethink the whole consulting thing, though, after checking out some of the websites. They're all written entirely in jargon/businessese. It's pretty bad.

[nab190]

I'd like to work for a think-tank or for the federal government, preferably on the legislative side of things, in the House or Senate or maybe CRS (dream big!).

[mpp_hopeful]

I'm kind of surprised by the number of people that want to go into consulting, and not into Federal legislative work. Is this because of the salary differences? I think that's the biggest disparity (Federal legislative jobs command pretty low salaries, while consultants command some of the highest salaries upon graduation).

I was also hoping someone was going to use this to announce their plans to run for President in 2020 or something.

[linden]

I noticed that many of us indicated a preference for federal government work after graduation. I am included in this group.

I've been reading several news stories that indicate that the federal government is one of the employers that is not slowing down hiring. Is anyone else worried that in two years--when we will be graduating--it will be difficult to get a government job? Or do you think that as MPP/MPA holders we will always find it easier to snag a government job?

[sosh]

I noticed that many of us indicated a preference for federal government work after graduation. I am included in this group.

I've been reading several news stories that indicate that the federal government is one of the employers that is not slowing down hiring. Is anyone else worried that in two years--when we will be graduating--it will be difficult to get a government job? Or do you think that as MPP/MPA holders we will always find it easier to snag a government job?

There will be demand for a while. The current job openings are not a product of stimulus spending, but instead the thousands of baby boomers starting to retire.

If you were to graduate in 2020, then you might have a problem.