Public Policy Job Opportunities for International students

[Aspirant#3]

Hey, I am planning to apply to the Masters in Public Policy program. Since I am an International student I am apprehensive about the job opportunities. The Public and Government sector hire students with US citizenship only. So, that leaves International students aiming for Private sector jobs. I would like to know how are the job prospects like in the private sector like to get into Consulting jobs, Banks, Financial firms etc. Also how competitive are they? Please help!!!

Thanks

[hj2012]

Quite competitive.

 

Successful international students tend to have strong quant backgrounds and previous work experience. If your undergrad was in something like Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, etc you'll have a better time than if your undergrad was in a liberal arts field. Ditto if you've developed a high-demand skill set (statistical analysis, programming, etc). 

[Aspirant#3]

Thanks for replying!

 

I have done my undergrad in Engineering and have 2.5 years of work experience in non-profit sector. Would this put me up in the list? 

Also, what kind of specializations do we need to have in Public Policy to get into Consulting jobs?

 

Quite competitive.

 

Successful international students tend to have strong quant backgrounds and previous work experience. If your undergrad was in something like Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, etc you'll have a better time than if your undergrad was in a liberal arts field. Ditto if you've developed a high-demand skill set (statistical analysis, programming, etc). 

[hj2012]

Honestly, I don't know much about specialties and such. I know a lot of my international friends used sites like https://www.uniworldbp.com/search.php to find multinational companies based in the U.S., as these are often more amenable to international students. (For example, many of my Korean friends found their first job in the States at a Korean-based company.) Your best bet would be to look at job descriptions for the kinds of positions that you want, and try to develop as many skills as are listed in the description. 

 

This is my $.02 as an outsider to the process, but the folks who were most successful tended to be those who spoke really fluent English and were also acculturated to the U.S. I think this is particularly difficult if you're from a non-Western country, as the business norms (and the interview norms!) can be quite different. You may want to focus as much time as possible in gaining those "soft" communicative skills, regardless of your specialization. 

[Bombaygunner]

Honestly, I don't know much about specialties and such. I know a lot of my international friends used sites like https://www.uniworldbp.com/search.php to find multinational companies based in the U.S., as these are often more amenable to international students. (For example, many of my Korean friends found their first job in the States at a Korean-based company.) Your best bet would be to look at job descriptions for the kinds of positions that you want, and try to develop as many skills as are listed in the description. 

 

This is my $.02 as an outsider to the process, but the folks who were most successful tended to be those who spoke really fluent English and were also acculturated to the U.S. I think this is particularly difficult if you're from a non-Western country, as the business norms (and the interview norms!) can be quite different. You may want to focus as much time as possible in gaining those "soft" communicative skills, regardless of your specialization. 

 

I'll have 3 years work experience in journalism for a very well known American magazine by the time I apply for my Masters. I'm also slightly conflicted on what kind of job I can get after doing an MIA/MPA. What heartens me are stats like these from SIPA: 44% of the MIA 2013 class went into the Private Sector and got a median salary of $72,500. Since the half the class is international, I imagine that good foreign students from good programs have no trouble getting private sector jobs.

Whether or not you want to work a soulless job for a bank is another debate...

 

The rationale I hear from some people is: if you're going to join the private sector anyway, why are you wasting your time with public policy / IR? Why not do econ or an MBA?

 

I wonder if there's a sweet-spot where you can go meaningful work for an international organisation AND get paid well - well enough to cover a massively expensive degree.

[Achieve]

@ Patrick Bateman ...I read somewhere an MBA would cost u much much more than an MPA...so that ways MPA makes a better choice...

 

I am also planning for MPA in Fall 2015. Have good years of work experience as a journalist and then later Public Relations Officer. Though I did study economics for 2 years during my bachelors, I would not prefer a course with a strong bent towards eco and quants....Is it essential to be extremely good at maths for an MPA ....If yes then how much...what level...can anybody give some idea.? Does it vary from college to college.?

Edited June 24, 2014 by Achieve