Career Services

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What can I do with a policy degree?

Since a public policy degree provides a set of research, analytical, communication, and management skills that are transferable across sectors, and often across issue areas, graduates have flexibility in choosing their career paths. Public policy graduates often move back and forth between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, or between international and domestic work. Harris School graduates are high sought after specifically for their quantitative skills. Employers look for graduates to help understand and communicate complex data and information in a way that ultimately advocates change.

2. What assistance is available through the Office of Career Services?

The Office of Career Services equips students with the knowledge and skills that are valuable across many disciplines. Personalized career guidance is provided and each student is encouraged to develop a well-defined sense of their abilities, interests and motivation to identify specific job opportunities and organizational settings of interest. Students have access to a wide range of resources including workshops, career counseling, career- focused events and networking opportunities. Students also have access to the Harris School jobs database and career related list-serves.

3. What networking resources are available to students throughout the year?

The Office of Career Services and the Alumni Office organize numerous networking opportunities throughout the academic year that range from informal organization information sessions to formal dinners with alumni and Harris School constituents. Students have access to an alumni web based networking site that allows student to connect directly with alumni that are working in their field. In addition students are able to purchase Harris School business cards for job/internship networking opportunities. Business card forms are available in the Career Services library. Students are encouraged to purchase business cards during their first quarter at the Harris School.

4. What workshops are offered at The Harris School?

A variety of workshops are hosted annually. Past courses have included:

• The Ins and Outs of Resume Writing - Designed to teach students to use their resume as a strategic asset.
• Writing Effective Cover Letters, Quickly - Reviews four-step process to crafting effective cover letters, five mistakes to avoid, and at least six time-saving strategies.
• Interview Skills – Converting Interviews to Offers - Interactive session helps students work together to overcome some of the biggest challenges to interviewing.
• Job Offer and Salary Negotiations - Gives students resources and tools to overcome common pitfalls to become successful salary negotiators.
• Preparing for the Academic Job Market – Designed for PhD students, this session introduces the academic search process, provides tips and resources in securing academic positions.
• Navigating Employment with an F-1 or J-1 Visa - Overviews the requirements and timelines of an international student interested in working while in the United States.
• Networking Skills - A number of workshops throughout the year reinforce the importance of networking. From an interclass networking event during orientation to employer receptions, students receive tips and strategies to make the most of each opportunity.

5. Are internships mandatory?

While 97 percent of our students do complete an internship at some point while in school, this experience is not mandatory. Students come to the Harris School with a variety of experiences and are all interested in different fields and careers. That set of variables leads our students to seek a variety of experiences. More often than not, this means a traditional summer internship. However, some have pursued advanced language training, intensive travel or sought an internship during a different time in their Harris career. Overall, Career Services recommends students seek out a variety of opportunities, including internships, which position students to achieve their career goals.

6. What type of students/graduates are employers looking for?

Employers consistently tell us how much they value our students. The core gives our students quantitative analytical skills which leads Harris School excellent reputation with our employers. A majority of our employers prefer students who have had at least two to five years of relevant work experience. In addition, other employers prefer students to maintain a certain GPA. A student with a 3.0 or above with at least two to five years of experience, who begins working on their career development plan early and takes advantage of the many opportunities at The Harris School is very marketable to our employers.

7. Where have Harris students and graduates found work?

Our students and graduates have worked in all sectors in a variety of fields. Here is a small list of where our students and alumni are working:

8. What organizations recruit on campus?

The Harris School has a very active schedule of organizations on campus recruiting students. However this is only a portion of organizations looking to hire our students. Many organizations use a variety of tools to connect with and hire our students; only one of those tools is on-campus recruiting. Here are just a few of the organizations that have recruited at The Harris School:

9. At what point should I visit Career Services?

It’s never too early to start the career planning process. Career Development workshops begin during math camp and you are encouraged to visit us as early as possible during the fall quarter. Our goal is to make each student aware of the scope of our services and resources so that you can supplement and enhance your career development plan.

10. How do I make an appointment?

Email career-services@uchicago.edu and someone in Career Services will respond to your inquiry with in two business days. To help us prepare for your consultation, please list your focus area/career interest/previous experience and your specific question.

11. When is the Career Services office open?

Career Service’s hours are 8:30 – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.