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Tips Tuesday: How to get started in a career in International Relations

Carissa Johnson

February 8th 2012

World Savvy was recently invited to join the Global Access Pipeline project, a consortium that provides a "pipeline" for the underrepresented to achieve leadership positions in international affairs across governmental, non-profit and private sectors in the United States. I attended their annual meeting in DC last week which was an exciting two-day event that brought together representatives from pre-collegiate programs for underrepresented and at-risk students with college- and graduate-level programs that are then tied to key mid-career leadership programs. These, in turn, become part of special recruitment efforts at prominent senior level institutions from which leadership cadres and policy advice are drawn. Rich conversations, new partnerships and program ideas emerged with the goal of creating high quality opportunities for youth and young adults to explore international affairs as a course of study and eventual career path. 

So today’s Tuesday Tips are for all the students out there who are potentially interested in a career in international relations.  Here are some ways to get started:

1. Study Abroad.  Getting out into the world is one of the best ways to expand your perspectives and develop a global mindset. Check out World Savvy’s Bangladesh Exchange Program which offers 30 students and five educators an all-expense paid four week trip to Bangladesh to study climate change.  Other great study abroad organizations include the National Center for Global Engagement, World Bridges, the Institute for International Education, and One World Now.
2. Do Your Homework. Read the news, listen to the BBC, study up on current global affairs and global history.  The World Savvy Monitor is a great resource for in-depth study of global topics, and the World Savvy Challenge and Media & Arts Program provide structured ways for students to engage deeply in issues of global significance.  There are also some wonderful programs to support collegiate and post-collegiate study in international affairs, like the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program at Howard University.
3. Intern.  Getting professional experience by interning at an international affairs organization is one of the best ways to determine if this career path is right for you. The Global Access Pipeline works with organizations like the Aspen Institute, the World Bank, and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to create and provide internships to students from traditionally underrepresented populations in international affairs.

These three simple tips can get you started on your way to a successful career in international affairs.  Good luck!