The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University

 

This year, more than three dozen students at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University received internship offers from the U.S. Department of State. The internships provide an opportunity to work in U.S. embassies and consulates around the world and in State Department offices in Washington, D.C., and other U.S. locations. Some students are instead opting for internships at government agencies such as the General Accounting Office (GAO), in hopes of getting experience that could lead to different job prospects after graduation.

“Since it’s not yet clear where the government jobs will be, students are hedging their bets and looking at other sectors as well,” says Elana Givens, director of Career Services at The Fletcher School.

Professional development at The Fletcher School begins with a required 10-week course in the first semester, in which students develop a career plan and learn skills for marketing themselves. Throughout the year, the Office of Career Services offers personalized coaching, mock interviews, and workshops for students interested in a specific sector: public, private, nonprofit, or multilateral organizations.

Although some organizations in the nonprofit sector have faced funding uncertainties, Givens says that so far, nonprofit hiring of Fletcher School graduates has remained robust. In the private sector, graduates pursue opportunities in finance, business, and consulting organizations, including consulting firms that focus on international development, political risk, or matters that support the missions of various nonprofit organizations.

Ninety-five percent of graduates in the class of 2016 found relevant employment within six months of graduating. And this year, despite uncertainties in government hiring and funding, Career Services job postings have more than doubled.

“We’re shaking the trees,” says Givens. “We are getting more and more job leads from alumni and from guest speakers who come to campus.”

More than 200 Fletcher School graduates participated in this year’s alumni networking event in Washington, D.C. Alumni also host students at site visits in New York City and other cities.

International students account for 39 percent of The Fletcher School’s student body, and with support from local alumni clubs around the world, many of them find jobs in their home regions.

“Our alumni are truly fantastic,” says Givens. “They go out of their way to be helpful when contacted by a student or a graduate. Our alumni want to give back. I think it’s because of the positive, collaborative environment on campus, which they themselves experienced as students. The Fletcher School attracts smart people who want to make an impact on the world.”

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