prospective students
Career Development
Taking an assignment in Bosnia or Nigeria for the Foreign Service; serving on the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels; putting language and business skills to use with international companies like Siemens AG in Munich, Lucent Technologies and Deutsche Telekom; working in the U.S. intelligence community; writing and producing stories for renowned news organizations such as CNN, Deutsche Welle, and The International Herald Tribune: these are examples of what MAGES graduates are doing with their degrees.
Many MAGES students have received Bosch Fellowships to fund a year gaining experience in the fields of government and business in Germany.
MAGES students also enjoy a high rate of acceptance to the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF, formerly PMI) program, which sets them on the fast track to federal employment.
The skills that students develop in our interdisciplinary program are exactly the qualities that employers in the public and private sectors are looking for: a solid understanding of international events, the ability to write clear and coherent analyses of important issues, the cultural insight and adaptability necessary to perform in many different settings, and the ability to step outside one narrow discipline and see the relationships between the many different facets of a constantly changing global environment.
Through the interdisciplinary emphasis of our program and the unique internship opportunities available in Washington, DC, our students develop not only the training to understand current international economic processes and political situations, but also the ability to forge intercultural relationships and shape national and international policy for the future.
Career Development Services
MAGES Alumni continue to be active in the life of the Center, and one result of this is the CGES Alumni Mentoring Program. Current students are paired with alumni mentors based on their career interests. Mentors and students meet via e-mail, phone, or in person to discuss practical issues such as the nature of their chosen career field, locating important contacts in the field, internship and job possibilities, how to structure their job searches, resume reviews, salary ranges, etc.
The MAGES Supervisor of Academic Programs is available for advice regarding resumes and cover letters as well as internships and professional plans. In addition, the combined Graduate Programs in the School of Foreign Service offer workshops open to all SFS graduate students on interviewing skills, writing effective cover letters and resumes, and applying for overseas scholarships and fellowships. The six programs of the School of Foreign Service organize GSFS Alumni Career Panels at which alumni from all GSFS programs speak to students about careers in different sectors.
The MAGES Career Event Series aims to connect students with professionals in their field of interest and inform students about the internship or job search. The events are an excellent way for students to find out specific information about the speaker's job or career path. Some recent speakers have visited from the U.S. Department of State, the World Bank, the Federal German Government, and DFI International.
The BMW Center also hosts professional and academic development workshops, and coordinates with the CGES Alumni Association to plan the annual Alumni/ Student Career Happy Hours and CGES Professional Night, a networking event for students. Workshop topics range from "Public Speaking in an Academic Context" to "Conducting a Job Search in Europe."
For the latest MAGES career workshop and event information, see the MAGES Events Website.GSFS Career Development Center
In 1997 the School of Foreign Service opened the GSFS (Graduate School of Foreign Service) Career Development Center to address the specific needs of graduate students with an interest in international careers. In addition to offering workshops in such areas as resume preparation, organizing the job search, self-assessment, effective networking, interviewing, and negotiating compensation; the GSFS Career Center offers a wealth of resources such as:
- Alumni panels and networks
- Employer information sessions and resume drops
- Extensive reference library
- Internship and job listings
- Job fairs and on-campus recruitment
The staff of the Career Development Center specializes in the field of international education and careers. The Center's weekly "Career Bulletin" provides students with up to date information on Career Center programs and employment opportunities. For more information, visit the Career Development Center website.
MBNA Career Education Center
The MBNA Career Education Center is another resource that graudate students may use. Made possible by a $2 million gift from MBNA America Bank, the MBNA Career Center includes a career resource library, reception area, and computer work stations. Programs and services available include the following:
- Job Search Workshops o Critiquing of resumes, curriculum vitae, and cover letters
- On-campus Recruiting (in conjunction with the GSFS Career Center)
- Alumni Connections
- Non-Profit and Government Career Expo: Coordinated by the Career Education Centers of Georgetown and Duke Universities, this annual event brings employers and representatives from non-profit organizations and government agencies to campus.