One Day, One Job » foreign relations

World Economic Forum

Willy Franzen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:48:21 +0000

I think it’s pretty mind blowing how interconnected the world economies have become during my lifetime. While international trade has existed for many thousands of years, never before have people had to rely so heavily on the production of others half way around the world. I generally think this is a great thing, but many issues come along with the growth. The World Economic Forum is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab in Geneva, Switzerland to be “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.” The World Economic Forum, which also has offices in New York, NY and Beijing, China, is probably best known for its annual meeting at Davos where they bring together some of the world’s most important leaders to engage on some of the most pressing issues.

See You in Davos

The easiest way to learn more bout how The World Economic Forum operates is probably to browse through their issues. There’s a ton of content, but it will give you a sense of what kind of problems the organization likes to cover and what their approach is to solving them. Now, let’s make it clear, The World Economic Forum doesn’t actually take action on their issues. But they do start a dialogue through their events, build communities, and publish research reports. If you want to learn about international affairs, the World Economic Forum website is a great place to do so. An even better way, though, might be working for them. They have job pages for Geneva, Beijing, and New York. All three are worth checking out, but I’m only going to focus on New York’s postings which include a Project Associate position and an open call for General Applications. There are a lot more opportunities in Geneva, so if neither of these look good (and you’re willing to live abroad), then take a look at those.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about The World Economic Forum?

Results for Development Institute

Willy Franzen — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:46:47 +0000

The word “results” is extremely common in the business world, but you don’t hear it as much in the non-profit world. That is changing, but I still hear a lot of my friends griping about how ineffective the non-profits they’ve worked in have been. My guess (and hope) is that that’s not a problem at Results for Development Institute in Washington, DC considering that they have “results” in their name. They’re a non-profit organization that “delivers policy analysis, critical information, decision-making tools, and policy advice for governments, civil society organizations, and external funders to use to reduce poverty and accelerate social and economic progress in low and middle income countries.” It’s all about finding the levers that will deliver the highest impact and then finding the right way to pull them.

Deliver Results

Results for Development Institute focuses on three specific areas: Health, Transparency and Good Governance, and Education. They work in these areas across nearly every region of the world, and when they do, they take a five step approach: Knowledge Building, Strategic Advising, Capacity Building, Convening and Promoting Policy Dialogue, and Partnering with Southern Institutions. You can get a better feel for what this looks like by looking over Results for Development Institute’s Projects and Initiatives. Once you have a better feel for how Results for Development Institute works, then you should read through their 2010 Progress Report. It will give you a good sense for what kinds of results the Institute is delivering and how they’ve achieved them to date. If you’re impressed, then the next step is to look at Results for Development Institute’s Careers page. Right now they have a few positions that appear suitable for new or recent grads including Program Associate (2 openings) and Operations Program Associate. These look like great opportunities for someone interested in international development, so give them a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Results for Development Institute?

International Foundation for Electoral Systems

Willy Franzen — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:35:18 +0000

Although the United States may not have invented democracy, but we certainly made it popular. That’s not to say that we always get it right, but we’ve built a model of government that has inspired a lot of people (the people who work within that model aren’t nearly as inspirational). Our nation went through a brutal war to achieve the system that we have in place, and now we’re watching similar processes happy in many places across the world. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems or IFES is a non-profit organization that “promotes democratic stability by providing technical assistance and applying field-based research to the electoral cycle in countries around the world to enhance citizen participation and strengthen civil societies, governance and transparency.” They’re based out of Washington, DC, but they obviously do a ton of work internationally. IFES has been around for just under 15 years, and they’ve already worked in more than 100 countries.

Wear Your IFES

Elections are the key to democracy, and running elections properly is hard. Not only are there often individuals and groups opposed to allowing the democratic process to take place, but there are also various technical challenges. Even something as simple as ensuring that everyone gets the chance to vote can be difficult, and so can prohibiting people from voting more than once. IFES has developed significant expertise in overcoming these technical challenges. They operate as a neutral third-party and focus on making elections run as smoothly as possible. If you’re interested in the work that IFES is doing, then you need to check out their Career opportunities. As much fun as their Chief of Party position sounds, it’s not entry level. However, they are looking for a Program Coordinator for Europe and Asia, and the position looks like it could be a good fit for a new or recent grad.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

About IFES

What do you know about IFES

Atlantic Council

Willy Franzen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:45:49 +0000

Our country’s relationship with Europe started off pretty rocky. There were all kinds of conflicts including the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, and plenty of others. It wasn’t really until after World Wars I and II that U.S-Europe relations really began to stabilize. That’s why in 1961 The Atlantic Council was founded. They are a Washington, DC based think tank that “promotes constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st century.” Over the organization’s 50 years its mission and programs have evolved, but they remain focused on maintaining a constructive trans-Atlantic dialogue.

Join the Council

I realize that it’s kind of hard to grasp what think tanks actually do–especially when their mission is something as nebulous as promoting “constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs.” Here are some things that the Atlantic Council is working on that will give you a better idea of what they actually do:

identifying and shaping responses to major issues facing the Atlantic Alliance and transatlantic relations;
building consensus on U.S. policy towards Russia, China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan;
promoting balanced responses to growing energy needs and environmental protection;
drafting roadmaps for U.S. policy towards the Balkans, Africa, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, and Libya;
engaging students from across the Euro-Atlantic area in the processes of NATO transformation and enlargement

To really get to know more about the Atlantic Council, you can take a look at the Atlantic Council’s Programs and Publications. If you’re interested in getting involved, then head over to The Atlantic Council’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for an Outreach and Public Events Assistant – Office of Development and External Relations. Give it a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Atlantic Council?

Institute for the Study of War

Willy Franzen — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:43:01 +0000

Despite the fact that most of us probably don’t even think about it on a daily basis, we are a country at war. Formally, the War in Afghanistan is the only current war that the United States is fighting since hostilities in Iraq officially ended on August 31, 2010; however, the reality is that we still are actively engaged in Iraq and Syria now too. Military policy continues to be an extremely important part of what our government does, and it’s essential that our leaders are well prepared to make important decisions regarding these conflicts. The Institute for the Study of War is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that was founded in 2007 to do just that. The organization “produces strictly non-partisan, non-ideological, fact- based research” and aims “to promote an informed understanding of war and military affairs through comprehensive, independent, and accessible open-source research and analysis.”

Keep on Studying

The Institute for the Study of War has two main focuses: their Iraq Project and their Afghanistan Project. However, it does seem that the Institute for the Study of War may be expanding their focus. As new conflicts like the one in Libya emerge, I’m sure that they’ll be studying them and analyzing them. It’s all based on the premise that “a healthy democracy requires civilian leaders who are well versed in military affairs.” Apparently most American colleges and universities abandoned military studies during the Vietnam War, and there has a growing divide between our military and the civilians who control it. The Institute for the Study of War aims to close that gap. If studying war sounds interesting to you, check out The Institute’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Research Analyst for their Gulf Security Project. You must be able to read Farsi or Arabic, so if you can’t, you may wan to reach out to them about other opportunities.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Institute for the Study of War?

Sister Cities International

Willy Franzen — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:17:58 +0000

We’re all feeling for Japan right now. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and potential nuclear meltdowns are nightmares on their own, but having all three occur together is indescribably terrible. Luckily, Japan is a wealthy and technologically advanced nation that was and is well prepared to deal with such disasters. That doesn’t mean that they don’t need our support. Plenty will come from our federal government, but there will also be support sent from city to city. Why? Because of the relationships formed through Sister Cities International, a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that aims to “promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation–one individual, one community at a time.” They match up cities across the world to be sister cities (smaller cities may have one sister city while larger cities could have dozens). For instance Riverside, CA is Sendai, Japan’s (the epicenter of the earthquake) sister city, so the people in Riverside are already working to coordinate their part in the relief effort for Sendai. It’s exactly the “people-to-people, citizen diplomacy initiative” that President Eisenhower proposed in 1956.

What’s Your City’s Sister City?

The idea of using municipalities to foster international diplomacy seems a little strange at first, but when you read about Sister Cities International’s history and mission, you’ll start to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. Another fascinating thing to look at is Sister Cities International’s statistics page. You can learn things like:

Among U.S. states, California has the most sister city programs with 122 communities and 388 partnerships.
More than one-third of the sister city organizations surveyed receive funding from local government to help their sister city program.
Among communities abroad, Japan has the most sister city programs with 228 communities and 239 partnerships.
Among U.S. states, California has the most sister city programs with 122 communities and 388 partnerships.

I really like what Sister Cities International is doing, and I hope that they’re able to make a significant impact in the relief effort in Japan. If reading about Sister Cities International gets you excited, then you should check out their Jobs page and then Idealist for their Youth Ambassador Program Coordinator position. The job looks suitable for a new or recent grad, and it will allow you to work on a student exchange program that focuses on “poverty and the environment, showing local and national examples of how cities and countries are working to alleviate the negative effects of both issues.” Take a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Sister Cities International?

National Bureau of Asian Research

Willy Franzen — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:00:47 +0000

I really hope that I get to travel to Asia at some point in my life, especially Japan. I think it would be fascinating to experience a society that is quite similar to the United States in terms of its economy and technology, yet so different culturally. When I think about it, I’m amazed at how far America’s relationship with Asian countries has come over the past 70 or so years. We’ve gone from wars with Japan, Korea, and Vietnam to economic battles with Japan and China. Now our economy is deeply intertwined with that of China, and the fight against Communism is nearly forgotten. Even though our country’s relationships with Asian countries have changed over the years, it’s still extremely important that we work to understand them better. That’s what the National Bureau of Asian Research is all about. They’re a Seattle, WA based non-profit organization that “conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health, and energy issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia.” They were founded in 1989 when the landscape was quite different from what it is today, but their mission is just as relevant.

Explore Everything Asia

By “drawing upon an extensive network of the world’s leading specialists and leveraging the latest technology,” the National Bureau of Asian Research is able to bridge “the academic, business, and policy arenas.” As important as doing their research, another key to NBR’s work is disseminating their research. They do this “through briefings, publications, conferences, Congressional testimony, and email forums, and by collaborating with leading institutions worldwide.” If you want to get a feel for some of NBR’s past work, you can take a look at this history of their first fifteen years. Another part of NBR’s mission is training “the next generation of Asia specialists.” This means that they’re big on Fellowships and Internships. It’s already too late for The Next Generation Leadership in Asian Affairs Program (deadline was January 15), and the Bridge Award Program seems to be limited to recipients of the Boren Fellowship; however, NBR also has a Jobs page. The only position posted is for an Accounts Payable Coordinator, which isn’t all that relevant to what NBR does. However, you can keep an eye out for other opportunities that might appear or you can reach out to them to see if there are any other options. Remember, training the next generation of Asian specialists is part of their mission.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever been to Asia?

U.S. Agency for International Development

Willy Franzen — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:20:46 +0000

During my vacation I’ve been reading a number of books including President Bush’s Decision Points. I’ve enjoyed it so far, and the chapter on Afghanistan reminded me to take a look at the U.S. Agency for International Development (better known as USAID), which a reader recommended I write about a few months ago. They are “the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.” Right now they’re playing a huge role in moderating the impact of the war in Afghanistan on civilians, while they’re also heavily focused on helping those in Pakistan who have been affected by the earthquake. While USAID’s budget is less than one half of one percent of the federal budget, their impact feels much greater.

Aid for Your Job Search

The U.S. Agency for International Development advanced U.S. policy objectives in three areas: economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; and democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance. They work all over the world with the goal of “expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world.” USAID’s work is obviously extensive, so summarizing it isn’t very easy. Your best bet is to read about all of their programs here. There is an unbelievable amount of information on the USAID website, so if you’re considering a career with them, you should really spend a good amount of time learning about the ins and outs of the the agency. Then you can head over to their Careers page. There are so many different kinds of opportunities at USAID that it can get kind of confusing, but you’ll probably want to look at their Development Leadership Initiative page and their Fellows Program page. There are way too many different kinds of opportunities to list, but you should be able to find all kinds of cool options with USAID in a variety of locations. While you browse through them, I’ll be reading on the beach.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you read any good books lately?

Bridging Nations

Willy Franzen — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:32:25 +0000

International relations is becoming more and more important. There is just too much to gain from cooperation across borders for us not to put a lot of effort in developing international relationships. That’s why Bridging Nations exists. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that uses education to build bridges between nations through education. Their target audience is “leaders in government, business, and the non-profit sector,” and the organization’s message is focused on “promoting an informed, multifaceted forum of exchange.” The end goal is to promote policies that create mutual benefit for people across nations. By bringing together economics, leadership, and technology, Bridging Nations thinks that they can build relationships that will make everyone better off.

Can You Build a Bridge?

Bridging Nations pursues their mission by focusing on four key program areas: India-China-US Relations, Energy Technology and Policy, Education and Innovation, and Leadership and Governance. I find the first two more interesting, because they’re topics that are easier to nail down and focus on than the latter two. Overall, I think that Bridging Nations could do a little better on their messaging because it’s hard to get a good read on what exactly they do. With that said, I know there are plenty of you out there who are interested in international relations, so hopefully you can take a closer look at Bridging Nations and report back with your take on them. Maybe you’ll even do at as an employee of the organization since they’re currently looking for a Research / Project Assistant. The job description doesn’t give much more insight as to what the organization does, but it does look like a great entry level position.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Bridging Nations?

German Marshall Fund of the United States

Willy Franzen — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:43:28 +0000

Time for a little Sunday morning history lesson. Who remembers the Marshall Plan from history class? It was a plan for rebuilding Western Europe after World War II that was named for Secretary of State George Marshall. In the four years that the plan was active, the U.S. gave $13 billion in aid to a number of European countries. You can get the full rundown on Wikipedia, but those are the basics. This may have been a goodwill gesture, but it was also self-serving. By financing much of Europe’s reconstruction, the US was able to influence the direction that these European governments were taking. That’s important when you’ve just fought a war to oust fascists who were able to gain control due to a power vacuum created by an insufficient resolution to a previous war. Of course, the Marshall Plan didn’t prevent the Cold War, but it did create a much more favorable situation for the U.S. It also helped Germany recover more quickly, and for that they thanked us with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, “a gift from Germany as a permanent memorial to Marshall Plan assistance.” It was a gift of of DM 150 million, and it now lives on as a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that “is dedicated to the promotion of greater understanding and common action between Europe and the United States.”

An International Gift

The German Marshall Fund of the United States now exists as “an independent American public policy and grantmaking institution,” but they continue to work on “the most pressing transatlantic issues, both inside and outside Europe’s changing borders.” Beyond their office in Washington, DC, they also have locations in Berlin, Bratislava, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, Bucharest, Turn, and Stockholm. To get a feel for the kind of work that the GMF does, you can take a look at their Policy Initiatives, their Fellowships, their Experts, and their Grantmaking. If you’re interested in foreign policy, then it’d be hard to find a more interesting place to work than the German Marshall Fund of the United States. You can check out their Jobs page, and take a look at the one position that seems suitable for a new grad—Program Assistant – Comparative Domestic Policy. You can apply by sending a cover letter and current resume to hr@gmfus.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you already know about the Marshall Plan?

National Endowment for Democracy

Willy Franzen — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:54:13 +0000

I have to say that democracy is a pretty darn good thing—even if it is the only government system that I’ve ever known. It certainly has its flaws, but I’m not sure that we’ve found a better way to ensure the freedom of a nation’s citizens yet. I don’t think that there is a lot of debate about whether spreading democracy is a good thing—most of the debate centers around what are appropriate ways to spread it. The National Endowment for Democracy is a Washington, DC based “private, non-profit, grant-making organization” that aims to “strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts.” They’re funded through “an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress through the Department of State;” however, they are not a government organization. They make grants to pro-Democracy groups across the world with the goal of helping democracy evolve naturally in a way that suits the nations culture and history.

Do You Support Democracy?

I guess you could get into a pretty heated debate about how you define democracy, but I like the NED’s definition:

Democracy involves the right of the people freely to determine their own destiny.

The exercise of this right requires a system that guarantees freedom of expression, belief and association, free and competitive elections, respect for the inalienable rights of individuals and minorities, free communications media, and the rule of law.

The NED has been around since the early 1980s, and since then they’ve suffered criticism from both sides of the political spectrum (I guess that means they’re pretty balanced). They have an extremely detailed history on their website that goes into great depth about how they work and what they’ve done in the past. The long and short of it is that they spend their time finding the right groups to distribute money to in support of democracy. If you’re intrigued by the NED, you should check out their Jobs page. Current openings that might be suitable for new grads include Publications Coordinator and Program Assistant for Middle East and North Africa. Application instructions vary slightly, so pay close attention the job descriptions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of the NED?

Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates

Willy Franzen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:59:15 +0000

This is a guest post by Heather R. Huhman. Heather is the media relations manager at a national health care professional association. She is also the entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com, a career expert for the CAREEREALISM Twitter Advice Project, the job search expert for Campus Calm and author of the e-book “Gen Y Meets the Workforce: Launching Your Career During Economic Uncertainty.”

Issue advocacy, media strategy and crisis and reputation management are three of my favorite areas of public relations—and three specialties of Washington, DC based corporate communications and public affairs firm Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates (CLS). According to their Web site, CLS works to “inform target audiences, change critical perceptions and solve high stakes problems.” So, whether you spend the day lobbying Capitol Hill with a worthy cause, keeping up-to-date with the latest media changes or stepping in when crisis erupts, I think you’ll find CLS a truly exciting place to work. With a median employee age of 27, CLS offers a mix of young, energetic co-workers and seasoned professionals from whom you can learn. Other perks? Working with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations to foreign governments. It’s a great environment in which to get your feet wet.

Where Politics Meets Public Relations

The CLS Careers page indicates they accept résumés on a rolling basis for all possible openings, including entry level positions; however, they are currently seeking an Associate. If you’re energetic, hardworking, good at multi-tasking, work well under pressure—all of which you should be if you desire an agency position—plus have a degree and a few journalism, public relations, public affairs or politics internships under your belt, this position may be for you. What can you expect on the job? “The opportunity to write, pitch stories to the media, organize press events, assist with presentation development and media monitor for relevant client news”—pretty standard for an entry-level position at a mid-sized agency.

Interested? E-mail your cover letter and résumé to Tabitha Johnson-Graham at tjohnson-graham@clsdc.com. Be sure to write “Associate Position” in the subject line. For consideration for future openings, upload your cover letter, résumé and writing sample here.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

If you’re in the DC area for an interview, feel free to stop by and say hi!

Need help with your cover letter and résumé—or your entire job search? Heather offers low-cost coaching packages specifically for students and recent graduates seeking careers in public relations. Click here to learn more.

Council on Foreign Relations

Willy Franzen — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:06:12 +0000

What happens when you put Angelina Jolie together with a suspected conspiracy to create a “one-world government?” No, it’s not an upcoming movie release. It’s actually a non-profit organization called the Council on Foreign Relations. They are “an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries.” They can claim Angelina Jolie as a member, and because of their secrecy clauses and interesting membership requirements (and the fact that so many high-ranking government officials are members), people get all kinds of ideas about Council on Foreign Relations. In fact, Wikipedia says that “some believe it to be the most powerful private organization to influence United States foreign policy.” Ok, let’s cut through all the crazy stories and see what CFR is really about.

Join the Council

If it’s not already obvious, Council on Foreign Relations is the place to be if you’re interested in foreign affairs. They’ve been promoting “understanding of foreign policy and America’s role in the world since its founding in 1921.” The need for understanding foreign policy isn’t going anywhere, so I think the Council on Foreign Relations is going to continue to be an exciting place to be (at least until they accomplish that goal of a one-world government). That’s why you should consider a job with them. Right now their job listings include two positions that are perfect for new grads. These entry level jobs are Washington, DC based and include Research Associate – International Institutions and Global Governance and Research Associate – Asia Studies. They sound like fascinating jobs, and you can apply by sending a cover letter and resume to humanresources@cfr.org with the position name in the subject of the e-mail. And if you’re not interested in the jobs, you should still check them out. Maybe you’ll unravel a global conspiracy.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you believe in conspiracy theories?

Independent Diplomat

Willy Franzen — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:02:32 +0000

Since diplomacy is “the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states” according to Wikipedia, one would assume that a diplomat is a representative of a group or state. Independent Diplomat is a non-profit organization that is trying to live outside that definition. Their mission is to provide the knowledge and experience of long time diplomats to countries that are disadvantaged or marginalized to the point that they don’t have the resources to effectively practice diplomacy. Started by a former British diplomat, Independent Diplomat has worked with nations that include Somaliland, Western Sahara, Kosovo, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to prevent and resolve conflict. They’re kind of like management consultants for diplomacy.

Working for Diplomacy

If you majored in International Relations, you’re probably already really excited about the possibility of a job with Independent Diplomat. They’re a unique organization that takes a very different approach to foreign affairs. They are currently looking for a Program and Development Assistant in their New York City office. This position is closely intertwined with the Executive Director and the Director of Development, and requires someone who is truly committed to changing the practice of diplomacy. There are certainly some administrative tasks involved with this job, but there’s also a lot of room to grow and learn. You can find an extremely thorough job description here.

This is the only job that Independent Diplomat currently has that looks well suited to new college grads, but it seems like a perfect fit. To apply you should send an e-mail to newyork@independentdiplomat.org with “Program and Development Assistant” in the subject line. Your e-mail should include: a cover letter of no more that one page stating why you are interested in the job and why you believe you are qualified for it; a resume of no more than 2 pages; a sample of your writing of no more than 2 pages; and contact details for 2 references for whom you have worked in a professional capacity and who are willing and available to be contacted.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Does the idea of an “independent” diplomat seem strange to you?

World Learning

Willy Franzen — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:59:41 +0000

Did you spend any time abroad when you were in college? Did you love it? If you answered yes to those questions, then you can probably see the value in World Learning, a non-profit organization that “fosters global citizenship by connecting over 3,000 young ambassadors annually across cultural differences and social barriers.” They do this through three programs that they offer – The Experiment in International Living, SIT Study Abroad, and SIT Graduate Institute. World Learning also runs International Development Programs in 20 countries to “work with communities to design and implement development programs that address some of the main obstacles to human development.” If you terribly miss your abroad experience and want to help other students gain similar experiences, a job with World Learning might be the perfect solution to your post-graduation job search.

World Learning in Your Job

Right now, World Learning appears to have two entry-level job opportunities available. The first we found on Idealist, and it’s a position as a Program Associate for the World Learning Visitor Exchange Program. To apply for this position, you should send a resume and cover letter to vladimir.spencer@worldlearning.org. The other job we found with World Learnign was listed on their website (we’ll never understand why non-profits mix their job listings between their own site and Idealist, but don’t cross post them). This is a Finance Associate position. To apply for this job, you should send your cover letter and resume to recruitment@worldlearning.org. Both jobs are located in Washington, DC; however, World Learning also has a location in Brattleboro, VT.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you go abroad? Did you love it?

Carnegie Corporation of New York

Willy Franzen — Sat, 24 May 2008 12:43:50 +0000

Although giving away money isn’t usually the first thing on people’s lists of things to do if they ever get rich, people who actually are rich seem to enjoy donating what they have. Since you’re reading a site about entry-level jobs, we’re going to guess that you don’t have vast financial resources to donate to charity. Still, it would be fun to give someone else’s money, now wouldn’t it? That’s what the Carnegie Corporation of New York does. The corporation was founded my Andrew Carnegie, himself, in 1911 with a $135 million. Since then the goal has been to put the money to use in ways that “promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding” for perpetuity. What is perpetuity? It’s forever. For many new college grads, making money last forever means until the next paycheck. At the Carnegie Corporation, they really mean forever. Their endowment was worth approximately $3.0 billion last year, and with a giving rate of “5.5 percent of the average market value of the endowment during the prior 12 quarters,” it’s not getting any smaller.

Free Money?

Yes! For philanthropic organizations that do extraordinary things in the areas of promoting international peace and advancing education. No, you can’t start some fake non-profit and start getting money. You can, however, work for the Carnegie Corporation and eventually help lead the direction in which Andrew Carnegie’s fortune is spent. Here’s the list of the most recent grants given by the Carnegie Corporation and here are all of the lists. The entire Carnegie Corporation website is extremely interesting and filled with information about the organization. If you find the amount of information a bit overwhelming, you can also look at Carnegie for Kids which really simplifies things. Don’t be ashamed about reading the version for kids, it’s actually really good.

Working for Carnegie

The Carnegie Corporation currently has three job openings. One is definitely entry-level, and another could probably be seen as such for the right person. They are looking for an Investment Information Coordinator and an Administrative/Research Assistant for their Scholars Program. The Investment Information Coordinator position is perfect for a new college grad who is looking for a non-profit job with a focus on philanthropy and endowments. The compensation for the job also appears to be excellent, especially for a non-profit job. You can apply for either position by sending a cover letter, résumé, at least two professional references by May 30, 2008 to: hr@carnegie.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Congratulations to all of our readers who are graduating this weekend or who have already graduated. To those of you who have another week or two, good luck!

Institute of International Education

Amy Gordon — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:00:20 +0000

What do John Hope Franklin, Paul Samuelson, Linus Pauling, and Jonathan Franzen have in common? Besides having last names that begin with a male first name, they were Fulbright Scholars who have gone on to acheive greatness in their respective fields. John Hope Franklin received a Presidential Medal of Freedom (America’s highest civilian honor), Paul Samuelson is a Nobel Laureate in Economics, Linus Pauling received the Nobel Prize for his work in Chemistry, and Jonathan Franzen is a novelist who just so happens to have an awesome last name.

The Fulbright Program aims to promote peace and understanding through educational exchange. It was created in the aftermath of World War II through the efforts of Senator J. William Fulbright, and today, is considered to be one of the most prestigious academic awards world-wide. In fact, more Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes than those of any other academic program.

Institute of International Education, aka IIE, manages the Fulbright Program, along with 250 other programs worldwide, and serves over 20,000 people from 175 nations each year.

An independent non-profit founded in 1919, IIE is among the world’s largest and most experienced international education and training organizations. Their goal is to strengthen and link institutions of education across the globe, as well as to rescue threatened scholars and promote academic freedom.

And here is the great news, there are a few entry-level job openings available. One such job caught our attention immediately, IIE is hiring a Program Associate (dead link removed) for their Washington D.C. office to assist in the administration of the Fulbright Scholar Program for the Middle Eastern/North African world region. In this position, you would be responsible for tasks such as coordinating grant activities for applicants in the region, keeping abreast of foreign academic policy, and assembling and distributing pertinent program information to applicants, sponsors, etc.

To apply for this job, or one of the other Program Associate jobs, IIE asks that you send a resume and cover letter to Brandon Gee, whose contact info can be found in the link above.

If you are interested in international education, IIE would be a perfect place for you to start your career. To do more research before applying, take a look at the links below:

Note: On April 27th we revisited entry-level jobs at the Institute of International Education.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

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