Government

Government roles within the United Stated include opportunities with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. In addition there are numerous employment opportunities in the private or nonprofit sectors working on behalf of various government agencies.

For those interested in public service work, it’s important to think about responsible engagement. Review this page on Planning Public Service Projects to learn more about what responsible engagement looks like and how you can develop a plan that aligns well for you and the community you plan to serve.

Evaluate Goals & Job Functions

Interested in contributing to research and crafting legislation? Explore options within the legislative branch. Looking to contribute to environmental or education initiatives? Explore options within the executive agencies and departments. Have a desire to contribute to government policy and functions beyond the scope of direct government hiring? Explore the possibilities of lobbying, public service consulting, and think tanks.

Government entities hire for a multitude of job functional roles, including engineers, urban planners, researchers, scientists, budget analysts, public affairs and communication staff, accountants, technology specialists, physicians, attorneys, administrative support, and more. The array of agencies and departments in the U.S. and state governments provide ample opportunity for those who are interested in public service work.

Federal Resumes

A federal resume is often over 4-5 pages, and more extensively covers your work experience than other resumes. It includes all work and volunteer experiences, regardless of their direct relevance, because eligibility is determined based on the information in your resume. If sufficient detail is not provided, it may be determined that you do not meet the minimum qualifications.

Use the resume builder on USAJobs. Start by transferring information from your current resume and expand it to include greater detail. Follow the STAR method. Use as many bullets as needed and tailor your resume for each position. In USAJobs, you can “duplicate” your base resume, edit it for a specific posting, and save multiple versions. Refer to the job posting when tailoring your resume and describe exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications. Don’t worry about the style of the resume builder, it is the one most used by federal hiring managers. Visit GoGovernment for more advice. Read this recent article, How to Write a Federal Resume in 2024 for more tips.

Click the buttons below to check out the recordings from the on-campus visit of the Partnership for Public Service in November 2023:

Government-Related Fellowships

Yale students should search the Yale Student Grants & Fellowships for Yale-funding for public service opportunities. Create a profile in ProFellow to find fellowships for educational pursuits, go abroad, conduct research, or discover employment opportunities. Consider pursuing these nationally-competitive Fellowships:

Some may require university endorsements, visit Yale Fellowships Office for information.

Pathways and Non-Competitive Eligibility

The Pathways Program offers federal internship and employment opportunities for current students, recent graduates, and those with an advanced degree. These programs are named: Internship Programs, Recent Graduates, and the Presidents Management Fellowship (PMF) program. Search for Pathways Program opportunities through USAJobs.gov.

Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) is available in some agencies for subsequent employment opportunities with the U.S. Government. Learn more about the U.S. Study Abroad programs that offer Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) here, and for Peace Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers here.

Foreign Service Careers

U.S. diplomats in the Foreign Service promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the United States abroad. The U.S. Department of State offers worldwide career opportunities in international public service. U.S. Foreign Service Officers represent the United States in diplomatic and ambassadorial roles, connect with the global community, and explore different cultures while living overseas.

Conflict Resolution & Peace Negotiation

Long-term career plans within this career path usually include a graduate degree in this field. Interested students should pursue opportunities at organizations that handle conflict to build experience and frame their research pursuits around related topics . Below are recommended readings and resources:

Military Service & Yale ROTC

The U.S. Military consists of six branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force. Additionally, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are reserve components of their services and operate in part under state authority. Visit the Department of Defense website to learn details of each branch and reserve unit.

Colleges and Universities nationwide offer the Reserve Officer Training Corps, which pay for students’ tuition and prepares them to be military officers. In return, students commit to serving in the military afterward. Yale ROTC provides details for the Yale Air Force, Army, and Naval ROTC programs.

Campaign Work

Political campaign work builds professional skills in a flexible, fast-paced, and fluid environment. Those who work on campaigns gain knowledge of policy issues, the electoral process, campaign management and funding, and the overarching concerns of the American populace.

The Campaign School at Yale University offers events and programs throughout the year to train underrepresented individuals as they pursue elected and appointed political positions.

Yale Club of Ohio Fellowship ($4,000) Deadline is April 2nd

For Yale College students interested in a nonprofit summer internship in Ohio or who are from Ohio please see below:

Yale Club of Dayton’s Ohio Summer Funded Internship – 2 summer awards for $4,000 each to a First Year, Sophomore,  …

By Robyn Acampora
Robyn Acampora Director of Strategic Initiatives and Public Service Careers
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Think Tank & Government Opportunities at upcoming virtual Fair – Sign up on March 15th

There are internship and full-time opportunities with the:

Meet with these employers through the Ivy+ Just in Time Virtual Career Fair coming up on Thursday, April 11. Employers will be eager to meet you as they share information about currently …

By Robyn Acampora
Robyn Acampora Director of Strategic Initiatives and Public Service Careers
Read more

Save the Date for Registration – Ivy+ Just-in-Time virtual Career Fair

Looking for a summer internship or full-time job? Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet top employers from various industries at the Ivy+ Just in Time Virtual Career Fair coming up on Thursday, April 11. Employers will be eager to …

By Kelly McSergi
Kelly McSergi Assistant Director of Employer Relations
Read more

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Job Search Resources

How to Navigate Federal Careers: Understanding USAJOBS, Security Clearances & More, presented by the Partnership for Public Service
Mastering the Federal Resume: Your Key to Government Career Success, presented by the Partnership for Public Service

The Office of Career Strategy collects information about Yale College graduates. This is a great resource tool that allows users …

Explore Job Market InsightsIn partnership withLightcast logo

Search continually updated U.S. market trends to learn about job types (job functions), growth trends, and desired skills. The results will include general information about each job (functional area), employment trends from the past two years and projections for the next 10 years, employers that have that role, desired education level, skills for the position, and more!

TWO WAYS TO SEARCH:

  1. Find Career Data by Selecting Keywords: Enter keywords of various job titles and choose a state or search nationwide to learn more about that job.
  2. Filter by Industry and Occupation: Search by industry and choose among popular occupations/job titles within that industry.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

YC Career Outcomes

The Office of Career Strategy collects information about Yale College graduates. This tool allows users to search outcomes by year and major. Please visit Statistics & Reports for more information on detailed reports.

Helpful Tips for the Interactive Tool:

  • There is no Enter or Submit Button  Results will appear automatically with your selections
  • Choose ‘All Years’ or ‘All Majors’- For results across years and majors, or check one for more granular results.
  • The tool will return results with at least five responses – For small majors, choosing ‘All Years’ is more likely to show results
  • Default results will show the most recent Class Year.
  • Uncheck the selected major(s) to reset your search.
  • To ensure confidentiality, results are reported in the aggregate and more granular data is not available through this tool.
  • First Destination Summaries are based on the knowledge rate of graduate outcomes six months after graduation according to National Association of Colleges and Employers guidelines.
  • If you require additional information contact the Office of Career Strategy

Most Recent Class Overview

Knowledge Rate Success Rate Mean Starting Salary Top Five Industries
90.3% of those graduating between July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 94.0% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation $89,622 among graduates employed full-time in the United States Education, Financial Services, Technology, Consulting, and Healthcare

 

  • First Destination
  • Top Employers
  • Employment Industry and Function
  • Size of the Organization
  • Starting Salary
  • Time of Year Offer Received
  • Internships, Research, and Study Abroad Experiences
  • First Destination Locations
  • Top Universities
  • Advanced Degrees Pursued

First Destination

First Destination refers to the postgraduate plans of Yale College graduates six months after graduation. The pursuits of Yale graduates include employment, graduate school, independent research, military service, and more.

CONTACT & LOCATION

Phone
(203) 432-0803
Address

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New Haven, CT 06510

SERVICE HOURS

Day of the week
Academic Year Summer Hours
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The office is closed weekends, holidays, and recess days.