Policy & Think Tanks

Think Tanks and Careers in Public Policy

Think tanks, which include research centers and policy institutes, are organizations that conduct research to support the creation and evolution of public policy.

Areas of Research

Think tanks may focus on one particular issue or a combination of them. Areas of research include social policy, political strategy, economics, and industrial/business policy. Financial support for these organizations comes from several sources, including government entities, advocacy organizations, and private businesses.

Considerations

Students interested in policy research should consider issues of interest, level of direct activism by the think tank, the organization’s relationship with the government, and the student’s role within the organization. An entry-level professional in this field will most likely conduct supportive qualitative or quantitative research for a larger group initiative within the think tank. Research experience at Yale, particularly independent research projects, and an extensive knowledge base regarding specific public issues can make an applicant more marketable for research positions.

Public Service: Engaging Responsibly

For those interested in public service work, whether that be through structured internship programs, post-graduate employment, community service, or volunteer work, it’s important to think about what responsible engagement looks like.

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 are hoping to serve.

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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City Year is Looking for Graduating Seniors!

City Year is hiring graduating Seniors now. City Year is a paid, fulltime (or 25 hour/week) position as a tutor and role model in schools, supporting students’ academic, social, & emotional growth. City Year serves in systemically under-resourced districts and …

By Stephanie Glover
Stephanie Glover Senior Administrative Assistant
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Summer 2023 Intern – Council on Foreign Relations

Are you interested in gaining experience with a foreign policy think tank? CFR‘s internships pay a competitive hourly wage and offer valuable experience through exposure to leading foreign policy experts.

Along with international relations, internship opportunities include:
✏️ Editorial
📰 Communications
🎙 …

By Kelly McSergi
Kelly McSergi Assistant Director of Employer Relations
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Chicago Booth Research Position

Professors Devin Pope and Joshua Dean are looking for highly skilled and motivated individuals to work as full-time research assistants for a period of at least one year. The preferred start date is July 1, 2023 although accommodations can be …

By Kristin McJunkins
Kristin McJunkins Director, Health Professions Advising & STEM Connect
Read more »

U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) New Federal Internship Portal

Check out the following link for internship postings across the federal government.

By Jorimel Zaldivar
Jorimel Zaldivar Senior Associate Director for Common Good Careers
Read more »

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Career Resources

The following list includes a sample of post-graduate fellowships in Social Justice/Social Change. This is not intended to be a …

Community Resources

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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.)

Community Spotlights

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 detailed reports.

Helpful Tips on using 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.
    • Default results will show the most recent Class Year.
    • Uncheck the selected major(s) to reset your search.
    • To ensure student confidentiality, results are only reported in the aggregate and more granular data is not available through this public tool.
    • The tool will return results with at least five responses. If you require additional information contact the Office of Career Strategy
    • First Destination Summaries are based on the knowledge rate of graduate outcomes six months after graduation under the guidelines set by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Most Recent Class Overview

Knowledge Rate Success Rate Mean Starting Salary Top Five Industries
86.8% of those graduating between July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021 96.9% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation $76,359 among graduates employed in the United States. Financial Services, Education, 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
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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
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Address

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