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.

Internships and Post-Graduate Employment

Explore internship and full-time opportunities at various Think Tanks and Research Institutes. This article provides some initial considerations for students who are thinking about interning with a Think Tank. Below are direct links to various Think Tanks and Research Institutes:

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.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network-Federal Advocacy Intern

Apply here: https://acs.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/ACSCAN/job/DC-Washington-DC/Federal-Advocacy-Intern_JR1960

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nation’s leading cancer advocacy organization. Together with our charitable partner, the American Cancer Society, we work in Congress, state legislatures and local jurisdictions to support evidence-based …

By Yale Office of Career Strategy
Yale Office of Career Strategy
Send Email
Read more

Upcoming Events for Students Interested in Energy & Sustainability (CBEY) – March 2025

Leaders of Corporate Energy Transitions Tues., March 25th, 2025 |11:45 – 12:45 PM ET | SOM’s Evans HallJoin Dan Gross, Director of Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, and Peter Gerson, Senior Manager of Energy Transformation at Walmart for a conversation on how …

By Stanley Willard Jr.
Stanley Willard Jr. Assistant Director of Employer Relations
Send Email
Read more

Register for the 2025 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 April 10. Employers will be eager to meet …

By Stanley Willard Jr.
Stanley Willard Jr. Assistant Director of Employer Relations
Send Email
Read more

Sidebar

Job Search Resources

2023 Peer Networking Class List

; This content is restricted to certain users. Please login or sign up to see if you are eligible to view this content.

Candorful

We know firsthand the difficulties of military transition and the job search that follows. Job seekers who are Service Members …

Read More

Student Veterans of America

Student Veterans of America® (SVA) is the premier organization leading service, research, programs, and advocacy for veterans in higher education.  

Through a network …

Read More

2024 Peer Networking Class List

; This content is restricted to certain users. Please login or sign up to see if you are eligible to view this content.

View All Resources

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 our data collection.

  • First Destination summaries are based on the Knowledge Rate of graduate outcomes six months after graduation according to National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) guidelines.
  • Knowledge Rate, defined by NACE, includes direct survey responses and basic employment or graduate school information confirmed through LinkedIn. Yale’s information below on Starting Salary and Time of Year Offer Received is based only on direct survey responses.

Helpful Tips for the Interactive Tool:

  • There is no Enter or Submit Button, results will appear automatically
  • The default is ‘All Years’ or ‘All Majors.’ Choose specific years or majors for more granular results. Uncheck the selected major(s) to reset your search.
  • The tool returns results with at least five responses. For small majors, choose ‘All Years’ to show results
  • To ensure confidentiality, results are reported in the aggregate
  • If you require additional information contact the Office of Career Strategy

Most Recent Class Overview: Class of 2024

Knowledge Rate Employed or in Graduate School Mean Starting Salary Top Five Industries
91.4% of those graduating between July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024.

  • Survey Responses: 1,227 (80.6%)
  • Confirmed through LinkedIn: 299 (19.4%)
 93.5% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation $90,097 among graduates employed full-time 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
  • 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.

SERVICE HOURS

Day of the week
 Academic Year Summer Hours
Monday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm 8:30am - 4:30pm

The office is closed weekends, holidays, and recess days.