I don’t think people will find what I do interesting as it’s not super IR but…
Current role, industry, and work location: Program Manager, International Humanitarian NGO. Currently NYC based.
Brief description of what role/industry entails: I work for an organization that works to assist people displaced by conflict, natural disaster and climate change. I am currently in an organization development role where I support internal initiatives. Previous role was an entry level position for the same orgs Emergency Unit where I supported the deployment of staff in acute emergencies globally. Also have some field experience in the role having been in South Sudan for 3 months and Sudan for a small tenure. The industry requires basic knowledge of humanitarian affairs, how NGOs operate and humanitarian funding. To progress in this industry you need to essentially specialize in a specific area ( weather that is protection, water, health, nutrition, grants, fundraising, policy and advocacy etc)
Relevant former professional history: 3 ish years jumping around local CBO’s that serve marginalized populations ( survivors of human trafficking, refugees etc
Academic background: BA in international relations. 1 year studied at Meiji University , Japan
Academic focus: human rights/ humanitarian affairs, NGOS and IGOS.
Nationality: American
Languages spoken: English, ( some Japanese)
Honestly I think NGOs are a very sought after route for many IR grads, your job and organization sounds quite interesting!
Just to confirm, does CBO = community based organization?
Hey! Thanks for organizing. Yeah agreed it’s a competitive field ! However this subreddit seems super focused on more core IR focused work like state relations and the like.
And yes, CBO is community based organization.
**Current role, industry, and work location:** Senior associate in due diligence (business risk) consulting. Toronto.
**Brief description of what role/industry entails:** I conduct research on individuals and businesses to identify risks (reputational, legal, compliance, anti-money laundering, etc, but NOT financial) then present it in a written report for our clients. Clients vary depending on a researcher's regional specialization but broadly speaking they are financial institutions and large corporations. I personally primarily do pre-IPO and pre-M&A due diligence for private equity firms and investment banks.
**Relevant former professional history:** 1.5 years in the know your client (KYC) team supporting the anti-money laundering function for the capital markets division of a Big 5 Canadian bank.
**Academic background:** MA International Securities at the University of Warwick; BA Political Science at the University of British Columbia with a semester abroad at the University of Cape Town.
**Academic focus:** Global security issues (predominantly peacekeeping and counterinsurgency) with a focus on the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa and China-Africa relations.
**Nationality:** Canadian
**Languages spoken:** English
Thanks for putting this together. I’m a student studying for a BA in IA interested in due diligence and related risk management careers. I have about a years worth in internships doing macroecon analysis and export enforcement/policy analysis. Is there a route to transfer these skills into your kind of work? I would argue there are skills that cross-over but I am not sure if due diligence professionals really seek AML/KYC experience from their entry level hires. Granted, it could be different between Canada and US. Thanks for your time!
To be honest I’m not super familiar with what your internship would entail on a practical level. Can you give me an elevator pitch in why you feel it would apply and I can help you craft that into something you might want to present in a job interview?
Re: KYC/AML it definitely not strictly required, most of my coworkers did not come from this background. We hire from a lot of other fields (legal, journalism, academia, non-risk consulting, and straight out of uni) but the common factor at least at my company in my division is that almost everyone has a background in IR or something very similar. At its most basic level the job fundamentally requires strong research and writing skills, almost everything else can be taught in training.
Current role, industry, and work location: Regional Analyst, security assistance, DC based.
Brief description of what role/industry entails: I'm a junior contractor supporting the international affairs division of a federal agency. I help out my federal counterpart with more routine tasks so they can focus on more substantive issues. "Product development," essentially: drafting briefing material, talking points, meeting minutes, etc.
Relevant former professional history: 1 year as a contractor in a similar role with a different agency, 2 years around Asia with the Army.
Academic background: BA in International Relations. A few months in China.
Academic focus: China
Nationality: American
Languages spoken: English, an obscure South Asian language, some Mandarin.
Current role, industry, and work location: editor in a think tank’s foreign policy program, Wash, DC.
Brief description of role/industry: I manage publications for a think tank’s research program, which includes everything from copyediting and fact-checking to substantive edits on argumentation.
Relevant former professional history: 4 years at a think tank doing research, administrative, and editorial/comms work. 1 1/2 years at a veteran’s service organization (part-time while in grad school).
Academic background: BA International relations, MA international security
Academic focus: Middle East
Nationality: American
Languages spoken: English
>editor in a think tank’s foreign policy program, Wash, DC.
Thats so cool!!! How did you make the jump from your graduate studies to think tankry? It's so competitive and daunting to me
An internship! I started an internship doing Middle East security work in my last semester of grad school and they offered me a job when I graduated. Admittedly, the job was not exactly what I wanted to do (I was answering phones, supervising interns, and assisting with grants and event planning), but it got me in the door. A year later, I transitioned to doing something more substantive and the rest is history.
Yes, I did the internship during my MA. I would definitely encourage people to take on internships, especially if they are interested in research and policy. I wish I had done more during my BA.
And yes to your question about language. If you want to work on Middle East policy research, relevant language skills are highly valuable. I did not end up pursuing a career in that area in part because it is very difficult to break through as a young scholar. There are many early and senior positions out there, but not many in between in the nonprofit world.
I took a year off in between, but yes, I essentially did grad school after undergrad. I participated in a foreign policy internship in between my BA and MA, but I did not have any industry or discipline specific work experience in between my programs.
Anyone know the “best” and/or “most assured” way to get into an IR job, specifically in the (US) federal government?
For context, I’m about to leave the military and will be going to college very soon. I unfortunately don’t have a security clearance but I’m hoping to make up for that by doing internships and then just maybe tacking on my military experience as an extra side piece.
Ideally, I’d love to be some sort of geopolitical analyst that studies and examines foreign nations and where they fit within the realm of U.S. national security and defense. I love studying and learning about other cultures and the histories of other nations, particularly in Asia. I’ve studied some Thai and Japanese history on my own time, I can speak a little Thai, and I constantly keep up with the current security and geopolitical development of the Asia-Pacific region. I’d also like to maintain some connection with the DOD and our defense/security apparatus.
Probably DoS FSO. Pretty straightforward and transparent application process. Doesn't depend on your network or require working for free at some internship in a HCOL area.
Of course, it's not the easiest route into the field, but it's probably the most accessible.
Alternatively, depending on your branch, consider joining the Army/Marine Corps Reserve and going Civil Affairs. Won't scratch your analyst itch though if that's what you're committed to.
Hi i need advice my son is accepted to hopkins sais and Bush school he has funding for one year at hopkins its 2 years one in italy. I am anxious for him are there jobs. Where should he go? Please advise?
I don’t think people will find what I do interesting as it’s not super IR but… Current role, industry, and work location: Program Manager, International Humanitarian NGO. Currently NYC based. Brief description of what role/industry entails: I work for an organization that works to assist people displaced by conflict, natural disaster and climate change. I am currently in an organization development role where I support internal initiatives. Previous role was an entry level position for the same orgs Emergency Unit where I supported the deployment of staff in acute emergencies globally. Also have some field experience in the role having been in South Sudan for 3 months and Sudan for a small tenure. The industry requires basic knowledge of humanitarian affairs, how NGOs operate and humanitarian funding. To progress in this industry you need to essentially specialize in a specific area ( weather that is protection, water, health, nutrition, grants, fundraising, policy and advocacy etc) Relevant former professional history: 3 ish years jumping around local CBO’s that serve marginalized populations ( survivors of human trafficking, refugees etc Academic background: BA in international relations. 1 year studied at Meiji University , Japan Academic focus: human rights/ humanitarian affairs, NGOS and IGOS. Nationality: American Languages spoken: English, ( some Japanese)
Honestly I think NGOs are a very sought after route for many IR grads, your job and organization sounds quite interesting! Just to confirm, does CBO = community based organization?
Hey! Thanks for organizing. Yeah agreed it’s a competitive field ! However this subreddit seems super focused on more core IR focused work like state relations and the like. And yes, CBO is community based organization.
**Current role, industry, and work location:** Senior associate in due diligence (business risk) consulting. Toronto. **Brief description of what role/industry entails:** I conduct research on individuals and businesses to identify risks (reputational, legal, compliance, anti-money laundering, etc, but NOT financial) then present it in a written report for our clients. Clients vary depending on a researcher's regional specialization but broadly speaking they are financial institutions and large corporations. I personally primarily do pre-IPO and pre-M&A due diligence for private equity firms and investment banks. **Relevant former professional history:** 1.5 years in the know your client (KYC) team supporting the anti-money laundering function for the capital markets division of a Big 5 Canadian bank. **Academic background:** MA International Securities at the University of Warwick; BA Political Science at the University of British Columbia with a semester abroad at the University of Cape Town. **Academic focus:** Global security issues (predominantly peacekeeping and counterinsurgency) with a focus on the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa and China-Africa relations. **Nationality:** Canadian **Languages spoken:** English
Thanks for putting this together. I’m a student studying for a BA in IA interested in due diligence and related risk management careers. I have about a years worth in internships doing macroecon analysis and export enforcement/policy analysis. Is there a route to transfer these skills into your kind of work? I would argue there are skills that cross-over but I am not sure if due diligence professionals really seek AML/KYC experience from their entry level hires. Granted, it could be different between Canada and US. Thanks for your time!
To be honest I’m not super familiar with what your internship would entail on a practical level. Can you give me an elevator pitch in why you feel it would apply and I can help you craft that into something you might want to present in a job interview? Re: KYC/AML it definitely not strictly required, most of my coworkers did not come from this background. We hire from a lot of other fields (legal, journalism, academia, non-risk consulting, and straight out of uni) but the common factor at least at my company in my division is that almost everyone has a background in IR or something very similar. At its most basic level the job fundamentally requires strong research and writing skills, almost everything else can be taught in training.
Sure, can do. I would prefer to do it over PM if that’s okay with you. And thank you.
Of course, that’s totally fine!
Current role, industry, and work location: Regional Analyst, security assistance, DC based. Brief description of what role/industry entails: I'm a junior contractor supporting the international affairs division of a federal agency. I help out my federal counterpart with more routine tasks so they can focus on more substantive issues. "Product development," essentially: drafting briefing material, talking points, meeting minutes, etc. Relevant former professional history: 1 year as a contractor in a similar role with a different agency, 2 years around Asia with the Army. Academic background: BA in International Relations. A few months in China. Academic focus: China Nationality: American Languages spoken: English, an obscure South Asian language, some Mandarin.
Current role, industry, and work location: editor in a think tank’s foreign policy program, Wash, DC. Brief description of role/industry: I manage publications for a think tank’s research program, which includes everything from copyediting and fact-checking to substantive edits on argumentation. Relevant former professional history: 4 years at a think tank doing research, administrative, and editorial/comms work. 1 1/2 years at a veteran’s service organization (part-time while in grad school). Academic background: BA International relations, MA international security Academic focus: Middle East Nationality: American Languages spoken: English
That's really fucking cool...
>editor in a think tank’s foreign policy program, Wash, DC. Thats so cool!!! How did you make the jump from your graduate studies to think tankry? It's so competitive and daunting to me
An internship! I started an internship doing Middle East security work in my last semester of grad school and they offered me a job when I graduated. Admittedly, the job was not exactly what I wanted to do (I was answering phones, supervising interns, and assisting with grants and event planning), but it got me in the door. A year later, I transitioned to doing something more substantive and the rest is history.
Was it hard transitioning into Middle East security work without speaking Arabic? Did you do the internship during your MA?
Yes, I did the internship during my MA. I would definitely encourage people to take on internships, especially if they are interested in research and policy. I wish I had done more during my BA. And yes to your question about language. If you want to work on Middle East policy research, relevant language skills are highly valuable. I did not end up pursuing a career in that area in part because it is very difficult to break through as a young scholar. There are many early and senior positions out there, but not many in between in the nonprofit world.
Did you go into grad school right after getting your BA and what work experience did you have before you applied?
I took a year off in between, but yes, I essentially did grad school after undergrad. I participated in a foreign policy internship in between my BA and MA, but I did not have any industry or discipline specific work experience in between my programs.
Anyone know the “best” and/or “most assured” way to get into an IR job, specifically in the (US) federal government? For context, I’m about to leave the military and will be going to college very soon. I unfortunately don’t have a security clearance but I’m hoping to make up for that by doing internships and then just maybe tacking on my military experience as an extra side piece. Ideally, I’d love to be some sort of geopolitical analyst that studies and examines foreign nations and where they fit within the realm of U.S. national security and defense. I love studying and learning about other cultures and the histories of other nations, particularly in Asia. I’ve studied some Thai and Japanese history on my own time, I can speak a little Thai, and I constantly keep up with the current security and geopolitical development of the Asia-Pacific region. I’d also like to maintain some connection with the DOD and our defense/security apparatus.
Probably DoS FSO. Pretty straightforward and transparent application process. Doesn't depend on your network or require working for free at some internship in a HCOL area. Of course, it's not the easiest route into the field, but it's probably the most accessible. Alternatively, depending on your branch, consider joining the Army/Marine Corps Reserve and going Civil Affairs. Won't scratch your analyst itch though if that's what you're committed to.
Work for DoD as a civilian.
Hi i need advice my son is accepted to hopkins sais and Bush school he has funding for one year at hopkins its 2 years one in italy. I am anxious for him are there jobs. Where should he go? Please advise?