Careers & Internships

Career Plan 1-2-3

By being proactive while attending the University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies (UW JSIS), you can make your career dreams a reality. JSIS graduates have extensive analytical training, language skills, critical thinking abilities, a global perspective, and regional expertise. They are qualified for a wide variety of jobs and internships.

But how do you start and what should you focus on?

Think of your career plan in three different parts:

  1. Gain job-hunting skills,
  2. Get work experience, and
  3. Network often!

NOTE for international students: read the following then visit our International Student Resources page for more tips.

1. Gain Job-hunting Skills

If you’re afraid of looking for jobs and planning for a career, you are not alone. It can be scary to delve into the unknown and to plan your future, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be fun, exciting, and enlightening to figure out who you are and what you want to do for work.

The UW Career & Internship Center (C&IC) should be your first stop and a place you visit often. Attend their workshops to learn how to find an internship, search for a job, write a resume and cover letter, create a strong LinkedIn profile, interview well, and more. Meet with a career coach to review your resume and cover letter. You can even take free headshot photos and shop for a free interview outfit.

2. Get Work Experience

The #1 trait that employers are looking for is work experience. Whether you want to work in the U.S. or overseas, it’s important to gain real-world skills and work experiences throughout your time at the UW.

  • Before you begin your job or internship search, ask yourself, what are my career goals? Not sure? It’s okay. Many students don’t know what their career goals are until they’ve learned more about what they like to do and what they don’t like to do. Internships are one of the best ways to figure this out. Visit our Internships page to learn how to get started.
  • To help you with your search, you will receive the JSIS-JOBS newsletter that features internships, jobs, fellowships, and career events. If you’re a JSIS alum and want to subscribe to JSIS-JOBS, send your full name, email, and student ID # to jsisjobs@uw.edu.
  • Seeing where JSIS graduates end up can help you envision your future. Visit the C&IC’s Student Outcomes page and do a search for International Studies majors to see what are their top employers, employment locations, job titles, and more.
  • For more ideas about jobs in international affairs, take a look at the APSIA Careers Guide. While aimed at graduate students, it is also relevant for undergraduates.

3. Network Often

Networking is a crucial part of your experience at UW…and in life. We all network. Networking helps us build community and connections, and helps us to both receive and give help. While the purpose of networking is to connect with other individuals, it is also one of the best ways to hear about jobs and internships, and receive all kinds of helpful tips for work and life.

By being proactive during your time at UW JSIS and you can and will make your career dreams come true. Take time to gain job-hunting skills, get work experience, and network often!