Government, National Security, & Policy Year-to-Year Guide
During your first year, your goal is to start exploring, build a base of skills and learn more about different Government, National Security, & Policy employers and areas.
Autumn Quarter
Begin to research internships that recruit heavily from early undergraduate students (CIA Directorate of Operations, FBI Honors, etc .)
Participate in the Global Overview Workshop to learn about the ways that current events shape the National Security industry and job market.
Join us for the Fall Interview Prep for Intelligence Careers Workshop to better prepare for real interview questions and desired skills.
Apply for the local policy Chicago trek to network with employers.
Compete in the fall policy competition to start building key policy research skills
Join us for the Future Leaders in Public Service Info Session to learn more about funded summer opportunities in government!
Winter Quarter
Expect to submit applications for summer opportunities for competitive programs which often have Winter deadlines.
Begin researching and contacting Government, National Security, & Policy organizations to self-source a summer opportunity
Participate in the winter policy competition to connect with employer partners and gain experience in policy research and analysis
Attend Careers in Think Tanks Workshop to explore summer internship opportunities and career pathways in think tanks
Apply to programs such as Summer Links, Summer Institute in Social Research Methods and Future Leaders in Public Service
Apply for Washington D.C. spring break trek
Spring Quarter
Join us for the Spring Interview Prep for Defense Tech Careers Workshop to better prepare for real interview questions and desired skills.
Participate in the spring impact competition to develop and implement a policy solution for a local social impact partner
Participate in a Metcalf Sprint to build experience working on a project with an employer partner
Apply for a state government trek to learn about internships and career paths with the State of Illinois!
Summer
Complete a summer opportunity! Sample summer opportunities that are great for first-years interested in Government, National Security, & Policy: local/federal government internships, data analysis internships, research assistantships, nonprofit and social impact internships, foreign language/abroad work experience
Strengthen Excel and PowerPoint skills through free LinkedIn Learning courses available to UChicago students