Personalized career services | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Personalized career services

Ford School degrees prepare students for impact. Career Services helps them find their way.

Meeting students where they are

The Ford School places a high priority on the career development of students. Students have access to a seasoned team of strategic career counselors, a deeply committed alumni base, and faculty with real-world policy connections to help them achieve their career objectives. The Ford School difference is in the emphasis placed on providing professional, personalized, and supportive career services to all students.

Whether students want to enhance their leadership skills, further their education, find their dream job, or ace their internship interview, the Ford School's career services are well-positioned to help students achieve their career goals. Learn more about the services we provide to undergraduate and graduate students.

Ford School career services are focused on four central priorities: 

  1. Share information about the variety of career choices available with a policy degree. We do this through career panels and programs, print and web resources, and individual career counseling. We encourage students to arrange informational interviews to explore the many ways in which you can apply your policy degree across sectors.
  2. Connect students and policy employers. This includes active employer outreach to enhance the visibility of the Ford School in all sectors, job posting and resume collection services, access to the Ford School alumni network, on-campus recruiting opportunities, and networking events.
  3. Assist students in creating an individual strategy for their career goals. We help students develop the skills and tools necessary for writing effective resumes and cover letters, mapping out career paths, evaluating career opportunities, and negotiating offers.
  4. Provide support for students through the inevitable highs, lows, and plateaus that accompany career planning and the job search process. 
Francisco Gonzalez

"Colombia is such a complex and dynamic country that has been an unbelievable experience."

Francisco Gonzalez (MPP '20) interned at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia for the U.S. State Department to advance U.S. interests in Colombia, ensuring the implementation of the historic 2016 peace accord.

Our students go places! Learn more about additional opportunities at the Ford School that further careers:

Myra Lee

Riecker Fellowship

MPPs spend a semester working on the Hill.
Riecker Fellowship
Betsy Palazzola and Brian Garcia

Bohnett Leadership and Public Service Fellowship

Tuition and a funded internship in the Detroit Mayor's Office for MPP students
Learn more
John Ciorciari in Washington DC

Foreign policy engagement and diplomacy training

The Weiser Diplomacy Center offers undergraduate and graduate student internships, fellowships, and grants for student-led projects.
The Weiser Diplomacy Center
Stephanie Gusching

BA internship field report

A Q&A from San Salvador
BA internship field report
Ford+Munk Conference 2018 group photo

Student organizations

Ford School student organizations are an integral part of the community and collaborate on career and alumni programming.
Learn about what they offer
International policy experiences

The Ford School: On the map

Here are just a few of the international learning opportunities that Ford School undergraduate and graduate students have undertaken since...
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On the map - story
Monika Anderson

"During our advocacy week, we shared data with elected officials to show exactly what work we've done in their district, and encourage them to champion mental health policy reform in New York."

Monika Anderson (MPP/MSW '20)
Monika interned at the National Alliance on Mental Illness in New York City where they used data and advocacy to further mental health legislation.
"Amazon Web Services is working on the cutting edge of technology policy around the world, and I was immediately offered the chance to independently work on an important, novel research assignment involving international data localization policies. I met with the entire AWS policy leadership team, and added valuable connections to my network."

MPA '20 on their capstone project

Amazon Web Services public policy team
Brianna Wells

"My internship confirmed my aspiration to work in similar advocacy fields in the future, and left me feeling decidedly fulfilled with how I spent my time this summer."

Brianna Wells (BA '20)
Brianna interned in Detroit at the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan
I have a greater understanding of how history shapes and informs public policy—and how we as a nation continue to make history every day."
Grace Hermann

Grace Hermann (BA ‘21)

Grace interned at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society in DC where she conducted historical research, run social media, draft press releases, and even made a few appearances on C-SPAN.