We host our Industry Spotlight Series every October to connect small groups of students with several different employers for career exploration. These informational visits offer exposure to various workplaces, career paths, and opportunities through discussions with employees.

For this early fall event, we invite juniors, seniors, and graduate students to sign up for pre-arranged informational interviews with SIS alumni.

Each spring, our Job Search Group gives graduate students and recent MA/MS alumni access to a support network and the skills and tools needed for a sustainable, effective job search.

During spring break, we give students the opportunity to spend a full or half day on the job with an alum. Visits may include observing daily work, an office tour, sitting in on meetings and/or helping with events, and informational interviews with other employees at the organization.

Jump Start January is a half-day reverse hiring simulation and networking event for SIS graduate students. Participants work in teams to “hire” the strongest candidate for a fictional job and learn about best practices as they review applications, interviews, and offer negotiations with guidance and support from alumni mentors.

SIS Meet & Greets are mini speed networking events that require active participation by everyone who attends. The audience changes based on the topic and featured alumni and/or industry representatives. Past themes include "How We've Used Our Degree" and "Strategies for Learning From Failure." To see a list of upcoming events, search Handshake Events for keyword SIS.

The SIS Mentoring Program connects students with alumni mentors for one academic year. Our volunteer mentors help students explore post-graduation pathways, learn how to create networks that support their goals, and move towards their next professionals steps. The program is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Students and alumni do not need to be based in the DC area to participate.

We partner with international relations recruiters to host a day of mock interviews in March called Mock Interview Madness. These practice interviews help students develop effective interviewing skills, learn how to answer difficult questions, and reduce stress before an actual interview.

Our speaker panels give students the chance to hear from small groups of SIS graduates about what it takes to prepare for a career in a specific organization or field. To see a list of upcoming events, search Handshake Events for keyword SIS.

The AU Career Center hosts employer-in-residence, on-campus interviews, and employer meet-ups and pop-ups to help students and alumni connect with recruiters and hiring managers.

The AU Career Center plans the AU Job & Internship Fair every fall and spring to give employers the opportunity to meet talented students and alumni seeking internships and jobs.

Faculty who find themselves unavailable to hold class are invited to request a career advisor and/or alumni guest speaker to present to their students. Topics covered can include career exploration, résumé and cover letter writing, networking, internships, job search strategy, interviewing, and offer negotiation. Our team is also happy to moderate discussions with one or more alumni to showcase career pathways and offer information and advice relevant to course material. Faculty may submit requests to Shaine Cunningham, Director of Career Education & Employer Relations, at scunningham@american.edu.