Schedule an appointment to meet with a career advisor in person, by phone, or by video chat for guidance on career exploration, career planning, résumé and cover letter writing, networking, internships, job search strategy, interviewing, offer negotiation, graduate school and fellowship applications, and other career concerns.

Handshake is the university's career platform where students and alumni can schedule career advising appointments, search and apply for thousands of internships and jobs, sign up to participate in career programs, and access online resources like Big Interview, GoinGlobal, and Alumnifire.

All students are welcome to take advantage of our drop-in hours in the SIS atrium. These 10-minute sessions are ideal for general questions on résumés, cover letters, and internship/job search strategy. For all other topics, please schedule an appointment through Handshake. Drop-in hours are subject to change. Please check our advising page for current information.

We organize a full calendar of career programming to link students with alumni, employers, industry representatives, professional organizations, and others who provide opportunities to develop professional interests and competencies, integrate academic learning with work, and explore future career possibilities. All require an RSVP in Handshake as a courtesy to presenters.

Our network of over 20,000 alumni around the world can serve as a source of guidance and support in career exploration, networking, and job searches. We provide opportunities for students and alumni to connect through our programming, as well as via Alumnifire and the American University School of International Service group on LinkedIn.

We send the Career Compass, a weekly e-newsletter, to graduate students on Tuesday mornings to share internship and job postings sent to us by employers.

Our online career resource library is a password-protected site created exclusively for SIS students and alumni with resume templates, career exploration guides, networking and skill-building resources, tools for interview prep and offer negotiation, and other materials needed to pursue a career in international affairs. Speak with a career advisor or visit Handshake for the site password.

Our Job Search Support Group provides graduate students and recent alumni with exclusive access to a support network and skills and tools for a sustainable, effective job search process. Over the course of eight weeks in spring, participants work alongside their job-searching peers in a small group, either online or in-person.

Well-written résumés and cover letters open the door for you to meet and interview with employers. To get you started, we offer templates and advice online. Reviews can take place during individual appointments and drop-ins. Students and alumni who have previously met with a career advisor can also request a review by email without scheduling another appointment.

We regularly engage with alumni and employers to maximize opportunities for our students. From these relationships, we learn about hiring trends and gather employment data that we incorporate throughout all facets of our career support.