Want to tackle complex problems? Driven by making a difference in the world?
People drawn to the fields of public service and government often value helping people and solving social problems. There are many career pathways where you can put your passions and skills to work helping your community – locally, nationally, or globally! Use the resources on this page to learn more about common career pathways, such as global development, policy, politics, diplomacy, and more. These resources also cover how to find and secure opportunities in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and more.
There are hundreds of student organizations at UVA, and these are just a few examples of the organizations focused on public service and government topics:
- Alpha Phi Omega
- College Republicans
- The National Security, Intelligence, and Defense Club
- University Democrats
- Virginia Policy Lab
- Women in National Security
Search for more on Hoos Involved!
While it’s important to start early and be aware of deadlines, your job search will and should follow its own path.
Generally, large organizations or those with more competitive opportunities will hire earlier in the academic year. Positions that require a security clearance often recruit in the fall semester for full-time hires. Most nonprofit and public sector organizations hire internship and full-time opportunities based on immediate need. Some positions may become available in late spring/early summer, so you should continue to look for opportunities throughout the academic year and beyond.
See the list below for some examples of recruiting timelines for specific industries. Note that these are general guidelines.
Summer/Fall Deadlines:
- Many bridge year programs (e.g. Fulbright)
- Some international organizations
- Careers requiring a security clearance (e.g. State Department internships or intelligence positions)
Spring Deadlines:
- Nonprofits
- Research institutes/think tanks
- Federal, state and local government
- Capitol Hill
- Bridge year programs, especially those with rolling or multiple deadlines (e.g. Peace Corps)
