During your first year in GSPIA, all students take the Professional Development Course.
In this course, the Career Services advisers begin your career
development. It is a four week course that is available at the beginning
of each term. We go over resumes and cover letters including formatting and content. We also discuss interviewing.
We provide information on how to prepare for an interview as well as
when and how to follow up after your interview. Since an internship is a
requirement for all Masters Students, we assist in starting your
internship search and how to apply. Finally, we discuss the importance
of networking and professional social media usage.
Outside of the Professional Development Course, we also offer a number of individual services for students. These include:
- Individual Appointments
- Document Reviews – Resumes, Cover Letters, Writing Samples, etc.
- Mock Interviews
- Internship and Job Search Appointments
If you ever need any help with your career, please
stop by Career Services in the Office of Student Services or make an
appointment with Emmy and Shannon on Connections.
Nearly every week during the academic year, Career
Services holds events for students to attend. We have information
sessions for internships and job opportunities, workshops, and employer
recruitment. In the 2012-2013 academic year, we had a number of events.
- CIA Information Session & Individual Appointments with a Recruiter
- National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Information Session
- Job Search Series: Finding & Applying and Resumes & Cover Letter from a Recruiters Perspective
- Networking Series: Networking 101 and Juggling Small Plates & Small Talk
- City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Information Session
- Allegheny County Department of Human Services Information Session
- Catholic Relief Services Fellowship Information Session
- American Red Cross Information Session
Beside events each week, we have a number of other
special events that we have for students. These are opportunities to get
involved in organizations, meets alums, and other professional
development opportunities.
- Women in Leadership Luncheon
- Get Involved Fair
- Student Loan Workshop
- Introduction to Grant Writing Workshop
- Panel - Local Nonprofits with an International Focus
- Young Alumni Panel
- Alumni Speaker Series including an International Student Workshop
- Job Fairs: Pitt’s Job Fair, .Org & .Gov Career Expo, Local Government Academy Job Fair (for paid internships)
- Professional Picture Day
Career Services also helps students receive funding to pay for the costs of internships and helps students get fellowships.
The purpose of the Professional Development Fund (PDF)
is to defray some of the travel and other expenses incurred by students
for participation in internships, conferences of GSPIA-approved study
abroad programs. The PDF application is now available
online for all students and can be accessed on Connections. If you have
any questions about this process, feel free to talk to Emmy or Shannon
about it.
We also help students with outside funding
opportunities. One of these opportunities is the Nationality Rooms
Scholarships through the University of Pittsburgh. We have an
information session with the office in the Cathedral of Learning. We
also hold Nationality Room interview preparation and hold mock
interviews.
GSPIA Career Services offers personalized service
to our students. We are always willing to listen to students needs and
wants for services or events. Feel free to email us any suggestions or
ideas you have.
