The end of the spring semester is always a busy time at the School of Public and International Affairs as students take finals, celebrate their accomplishments with friends and family at Commencement, and pack their bags for whatever summer travels lie ahead. For many SPIA students, however, there’s one more thing to look forward to this time of year—the annual DC Career Trip.
Open to all first and second-year SPIA students, this four-day trip to the nation’s capital includes numerous employer site visits, alumni panels and workshops, and networking events where students can speak with alumni in a more informal setting.
“The trip is designed for the students to explore different career opportunities in DC - some that they probably had in mind, but also some that they may have never thought about, such as working for a consulting firm or private manufacturing company on the policy or government relations team,” said Manager of DC Initiatives Megan Varn. “The connections students are able to make with our incredible DC-based alumni are priceless, and those alums are always eager to help our students take that next step in their careers. Watching those connections happen is, without a doubt, my favorite part of the trip.”
This year’s site visits, many hosted by SPIA alumni, included a wide range of think tanks, advocacy groups, and public and private sector organizations. Students visited the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Council on Foreign Relations, Environmental Defense Fund, American Bankers Association, World Bank, and APCO, among others. The visits introduced students to the work being done at each site and offered advice for those entering the job market. Question and answer sessions and behind-the-scenes tours further served to give students an inside look – and in many cases a direct point of contact – at some of the most sought-after workplaces around the city.
While this year’s trip did not include any federal building site visits due to ongoing changes at many of those organizations, Varn worked with recent and established alumni to provide informal opportunities for students to gather and learn about working in these fields in the future.
“Our alums always go above and beyond to help in any way they can, even while facing the uncertainties with their own work,” she said. “We were also able to engage alumni who have been impacted by the current events in DC, inviting them to attend panels and those small group meetings.”
The School’s DC
office on Pennsylvania Avenue served as the site for other events throughout the week, including recent alumni panels on getting started in DC, shifting sectors throughout your career and a resume review workshop. The week’s meetings were bookended by two social events, with students and DC-based alumni sharing stories and contact information over a kick-off happy hour on Monday night and a farewell reception on Wednesday.
Pitt’s connection to DC was a big factor in first-year student Kurt Engelhardt’s decision to come to SPIA for his graduate studies, but the genuine connections made during the Career Trip far exceeded his expectations. “I committed to SPIA because Pittsburgh is my home and the program touted its connections in DC, providing me access to many of the resources of a DC-based school while allowing me to remain close to my friends and family,” Engelhardt said. “I never really realized how deep Pitt’s DC connections ran until the trip, where I met so many impressive professionals. A moment that stands out to me was the Dan Flaherty small group meeting; Dan (MPIA ’99) is such a down-to-earth man, who has climbed so high at the State Department, and he showed a genuine interest in my professional ambitions. Networking with so many folks without the expectation of receiving anything in return was truly a great experience."
While we’re already looking forward to the next Career Trip, the School’s presence in DC extends far beyond one week in May. Students interested in pursuing their studies in the heart of the nation’s capital are encouraged to learn more about the DC Semester Program or contact Megan Varn at mev70@pitt.edu for more information.