Personalized support for your policy career
At Duke Sanford, your career goals are our priority. Whether you aspire to drive local change, shape international development, or lead in the private or nonprofit sector, our Graduate Career Services Team is here to support and prepare you for a purpose-driven career in an evolving policy world.
Our team partners closely with employers to connect them with top talent and track emerging trends across sectors to help you develop the most in-demand skills and set you up for career success.
What we offer
Our team of experts provides hands-on, one-on-one support to help you stand out in a competitive policy landscape:
Career Exploration
Explore policy areas and career paths that match your goals through assessments, events, and other activities designed to help you dive deep into your interests and gain valuable insights across sectors.
Resume & Cover Letter Crafting
Obtain personalized feedback to craft materials showcasing your strengths.
LinkedIn Profile Optimization
Build a compelling digital presence that gets noticed by employers.
Interview Preparation
Practice with expert guidance to build confidence and polish your message.
Internship & Job Search Strategies
Learn how to identify opportunities and market yourself effectively.
Networking Support
Access tools and guidance to build meaningful professional connections and opportunities to engage with Sanford and Duke alumni across the globe.
Salary & Offer Negotiations
Obtain advice on evaluating offers and how to negotiate with confidence.
Professional Development Workshops
Attend targeted sessions on relevant skills, guided by input from students and employers.
Alumni Career Support
We're here to support your long-term career growth for up to a year after graduation.
"As an MIDP candidate at Duke, I had the amazing opportunity to work as a researcher under Professor Eddy Malesky’s supervision at DCID. This experience has been instrumental in preparing me for my current role, providing valuable insights into the complexities of governance and public policy, skills as a researcher, and lessons obtained from the project that could be adapted to what I’m currently doing in the Army."
— Jorge Delgado Golusda, MIDP’24, Captain in the Chilean Army, Rotary Peace Fellow
"The connections that I’ve made—not only being a future health policy practitioner, but also a Black woman in health policy—and opportunities to connect with the breadth of resources that are in D.C., I feel like that has been amazing.”
— Brittany Gabriel, MPP’24, Interned at Deloitte
Internships
Internships are required for MPP and traditional two-year MIDP students during the summer between the first and second year. Our team will assist you in your search and provide resources to help secure an internship based your interests and goals.
Recent internship organizations
- US Senate Finance Committee
- World Health Organization
- International Organization for Migration
- U.S. Institute of Peace
- World Bank International Finance Corporation
- Asian Development Bank
- UNICEF
- PartnersGlobal
- Heifer International
- Oxfam
- Organization for European Development and Cooperation
- The White House
- FBI: Counterintelligence Unit
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Deloitte
- UN Environmental Programme
- Action Aid, Ghana