Embark: Navigating & Networking for Aspiring Policy Professionals
The Sanford Embark program is a student-driven initiative that provides support for undergraduates who are interested in public service careers after graduation but are not sure how to approach the job search or what kinds of entry-level policy jobs they are equipped for.
Embark offers students job search strategies to help them find opportunities in policy-related areas (e.g., campaign work, issue advocacy, international development, city and state government, federal government, think tank research, health policy, public service law, etc.)
Events throughout the school year highlight a wide range of careers while connecting students with alumni guest speakers who are working in their specific areas of interest. These alums can help guide them on a trajectory that is much less defined than the linear, on-campus interviewing process utilized by consulting and finance firms.
Ultimately, the Embark student team wants to create a sense of community across majors and disciplines here at Duke to celebrate the social impact-oriented work that our alums are doing and connect current students so they can make their own way to engaging in solving pressing social problems.
Embark Participants
Jasmin Palomares, PPS'17
“It is extremely important to share our experiences because a job or opportunity may seem out of reach until you see someone in that role who looks like you.” - Jasmin served as legislative aide to US Sen Kirsten Gillibrand.
Riley Pfaff, PPS'20
"Through Embark, I learned how to find policy-related jobs that mattered to me and gained the skills and confidence to navigate a job search less structured than recruitment for consulting or finance."
Eligibility
Embark is open to all Duke students, even those who are not majoring in public policy. Embark is a partnership between the Duke Sanford Career Services and the Duke Career Center. The partnership makes it possible to reach a broader audience of students and to incorporate concrete job-seeking skills into events.
Alumni Needed
We are always looking for alumni to help with the program! Bring your advice about job hunting to campus in a small, group setting.
EMBARK!
Need to learn about jobs/internships and meet alumni in a specific sector? Where are the best targeted job boards and other websites that can help you find your first job after Duke? Are there best practices for connecting with Duke/Sanford alumni? Explore a new resource from Sanford's Career Services.