Government & Public Policy
Roles in government can be broken down into the sectors of federal, state, and local. Government and public policy professionals work toward goals that progress the lives of US citizens and residents to provide services, justice, order, protections, freedoms, and policies for improvement.
There are three tiers to government work, federal, state, and local. Each tier deals with issues pertaining to the citizens and matters under their jurisdictions. Jobs in the federal government address national, overarching issues including protecting the environment, national defense, national tax policy, international affairs, and more. State government jobs address similar matters on a state level. Local government encompasses city, county, town, and regional issues. Each level of government offers unique challenges and rewards.
Public policy is a dynamic field where policies are investigated, analyzed, and used to influence the government. In this field, there are both public and private organizations. Organizations in the private sector are often called "think tanks” and employ people to research and draft policy ideas related to political initiatives. Public sector policy refers to work done within nonprofit organizations which can be housed in or outside of the government. To progress in the field of policy research, an advanced degree (master’s or PhD) may be something to consider in the future.
Skills to develop for success in this field
- Leadership competencies
- Multitasking, time management, and prioritization skills
- Research and development skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skill
- Basic statistical analysis
- Community engagement and campaign experience
- Foreign language fluency
Online resources specific to the industry
- Firsthand* is a comprehensive resource for information on what it is like to work within an industry, company or profession. *Note: Registration using Northwestern email address is required for access.
- Federal Resume Writing Guide: There are specific guidelines to writing a resume for federal government positions. Find more information about these types of resumes here.
Job posting and other career informational sites relevant to the field:
- City of Chicago: Wide range of city jobs and internships
- Cook County: County level jobs and internships
- Go Government: A non-profit charged with promoting federal government jobs. The site includes descriptions of federal jobs, tips for applying, and assessing you fit.
- Idealist: Non-profit and NGO posting site that often has policy positions posted
- Open Think Tank Directory: Searchable directory of all US and global think tanks.
- USAJobs.gov: This is the main job board for all federal government opportunities.
- USAJobs Internships: This is a sub-website of USAJobs.gov that features
internship and Pathways Program opportunities for current students.
- Partnership for Public Service: A non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC aiming to inspire the next generation of civil servants.
Key information or knowledge for this field
- Application materials. You may be asked to provide more than just a cover letter and resume. Be prepared to write essay responses and/or provide writing samples or letters of reference. You will also want to allow for time to complete the applications as they can be lengthier and more involved.
- Ensure you meet the minimum requirements. Government jobs specifically require candidates to meet at least the minimum requirements listed for that particular role.
- Security clearance. Government jobs may require a specific level of security clearance. Keep this in mind and allow for plenty of time when applying to job opportunities.
- Long wait times to hear back. Government jobs may receive hundreds or thousands of applications and therefore it may take a significant amount of time to hear back for full-time opportunities.
- Networking and who you know. Due to the high volume of applications, it is very helpful to have a connection to the agency or organization where you are applying to work. The Northwestern alumni network is vast and there are fellow Wildcats who may already be working there. It is highly recommended to search through LinkedIn, Our Northwestern, and reach out to NCA advisers. To learn more about networking, please visit the NCA Networking webpage & Networking Resources
Relevant student groups and professional organizations
External Professional Organizations