During Cornell’s Fall Break this year, CIPA Fellows had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to meet with CIPA Alumni and other local professionals in the nation’s capital. CIPA’s Office of Career Management organized site visits, “speed networking” sessions, and a reception to allow students to mingle with professionals from a variety of career fields.
The day began with visits to Gallup, Inc., a research consulting company, and Chemonics International, an international development firm. Representatives from each company presented information about the organization’s work and mission, career paths, and hiring process.
Students then convened at a downtown hotel for the main event: “speed networking” sessions that allowed students to meet in small groups with alumni and other professionals. The session was organized into a public sector session, a private sector session, and an international development session. Groups of 6-8 students met with a representative from a particular organization for 20 minutes at a time, with the opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding about that organization’s work. Many of the participants provided published materials and contact information so that Fellows could follow up with them after the event.
Later that evening, Fellows joined participants from earlier in the day as well as more D.C.-area alumni for a reception. This offered students the opportunity to speak with professionals one-on-one and learn more about how CIPA graduates are using their MPAs to make a difference in the policy world.
The D.C. event was the first in a series of networking opportunities that CIPA’s Office of Career Management will offer throughout the year. Next up: a day trip to New York City to connect Fellows with alumni in the Big Apple.
For more information about career services at CIPA, check out the Career Management homepage.