This page has been tailored to provide industry-related opportunities, resources, and information for students interested in careers in government, policy, and international relations. Explore the blog posts, videos, events, job and internships, resources, and connect with alumni through this community!
Government jobs often have very good benefits and job security. Entry-level pay may not be as high as a corporate job, but there are easy paths to raises and promotions once you begin working in government. Some people may complain that change is slow to happen, while others prefer the stability of the work. While public change may take longer at times due to laws, regulations, or votes, it often has a wide-reaching impact, which many find fulfilling and worth the wait. You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which can help alleviate the pressure of student loans.
Generally, internships with federal and state government agencies are advertised. Agencies often have annual internship programs that take place each year or summer, many of which are labeled as Pathways Internships. Most federal positions are posted on USA Jobs, but Intelligence agencies and the Department of Justice, as well as other levels of government (state, local, etc.) may post jobs on other sites.
Internships with senators and members of Congress are typically advertised through the legislative branch websites – you can find more information about jobs and internships through the House Employment Bulletin or Senate Placement Office. These sites will send you a weekly email attachment with posted opportunities. We suggest using your computer’s search function to find keywords like your state or an issue of interest.
Internships at the local government level may be advertised, but it may also be possible to generate an internship with municipal or county government. Contact the particular department you are interested in, discuss your interests and skills, demonstrate how these might fit with the department’s needs, and make an internship proposal.
Suggested summer or full-semester programs:
Career mapping is the process of strategically planning your professional journey by identifying potential career paths, the skills you’ll need, and the steps to achieve your long-term goals. For international relations majors, career mapping is especially important because the field …
Looking for career advice tailored to your journey? Join the Cornell Brooks School Career Office as we launch our podcast, Cornell Brooks Career Talk!
Whether you’re exploring career paths, building your network, or seeking tips as an international student, we’ve …
Krista Saleet 
Madelynn Hollis 
Meghan Kilfeather Cornell Career Services surveys undergraduate and many professional master’s graduates to obtain information on their career plans after graduation. These interactive tools will allow you to explore outcomes by graduation year, school, major, degree and employer sector.
Most Recent Class Overview (Undergraduate Class of 2024):
| Response Rate | Success Rate | Mean Starting Salary | Top Five Industries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73% of those graduating in the class of 2024 | 93% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation | $85,589 among graduates employed full-time in the United States | Financial Services, Technology, Consulting/Professional Services, Human Healthcare Services and Education |
The data displayed defaults to include multi-year outcomes of undergraduate and graduate programs at Cornell University. Use the dropdown menus above to customize your search based on academic year, academic divisions/schools, degree, or programs/majors.
This is a list of employers that hired the most graduates in the selected filter settings. Please note employers are listed first in the order of those that hired the most graduates but are listed in alphabetical order if the same number of graduates were hired in the same year or major.
The salary information below is self-reported by graduates employed full-time. The figures represent base salaries and do not include bonuses or other forms of compensation. Some programs or majors may not show salary data if there are less than 10 responses in the data set.
Cornell graduates land in a variety of employment industries after graduation.
New grads build careers in the United States and beyond. The graph shows where students have accepted positions within the United States and around the world. Tip: Hover over each state to see the percentage of graduates in that state.
Cornell graduates pursue advanced degrees at some of the nation’s top institutions in the United States and around the world. The list below shows universities in the order of those that are most attended by Cornell graduates.
The chart below shows degrees being pursued immediately after graduation.
Cornell graduates are well positioned for continuing education in a wide variety of fields of study.
We don’t have enough student data to show you these results.
