Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies

If you're just getting started, you might want to reflect on all of the classes and/or activities you enjoy and then look for occupations where you can continue to build upon those interests. You can begin by exploring who you are and identifying your values, skills, interests and motivations.

Here are some resources to help you get started:

• Browse What Can I Do With a NEJS Major? to explore types of employers that hire people with NEJS majors, and strategies to make you a more marketable candidate.

• Take TypeFocus, an online tool to gain insights about your personality and interests and apply them to major and career decisions. Meet with a Hiatt counselor to review what you learn.

• Meet with Hiatt to explore majors and identify future options.

• Explore Majors and Careers.

• Join student clubs and organizations, take a variety of classes, and volunteer to explore and hone your interests.

As a Near Eastern and Judaic Studies major you will be developing critical skills and knowledge, including the ability to:

• Students will understand the development of concepts and practices of the religious traditions currently taught in the department: ancient Near Eastern religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
• Students will be familiar with and recognize scholarly conventions and contemporary knowledge concerning Near Eastern or Judaic Studies to critically assess claims in the academic literature of those fields and in the popular media.
• By reading texts in their original languages, students will appreciate ways in which language shapes and is shaped by the people and cultures they study.
• Students will be able to synthesize, as well as articulate orally and in writing, a cogent narrative about the history, religions, cultures, and societies of the Near East or those that developed from the Near East, including the Jewish experience generally.
• Students will be able to frame questions, investigate problems, and evaluate conclusions using one or more academic disciplines or approaches (e.g., literary and artistic criticism, philology, historical analysis, social scientific analysis, women’s and gender studies, and religious studies).
• Students will be able to situate texts, documents, traditions, ideas, artistic productions, and other data in their contexts and assess their meaning in the light of those contexts.
• Students will learn to appreciate diversity in and between religious and cultural traditions and thus contribute to greater understanding in the service of a more peaceful and just society.

One of the best ways to find out more about potential careers is to see what other students and alumni like you have done. Search these resources by major, industry, geography and more to see where Brandeis students intern, and where recent Brandeis grads live and work right after graduation.

• Beyond Brandeis — Browse the first destinations of Brandeis graduates within six months of graduation to get a sense of entry-level opportunities. Click on the "Majors to Industries" tab to get started. 

• LinkedIn — Look at the profiles of Brandeis alumni and students to see sample career paths that match your interests. 

If you already have an idea of what you're interested in, you might need help narrowing down your options. When exploring careers, it's important to develop plans while staying open to new opportunities. Here are some resources for career exploration and research:

• Occupational Outlook Handbook provides information on responsibilities, education, pay and outlook for hundreds of occupations. 

• O*NET has detailed descriptions, responsibilities, required skills, preferred interests, and general work styles and environments for a variety of professions. 

• Vault profiles 6,500+ companies in different industries and provides an overview, rankings, and employee reviews for each company. Access Vault's 250+ guides on interview prep, resume, industries, professions, employers, and internships. 

• Internships are a great way to try out potential careers for yourself. Also try volunteering, part-time jobs and informational interviews.

• Talk to people who know you and/or who know about your majors and fields of interest. Friends, family, professors, and advisors can all give you great information about majors and fields to help inform your decision making.

As discussed under possible career paths, there are many opportunities that might be a good match for you.  Based on historical destination data and national trends, the following Handshake shortcuts have been created to link you directly to descriptions of and opportunities in industries of interest to NEJS majors. The Spotlight on Careers industry page includes links to industry-specific job and internship posting sites.

Spotlight on Careers Page:

• Advertising, Public Relations, Social Media: Internships | Jobs

• Film and Television: Internships | Jobs

• Higher Education: Internships | Jobs

• Human Resource Management: Internships | Jobs

• Journalism, Media, Publishing: Internships | Jobs

• Law & Paralegal: Internships | Jobs

• Library & Information Science: Internships | Jobs

• Nonprofits/NGO: Internships | Jobs

• Social Justice: Internships | Jobs

• Teaching Overseas, Teaching: Private Schools, Teaching: Public Schools: Internships | Jobs 

Additional Links:

• Non-Profit: Internships | Jobs
• Government: Jobs
• American Sociological Association: Careers In Sociology

One of the best ways to find out more about careers, industries and roles is to speak with alumni. Networking is a constant cycle of building and maintaining relationships, all of which can help you cultivate information and leads about potential career opportunities. If you’ve ever talked to a professor, chatted with a family friend, or made conversation with someone on a plane, then you’ve already networked!

Visit Hiatt's website for  "how to" details about networking and using LinkedIn.

There are two search strategies for finding career opportunities:

1. Search for jobs/internships that are posted on websites
2. Gather information about positions or potential openings from networking and research

For details on both, including links to external sites, please visit Hiatt's Job and Internship Search page.