Government, Law & Community
Brandeis is founded on a concern for social justice and the public good. In that spirit, Hiatt supports Brandeis students by cultivating relationships and opportunities in the government and public service sectors. Hiatt partners with academic departments, including politics, history, sociology and more, to share the breadth of opportunities available to their students. Brandeis graduates begin their careers with employers as varied as the U.S. Department of State, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Teach for America, AVODAH and many more.
"The U.S. Department of State represents America to the world, which is why we recruit at places like Brandeis. The university draws students from all over the country and gives them the academic preparation and skills we seek for those embarking on international public service careers."
— Phil Beekman, diplomat in residence (DIR), New England, U.S. Department of State
Industry-Focused Engagement and Events
Hiatt regularly brings together experts, employers and alumni to meet and speak with students in classes, online and in person for exploration, preparation and networking.
Expand All
Previous programs launched by Hiatt in the areas of government and public service have included:
- Government and Public Service Career Fair
- Teach for America — Virtual Trek
- Pathfinder International — Virtual Trek
- U.S. Department of Justice — Virtual Trek
- U.S. Department of Agriculture — Virtual Trek
- "Launch Your Career in STEM & Government (Cybersecurity Talent Initiative)" info session
- "Diverse Diplomacy: Women and Career at the U.S. Department of State"
- Social Justice, service and recruiting panel with Teach for America, Peace Corps and City Year
- Times Square Alliance — Virtual Trek
Current offerings are available to view in Handshake or the Brandeis Campus Events Calendar.
In partnership with academic departments, Hiatt hosts multiple career fairs on campus as well as a multi-school job and internship fair in New York City. Career fairs are an opportunity for students to meet, learn and connect with employers and organizations looking to recruit Brandeis students for full-time jobs and internships.
All of our events are structured for students representing all majors and disciplines to attend. In addition, Hiatt hosts a Government and Public Service Career Fair, just one of many fairs that recruit humanities students. Select employers typically seek to fill roles such as Americorps members, youth development coordinators, resident teachers, community volunteers and fellows. Representatives from graduate schools also attend to market their programs in these areas.
2021 Government & Public Service Career Fair
- Thirty-four employers actively recruited for full-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities
- Representing organizations included the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Federal Housing Finance Agency, FBI, Teach for America, City Year, Peace Corps and U.S. Department of Commerce
- Held yearly, this fair attracts students that major and have career interests in humanities
The Rise Together Mentor is an online platform that joins Brandeis students and alumni from all over the world to make connections, exchange career advice, expand their network and learn more about industries, careers and the world of work.
No more sending cold emails to connections you do not know! Alumni have indicated they want to help Brandeis students
Students who join Rise Together:
- Gain access to a pool of over dedicated alumni looking to connect
- Get introduced to specific industries, roles and career fields of interest by joining subgroups
- Expand their range of career prospects and strategies
- Participate in online discussions and conversations as well as have the ability to ask specific questions
Join the rise together mentor network
Government and Public Service Employer Engagement at Brandeis
Employers use a variety of programs to meet with students and identify and cultivate talent. They regularly schedule information sessions, online workshops, case competitions and site visits as options to engage with Brandeis students and alumni. Over the last few years, there has been a significant shift in the employer landscape as it relates to the need for versatile skill sets in applicants and employees.
At Hiatt, we emphasize that although campus recruiting is a part of an employer’s engagement process, it should not be the primary focus when it comes to attending and participating in employer-led activities. Students should approach each event as an opportunity to engage, learn and connect with professionals in their desired fields.
learn more about recruiting at brandeis
Participating employers include:
- AIDS Action Committee of MA
- AVODAH
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Federal Reserve Bank
- Human Rights Watch
- Peace Corps
- US Department of Justice
- US Department of State
- WATCH CDC
- Union for Reform Judaism
Expand All
Every industry has its own timeline for planned hiring, and not all industries have a large on-campus presence. Some employers do more of their hiring on an as-needed basis when openings arise, and others have planned hiring and typically will have only a few roles to fill. Students will find employers in government and public service hiring at different times of the year depending on the role as much as the type of employer.
For those employers that have an on-campus recruiting program, in-person university recruiting is on the decline. Employers that previously visited universities as a primary way to recruit are now changing their strategies.
- In place of on-campus interviews for initial screening of candidates, employers favored virtual interviews, followed by in-person interviews at the organization.
- Social media is the new on-campus interview with many hiring organizations using social media for branding and recruiting.
- Employers find LinkedIn very or extremely effective in branding and recruiting employees.
Some of the most popular internship and job search tools are through online sites like Handshake, alongside Traverse Jobs which is built for undergrads searching specifically for D.C. policy and politics jobs.
In Handshake, students can narrow their search based on geographic location, job type, industry and role. Hiatt also promotes employers that have a close connection with the university (i.e., alumni) and labels postings accordingly. This gives students more opportunities to connect with organizations and positions that exclusively look to hire Brandeis students and alumni.
Current Opportunities in Handshake
Note: A Handshake account is required to access the following links (students, alumni & faculty have Handshake accounts).
Handshake is a powerful site and using labels and filters to narrow your search will make it easier to navigate.
- Brandeis Connection — Find roles with employers that have strong recruiting connections to Brandeis University and are looking specifically to hire Brandeis students.
Career Outcomes for Government and Public Service
The Hiatt Career Center's annual Beyond Brandeis survey provides insight into the employment and continuing education status of Brandeis University undergraduates within six months of graduation.
Brandeis graduates that pursue employment in these fields go on to work with organizations such as the United Nations, Department of State, Teach for America, Fund for Public Interest, Citi Performing Arts Center and more.
Working With Hiatt
Hiatt helps Brandeisians know who they are, what they want and how to get there.
College is a time to discover yourself. You get to figure out what you enjoy, where your interests lie and goals for the future. As you find yourself weighing ideas and choices, we can help you to align them with your major or career. As the semesters change, you'll find new experiences waiting for you to take advantage of. They could be in the form of studying abroad, an internship or joining a campus club. When you know what you want, it's time to put it all together! Hiatt will support your professional goals, but we can't do all the work for you.
Your approach should be to stay curious and engaged. There's no one-size-fits-all path or plan to follow. You're unique and staying open to all possibilities while channeling your curiosity and engaging in activities will fuel your success.
Learn more about working with Hiatt.
"Be reflective about what finding internships or jobs in topics that interest you beyond just what is addressed in your courses. Try out opportunities that other Brandeis peers recommend, especially ones that are outside of your comfort zone." — Nina R.’19, The DREAM Project
Expand All
Hiatt has extensive resources to help students research, learn, get connected, prepare application materials and practice for interviews. These include:
Faculty Brandeis faculty and staff are valuable partners in helping students discover who they are, what they want and how to get there.
Contact Jon Schlesinger and discuss other faculty and staff opportunities to get involved.
Alumni Involvement
The Brandeis alumni network is instrumental in helping students learn about fields, develop and build connections and provide valuable insight for students who are just getting started. There are various ways for alumni to get involved including:
- The Rise Together Mentor Network
- Volunteering to speak with students in the classroom, in person or virtually
- Becoming an alumni champion within your company and offer to pre-screen students interested in applying, mentor students in the recruiting pipeline, or champion their applications in the hiring process
Contact Melissa O'Karma and see other alumni volunteer opportunitiess to get involved.