SIA grads successful in finding jobs

For the third consecutive year, over 95 percent of Penn State School of International Affairs graduates have career placements or are continuing with their education, according to Director of Career Services Grant Littke.

Because most students hold an internship, or even several, before they finish the program, they obtain the on-the-job skills and work experience needed for their future international affairs careers.

In the class of 2015, 95 percent of students were placed within12 months of graduation. That number was 96 percent for the class of 2014 and 97 percent for the class of 2013.

Students who graduated in 2015 accepted jobs with a number of international corporations, government, and nonprofit organizations, including Bloomberg LP, Booz Allen Hamilton, daVIZta Inc., Fidelity Investments, Korea International Trade Association, the National Cooperative Business Association, QualX Corporation, the Turkish Economic Ministry, the Turkish Prime Minister’s Office, the United Nations, Wikistrat, and the Woodrow Wilson Center.

“Penn State graduates are very attractive to employers in the international affairs field,” Littke said. “SIA has high-quality students, but the recruiters can also look at students from other majors and colleges for positions. They find that our students are very competitive.”

SIA’s class of 2015 had 81 percent of students employed full time, with 9 percent continuing with further education, and 4 percent going on to volunteer programs. The class of 2014 had 76 percent of students employed full time, with 14 percent continuing with further education, and 3 percent going on to volunteer programs. The class of 2013 had 73 percent of students employed full time, and 24 percent pursuing education.

“The Career Services Office works one-on-one with students to find jobs and internship opportunities,” Littke said. “The office also provides tools for students to get jobs, including professional development workshops, recruiter visits, career exposure trips, and more to help students make the transition from academic study to professional opportunities.”

Complete placement statistics are available online on the Career Services webpages.