Career and Professional Development FAQs

How long does the job search process usually take?

The average job search takes 6 to 12 months of active searching, but it really depends on the state of the job market, your desires, your skill level, and the amount of time and effort you put into the process.  If you are looking for a security position, it can take 9 to 12 or more months due to the security clearance process.  Start early!

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Where do Korbel graduates find jobs?

Our graduates are employed in a diverse array of sectors, organizations and locations.  Please visit our Careers page for specifics and a sampling of recent organizations and positions.

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What is the average salary of a Josef Korbel School graduate?

Salaries vary greatly across sectors and organizations and depend heavily on your prior professional experience, skill set(s) and geographical location of the job.  There's no simple answer for this question, but our office can provide you with general information about salaries in various areas of international affairs.  We also discuss and practice salary negotiations in our career development course.

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How do I make an appointment with your office?

Current Josef Korbel graduate students may contact our office at 303.871.4490 or korbelcareers@du.edu to set an appointment with a graduate student staff member or professional staff member in our office.  You can also stop by our office during normal business hours in Ben Cherrington Hall, Suite 120.  Prospective students should contact the Josef Korbel Office of Graduate Admissions with career-related questions.

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Do employers visit campus to recruit?

Yes. Employers recruit using a variety of methods including on-campus visits.  Recruiters attend career fairs and networking events and deliver information sessions, in addition to posting jobs on KorbelCareers and requesting resumes.  We work with organizations as their hiring needs and recruitment methods dictate.

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How do I register my internship for credit?

Our office handles the approval and registration of your internship.  Many degree programs in Korbel require at least one internship be registered.  The internship application in the Document Library on KorbelCareers includes a section where you will indicate how many credits you would like to register your internship for and in which quarter(s).  Details about internship policy and procedures are located in the Handbook in the Document Library on KorbelCareers and in your M.A. Handbook.

For information on the Peace Corps practicum, click here.

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Where will I be placed for my internship?

Our office and the Josef Korbel School do not place students in internships.  It is your responsibility to research and locate organizations, apply and secure an internship.  Many students find internships through postings on KorbelCareers or by looking through past internship reports in our office.  We are available to partner with you in all these steps to provide coaching, resources and professional development to increase your chances for success.  Please upload your resume and cover letter to KorbelCareers and make an appointment with one of our staff if you'd like help getting started!

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How long does the internship search process take?

The internship process varies depending on sector and organization.  We recommend that you start thinking about and researching organizations for potential internships during your first quarter.  Many students complete internships over the summer between their first and second year, and many of these internships have early deadlines in the fall, particularly in the public sector.  Our staff members are available to meet with you from the first day you start classes to discuss your internship search strategy, point you toward valuable resources, and assist you with resume and cover letter writing.  Start early for increased chances of success!

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What internships do Josef Korbel graduate students complete? And where?

Our students find internships, like jobs, in a diverse array of sectors, organizations and locations.  Our office coordinates nearly 200 internships throughout the world in a variety of sectors including private, multilateral, public, non-profit and NGO.  Many of our students complete domestic internships in the Denver metro area or in Washington, D.C.  A large percentage of our students secured international internships in a wide array of countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Mexico, Guatemala, Mongolia, China, Georgia and Lithuania.  Students complete a variety of tasks in these internships including research, report writing, analysis, editing, program management, event planning, grant writing, data collection and management, community and donor relations and monitoring.  Please visit our Internships page for more information.

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Will I be paid for my internship?

Compensation for internships depends on the organization.  Often, private sector internships are paid while many public, nonprofit, multilateral and NGO internships are not.  Our office realizes that it may be difficult to take an unpaid internship, but the experience is extremely important for building skills, networking and eventually finding employment.  We offer three funding sources for underpaid and unpaid internships to help make these experiences possible.

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Where can I look for a part-time job in Denver?

Located in a city of 2.4 million people, the school is adjacent to mass transit, which makes it fairly easy to work part time. You can download the Part-Time Job Resource Guide for pertinent information and check the DU Office of Financial Aid for federal work-study positions. Once you are enrolled in the Josef Korbel School and attend orientation, you'll have access to Korbelcareers, an online resource for internships and employment.

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Do PhD students generally teach? Where do those who don't teach tend to work?

Many PhD students are interested in working in academia. Those not seeking teaching positions find jobs in NGOs, government, think tanks, research institutes and the private sector.

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When can I find out more about the school's services and resources? When can I meet with someone to discuss internships and careers?

There is a mandatory orientation session for all admitted students prior to class enrollment. During this session, you will learn more about the school's many events, programs and resources.

After classes begin, you are welcome at any time to make an appointment with a Career and Professional Development staff member to discuss job and internship options. Be sure to make good use of the publications and other resources in the Career Resource Center, too.

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What is a Security Clearance?

A security clearance is the process of determining your trustworthiness and reliability before granting you access to national security information. Only the federal government can grant someone a security clearance. To get one, you must work for a government agency or contractor and conduct business that justifies you having access to highly sensitive information. The process begins when your employer or prospective employer submits your paperwork to the investigating/adjudication agency.

Once you have turned in the documentation, the designated agency will begin the security clearance investigation, which may include interviews with family, friends, colleagues and others; a review of your credit, financial, medical and other history; a background check to determine the use of illegal drugs, criminal record and contact with foreign nationals; and a check on many other areas of your life. This process may take several months up to a year depending on backlog, need for more information, depth of the investigation and adjudication process, among other factors.

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I'm confused about which degree program to choose. Do you have any advice?

If you are accepted and you decide to matriculate at the Josef Korbel School, you will be able to switch majors during your first or second quarter. So while a degree program must be selected to complete the application, the review committee is admitting applicants to the Josef Korbel School and not to a particular degree program. The only exception to this is the Master's in Development Practice (MDP) program. Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 303.871.2544, or by emailing us at korbeladm@du.edu if you have further questions.

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