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Government, Public Policy & Law

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Explore & Make Connections

Talking to alumni in government, alumni in politics, and alumni in law, alumni in policy can help you make informed choices and potentially open doors.  Join Swatties Helping Swatties and conduct informational interviews to enhance your career journey. Make an appointment to chat with an advisor about this field.

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Learn & Apply

Browse the industry guides to learn more about types of roles, organizations and skills valued by employers. Look for internships and jobs on Handshake, where you can also browse employers and industry-specific events.

Level Up your professional and technical skills

Swarthmore Career Services is again collaborating with TriCo partners, Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College, career centers to bring skills training from Haverford alum Panos Panidis of Aesop Academy. Panos is himself an entrepreneur who, after several years working in …

By Kristie Beucler
Kristie Beucler Associate Director, Career Education
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Practice Area Insights: How to Break Into an Environmental Law Practice

Environmental law can differ greatly depending on an attorney’s client base; one can work for a public interest group or firm to fight to preserve the environment or can represent companies to navigate environmental regulations. On either side, the practice …

By Firsthand
We help applicants, students, job-seekers and professionals like you find the right career path using the power of firsthand experiences.
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What is it like to work for the U.S. federal government as a student or recent grad?

The United States federal government is the world’s second-largest employer with 2.1 million civilian employees. For payroll and other human resource purposes, most fall under the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Working for the U.S. federal government, especially early in …

By College Recruiter
College Recruiter believes that every student and recent grad deserves a great career.
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International Languages + ANY Career = Success: Alumni Career Panel

Alums shared insights and advice on how their language skills advanced their careers while opening exciting opportunities in Tech, Law, Medicine and Gaming! 

Valuable Insights from our Alums:

Have No Fear of Failure! -Learning a new language requires one to …

By Jennifer Barrington
Jennifer Barrington Associate Director, Career Education
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Political Science Alumni Career Panel. Hosted by Political Science department and Career Services. Alums shared their career paths and insights, offering valuable advice for students.

No Path is StraightEmbrace Your Curiosity

Swarthmore Prepares You for Your Next Steps

Panelists encouraged students to reach out to them on Linkedin or contact Christina Dahl cdahl1@swarthmore.edu in the Political Science department for their emails.

-Arianna Freeman …

By Jennifer Barrington
Jennifer Barrington Associate Director, Career Education
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Employer & Interview Insights

Vault Guide to a Law Career

This Vault Guide is a primer on the legal field, including its history, structure, and outlook for the future.

Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms, 2022 Edition

The Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms is the most comprehensive, candid guide on the nation’s most prestigious …

Vault Guide to Politics, Public Policy, and Activism Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Government Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Practice Perspectives: Vault's Guide to Legal Practice Areas, 2021 Edition

Practice Perspectives: Vault’s Guide to Legal Practice Areas is the insider’s guide to what it’s really like to practice at …

Vault Guide to the Best Intellectual Property Boutique Law Firms, 2021 Edition

The Vault Guide to the Best Intellectual Property Boutique Law Firms is an in-depth, candid guide on the most prestigious …

Swarthmore & External Resources

Opportunities in Public Affairs

#1 source of Capitol Hill Jobs, Policy, Legislative, Public Affairs, Public Relations, & Communications jobs in the Washington, DC area

Swarthmore Guide to Pre-Law Studies
Traverse Jobs

Traverse Jobs connects people with jobs that impact social change and policy across the nation. 

SwatLink: Find Your People

SwatLink makes networking and mentoring that much easier. This closed, online networking and mentoring community facilitates natural connections between Swarthmore …

Career Services Summer Stipend

Career Services is piloting a program for summer internship funding where students can apply for a stipend to support living …

Partnership for Public Service

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that is building a better government and a stronger democracy. …

Contact & Location

Phone
(610) 328–8352
Address

500 College Ave.
Parrish Hall 135
Swarthmore, PA 19081

Career Service Hours

Monday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Thursday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Office closed daily from 12–1pm for lunch.