SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Full-time Recruitment Program

Find a Job or Internship/SIPAlink
Information for International Students
Recruitment Guidelines
Recruitment Services
Career Services Forms
Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Full-time Recruiting Program at the Office of Career Services! The Program is your connection to employers from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, who interview and recruit students at SIPA for full-time positions after graduation. The Office of Career Services looks forward to supporting you through your job search. We're confident that these tools, along with your motivation and hard work, will help you reach your goals.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the Full-time Recruitment Program, you must be a matriculated student at SIPA scheduled to graduate in the current academic year. For individual position eligibility, you must meet the employer's eligibility requirements, which could include a minimum GPA and/or citizenship status. If you have an F-1/J-1 visa and you plan on accepting a paid position in the United States, you must process optional practical training (OPT) through the International Student and Scholars Office (ISSO). Please see Information for International Students for details on this requirement.

Find a job

All recruiting at SIPA takes place through SIPAlink. You will use SIPAlink to apply for full-time positions, participate in resume collections, sign up for on-campus interviews and register for career events. Please review Recruitment Services to learn about the services mentioned above. Please also review Recruitment Guidelines to learn about access to OCS's services and those at other schools at Columbia University.

Career Resources

Career Resources is an excellent web page that includes sample cover letters and resumes, resume supplements, career opportunities in various fields, job search fact sheets, and links to helpful websites broken down by sector and functional area.

The career sources page also links to SIPA’s official LinkedIn group, the SIPA Alumni and Student Network.  With approximately 3,000 members, the SIPA LinkedIn group contains graduates from diverse career fields and is an excellent source for networking and obtaining informational interview contacts. 

The Importance of Starting Your Job Search Early

Your search for a job should begin over the summer after your first year or when you return to SIPA in September of your second year, especially if you are looking for a position in financial services or consulting. Employer Information Sessions and on-campus interviews for the private sector begin in September; public and nonprofit recruiting typically begins in the spring. You must stay on top of your job search by researching organizations that interest you, polishing your interview skills, and preparing your resumes and cover letters. Although the ultimate responsibility for finding a job is up to you, OCS has many resources to assist you and will work with you every step of the way.

Implement a Job Search Strategy

Your search strategy should include all of the following:

• Regularly check SIPAlink to learn about available opportunities, to gather contact information, and to research organizations.

• Attend employer information sessions to network and gather contact information.

• Get your cover letter and resume ready.

• Contact SIPA alumni for informational interviews or meet them at SIPA alumni receptions to increase your knowledge of an industry or organization. Search through the SIPA Alumni and Student Network, SIPA’s official LinkedIn group, to find contacts in organizations of interest to you. Make sure you research the company, acknowledge their support, and be conscious of their time!

• Meet with one of the advisers at OCS for guidance and support in your job search.

Disclaimer: Columbia University does not operate or endorse any of the jobs or internships listed herein, and has no control over the terms and conditions thereof. Therefore, the University accepts no responsibility for students engaged in any job or internship identified on any of its web pages.