Deadline: October 21, 2021 at 11:59pm
Program Overview
This three-event intensive workshop series is coordinated through the Piper Center’s recently-launched “Ole Career Launcher” program, and led by alumni expert, Claire Campbell ’01.
The October workshops are designed to inform students about Foreign Affairs careers, assist them in preparing application materials for these positions, develop skills in analytic writing in preparation for a career in this field, and receive personalized on-on-one career coaching from alumni and industry experts.
Sunday, October 24th 2021: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 7th 2021: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Sunday, November 14th 2021: 1:00 pm – 2 pm
All three sessions to take place in HH 501 – Holland Hall. A virtual (Zoom) option is available for those without access to campus.
Students should attend all three sessions. Coffee and snacks provided. There is no cost to participate in the workshops or coaching sessions.
Program Purpose
The specific objectives of this program are to:
- Outline and define the available roles and organizations to help students determine which is the right fit for their strengths and objectives
- Enhance / refine their critical thinking and leadership skills for foreign affairs applications
- Bolster the tangible skills of advanced research, analytic writing and professional briefings that employers seek
- Develop and deliver compelling resumes, cover letters, interview responses
- Demystify the field
At the conclusion of the program, participants will walk away with:
- a clear search strategy
- compelling application materials
- the skills and confidence to successfully navigate the process.
Workshop Leaders
Claire Campbell ’01
Claire Campbell Prestwood has over twenty years of experience in security issues in the Western Hemisphere. Prior to her position as the Senior Security Intelligence Analyst for the Americas at Cargill, Claire worked as a civilian intelligence officer for ten years with the United States federal government, specializing in terrorist, drug trafficking and criminal threats in the Western Hemisphere.
Claire served for three years with the Joint IED Defeat Organization as the U.S. military’s strategic analyst on homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices in the Western Hemisphere. She also served as the Defense Intelligence Agency’s lead analyst on heroin trafficking and production in Latin America, and later led the Immigration Security and Transnational Threats Team in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to her work as an intelligence officer, Claire was a news researcher and unit coordinator at NBC News in New York. Claire graduated from of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and has a Master of Public Affairs and a Master of Latin American Studies from the University of Texas. She also has a Certificate in International Migration Studies from Georgetown University. Claire has lived and worked throughout the Western Hemisphere and is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese.
Michael Cassidy
Michael is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) who enjoys nearly two-decades of experience working across the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community in various analytical, operational support and program management roles for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence missions. He holds a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a M.A. in International Affairs from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. He was commissioned as an infantry officer for the U.S. Army in 1998 and served in Afghanistan as part of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in 2003.
Erin Ferree
Since 2004, Erin has coached and consulted with passionate public servants, emerging leaders, career pivoters and discerning hiring managers, with a special emphasis on the Washington D.C. area and US Government and international affairs talent markets. Her previous experience includes staff positions at Georgetown University’s Cawley Career Education Center and the School of Foreign Service (SFS) Graduate Career Center and the non-partisan, non-profit Partnership for Public Service.
Prior to the Partnership, she was a part of the human capital management team at the international development start-up Millennium Challenge Corporation where she spearheaded undergraduate recruiting and developed their internship program. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in Political Science and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business with an Executive Master’s in Leadership. In addition, she is Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certified and holds an active Career Management Coach (CMC) credential from The Academies.
Program Details
Day 1 (Sunday, October 24th)
Program Intro and Overview
Finding Your Why for a Global Career
The Global Career Landscape: Security & Government
The Global Career Landscape: NGO and International Organizations
Personalized meeting with an industry expert coach in between sessions 1 & 2: 30 minute individual coaching session (exploring your why)
Day 2: (Sunday, November 7th)
Creating a Compelling Resume, Cover Letters for Global Career
Analytic Writing for Global Careers
*participants will be asked to complete an analytic writing test at the conclusion
Personalized meeting with an industry expert coach in between sessions 2&3: 30 minute individual coaching session for resume / CL review and analytic writing test feedback
Day 3: Sunday, November 14th
Wrap-up, questions, resources and next steps