2017 alumni, Chris Tabor, is a Senior Planner in the Community Development Department in Republic, MO. For the benefit of current, future, and potential MPA students he wanted to share some thoughts on careers.

By the end of my time in the Master of Public Administration program, I felt prepared to enter the municipal government workforce. The professors who taught me were knowledgeable and the coursework provided was challenging. The University of Missouri campus, itself, provides an excellent range of support services, as well as additional resources to help students make the most of their time there. However, as with any life experience there are some things that would have been helpful to have known earlier. Fortunately, one of the MPA program’s own resources, the MSU Political Science Blog facilitates my sharing these lessons with you.

I want to preface this advice by saying that I chose Local Governance as my emphasis, knowing that I intended to work at some level of government. As such, this advice may be most helpful to those in a similar situation.

1. Decide what you plan to do with your degree.
Try to narrow down what you intend to do once you graduate. If you’re planning to enter the workforce, then decide what area. This will allow you to focus your time towards attaining practical skills to do the job. The MPA provides a broad base of knowledge but it is likely that the job you seek requires some sort of specialized background knowledge, as well. Assuming you didn’t already attain this knowledge during your undergrad, consider finding high level courses that you can apply toward elective credits. Also, make sure you are choosing the best emphasis for your future job. For myself, I chose to spend my elective hours taking graduate level Planning classes in the Geography department. This was incredibly helpful as I had no prior planning experience. These courses gave me the chance to not only learn about the field but introduced me to other students with similar interests.

2. Take the time to find the right internship.
Your degree will likely require you to undertake an internship. Treat this as a valuable opportunity—because it is. If you know what area or (preferably) what department you want to work in, then make sure you seek out an internship that will help you achieve that goal. Don’t intern in the finance department of a municipal government if you are interested in human resources. For many students, this may be your first chance to gain real-world skills in your area of interest. You will feel and be better prepared when you finally get into that job interview if you have had exposure to that type of work before.

Another mistake to avoid is to take an internship that doesn’t utilize your talents and abilities. If you have made it this far in the pursuit of your education, then it is likely that you have something to offer the organization you intern for. Don’t let yourself be relegated to a glorified shadowing position. Talk to other students or individuals who have interned and ask where they worked and what they did during their time. This can prevent you from applying to an internship where you will be wasting your time. What you are looking for is an organization where you will be needed and can display your value.

I would add to this the suggestion that, if possible, don’t get hung up on pay. Organizations that can’t pay interns may be those most in need of help. Consider this an opportunity to show them what you know and what you can do.

My own time as an intern led to a full-time contract position and, eventually, to regular full-time employment. I credit this to having placed myself in a situation where there was a need and I was perceived as someone who could fill it. Specifically, the city that hosted my internship brought me in to help them get started on a large comprehensive planning effort. I knew this was going to be a big undertaking and that they wanted to do some of that work in-house rather than farm it all out to consultants. So, I approached the work as a chance to show them what skills I could bring to their organization.

3. Join organizations that help you network and learn.
There are many organizations for graduate students ranging from professional to those that manage the affairs of the student body. Any and all could be helpful to getting the job you want. Many have guest-speakers and access to Alumni who are willing to offer advice. These groups should not be overlooked as a resource.

For example, local governments from all over participate in the International City Managers Association (ICMA), for instance. Joining this group is a great way to meet professionals who are able to answer questions about what they do and how they got started. The Missouri Chapter meets twice a year in a convention-style atmosphere that gives members access to municipal professionals from all over the state.

All this advice is meant to encourage you to do one thing above all else: use your time well. The standard track for completion of the Master of Public Administration degree will have you graduating in four semesters. If you’re coming out of your undergraduate program, then two years may seem like a long time to continue taking classes. It isn’t. It will be over before you know it, so you had better make sure you’re ready to enter the workforce.