Career
Top Career Paths & Employers for IR Majors
- Government, Diplomacy, & Public Service
- State Department, Department of Commerce, Department of Treasury
- International Organizations – NATO, OSCE, UN, World Bank, IMF, WTO, EU, OECD
- Congressional Staff and Committees – House of Representatives, Senate, HFAC, SFRC, HASC, SASC, CRS, GAO, CBO, House Ways and Means, Senate Finance
- Intelligence and National Security Agencies – CIA, NSA, DIA, NGA, ODNI, NCTC, DHS, FBI
- Pathways Program (federal jobs across agencies)
- Business – Management, Marketing, Data Analysis, Supply Chain, Technology, etc.
- Law – Law firms, U.S. Department of Justice, International Courts /Tribunals, NGOs
- Nonprofit & Development – United Way, Utah Refugee Connection, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, Search for Common Ground
- International Nongovernmental Organizations – Oxfam, CARE International, Save the Children, IRC, Mercy Corps, ICRC, CRS
- Consulting – McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Big 4 (joining BYU Consulting Assoc is helpful)
- Think Tanks, Research, & Political Risk Analysis – Chatham House, Bruegel, CEPS, Brookings Institution, CSIS, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, International Crisis Group
- State & Local Government – Utah State Government, Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, local government roles
- Language Translation, Teaching, & Cultural Exchange - State Department, UN Language Careers, Fulbright ETA, Peace Corps, JET Program, EPIK, TAPIF, NALCAP, IIE, World Learning
- Global Health – WHO, CDC, Gates Foundation, PATH, CHAI
A list of starting jobs for IR majors with a Bachelor’s degree:
Job Search
- USAJOBS — The official job board for U.S. federal employment, listing internships and job openings across government agencies.
Link: https://www.usajobs.gov/ - Handshake — Platform for students to access job listings, internships, and networking events with employers specifically recruiting BYU students.
Link: https://careers.byu.edu/handshake-login - 80,000 Hours — A unique resource providing guidance and job listings focused on careers with high social impact.
Link: https://jobs.80000hours.org/ - Career Shift — A job search tool for students to find connections within companies, enabling strategic networking and career exploration.
Link: https://careers.byu.edu/students/job-search-resources/career-shift
Explore Jobs
- Gallup Clifton Strengths — Provides insights into personal strengths, offering helpful pointers for students to emphasize their unique abilities in resumes and interviews.
Link: https://careers.byu.edu/gallup-strengths-request - Occupational Outlook Handbook — A comprehensive guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, detailing job outlooks, required skills, and typical salaries across numerous occupations.
Link: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Brand Yourself
- VMock — An AI-powered tool to help students develop high-quality resumes tailored to the professional standards of business, NSA, and other fields.
Link: https://careers.byu.edu/students/hiring-resources/resumes - Federal Resume Guide — Instructions on building a federal resume tailored to U.S. government applications on USAJOBS.
Link: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume/build
Career Director
Kathryn Glenn
kathryn_glenn@byu.edu
https://kennedy.byu.edu/advisement/meet-your-career-director
Pro Tip: You don’t have to wait until your senior year to visit a career advisor. Consider meeting with an advisor sooner to find out about career paths, how to prepare yourself better, and how to market yourself to potential employers.