Career Services and ROICareer Services and ROICareer Services and ROI
Pursuing an MPA degree, especially one offered by a top-tier university, requires a significant investment of time and resources. That’s why it’s important to choose a program that offers personalized career services within a network of distinguished leaders dedicated to service.
With the UNC School of Government’s nationally ranked online MPA program,1 you gain access to a global community of alumni, current students, and faculty as well individualized career coaching to help support your career goals.
The UNC MPA can help you succeed, whether you are looking to advance your public service career, start your career, or transition into the public sector.
Pursue a Career of Service and Leadership
Learn more about the unique career benefits of earning your
MPA online from the UNC School of Government.
Career Coaching and Consultation
UNC MPA students can schedule one-on-one meetings with a dedicated career coach. In these meetings you can work on specific skills—such as résumé writing, interview techniques, job search strategies, and job-offer negotiation—or discuss your career goals during the program and beyond.
Frequently discussed questions include:
- What kinds of jobs can I get with an MPA?
- How do I transition into a new career or sector?
- Where should I do my Professional Work Experience practicum?
- How do I prepare for my next performance review?
- How can I leverage co-curricular opportunities to support my growth?
- What’s the best way to position my strengths as an MPA graduate?
Your career coach can work with you to figure out where you want to go in your career, and create an individualized professional development plan to determine what incremental steps can help get you there.
“Checking in with [my career coach] Allison has helped keep me accountable for furthering my career as a freelance grant writer and keeping my eye on my longer-term goals. Talking to her gave me the courage to go after a rewarding, career-advancing volunteer opportunity with Girls on the Run of the Triangle—and their board chair is a UNC MPA alumna.”
Alice Brown
UNC MPA Class of 2020
Career Resources and Networking
To help online MPA students stay connected to all the career information and resources at their disposal, the Career Services Office sends out weekly job newsletters.
The School of Government also offers hundreds of courses and professional development seminars for public officials, which current students are frequently invited to attend without cost to help enhance their expertise and growth in the public sector. Some seminar examples include:
- Social Media for Social Good
- Strategic Public Leadership: Measure your Impact, Communicate your Success
- Emotional Intelligence: Leadership’s Super Power
- Strategic Planning in Local Government
- Transparency, Conflicts of Interests, and Rules of Procedure
- Lead Across Boundaries
For a complete list of professional development and social networking opportunities available to UNC MPA students, download our student engagement overview (PDF 219KB).
Connections with the Carolina Network
The Career Services team has relationships with alumni and employers around the world and will help get you connected with them as it pertains to your career goals.
They also offer frequent events in partnership with alumni, including the Alumni Virtual Mock Interview Program, as well as the Community Connections Program, which facilitates mentoring relationships between students and alumni.
“We are very tailored and have the ability to really understand each student. We ultimately figure out what specifically will work for each student, how they want to leverage the MPA degree, and then help them achieve their goals. Because we only work with MPA students, we have a real understanding of the field.”
Allison Binkley
UNC MPA Associate Director of Career Services and
Professional Development
Join a Community of Distinguished Leaders
Learn how the UNC MPA’s career services, professional development
opportunities, and network of leaders can help you reach your career goals.
1Best Graduate Public Affairs Programs, U.S. News & World Report (2022)arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2According to a survey of 2020 graduates of the online UNC MPA program. Response rate was 96%.arrow_upward
2Ibid.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
3According to a survey of 2019-2020 graduates of the online and on-campus modalities of the UNC MPA program. Response rate was 51.3%.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference