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Question
I have a B.A. in political science and am working on a master's in public administration. I currently work for city government, and I am having a hard time determining the best career path for this combination of degrees. What would you advise?
Answer
Let me start with some general advice, and then I'll make a specific suggestion. I'd recommend getting your hands on an alumni directory from your current school and/or your alma mater. Browse through it to see what people with similar degrees are doing now--this might give you some thoughts on how to apply your degrees.
Another piece of general advice is not to feel limited by traditional jobs for your degree. Think first about what jobs interest you, and then look into what qualifications you need for those. My guess is that within the government realm, you'll find that public administration is a pretty versatile qualification, as is political science.
The specific advice for your situation is to be flexible as to relocation. With a degree in public administration, opportunities might be limited in your particular city, but remember that there are a lot of other cities out there, not to mention county, state, and federal governments. Use the Internet to cast your net widely.
Another piece of general advice is not to feel limited by traditional jobs for your degree. Think first about what jobs interest you, and then look into what qualifications you need for those. My guess is that within the government realm, you'll find that public administration is a pretty versatile qualification, as is political science.
The specific advice for your situation is to be flexible as to relocation. With a degree in public administration, opportunities might be limited in your particular city, but remember that there are a lot of other cities out there, not to mention county, state, and federal governments. Use the Internet to cast your net widely.
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