Researching careers and assessing your fit

Networking and Informational interviewing

One of the most effective ways to research careers in assessing your fit with specific career paths is to ask Brown Alumni about their own career paths through informational interviewing. You can identify Brown Alumni based on their education (concentration) and/or careers using BRUnet (the Brown alumni database).

For tips on informational interviewing, click here.

For more tips on networking in socially responsible careers, click here.

Online resources for career exploration by field

GREAT RESOURCE - The Venture Consortium (formed of 9 liberal arts colleges and universities, including Brown) created and maintains a great section on exploring options. This section is an amazing resource to explore careers by geographical preferences or issues of interests, and provides valuable information regarding career paths, fellowships and programs of interest to numerous socially responsible careers.

Teaching and Education

In the US:

• Information for K-12 Education for certified and non-certified teachers (developed by the Swearer Center for Public Service)
• Additional career exploration resources in the Career Development Center library and main website.

Internationally:

• Finding work abroad: A guide for American students
• Information for K-12 Education abroad for certified and non-certified teachers (developed by the Swearer Center for Public Service)
• Information on teaching abroad from the Career Development Center library and main website.

Government

In the US:

• Vault Guide
• WetFeet Guide
• Additional career exploration resources in the Career Development Center library and main website.

Internationally:

• Exploring careers in Foreign Service with the State Department:
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Foreign Service Specialist
  • Foreign Civil Service
• Stories from the PeaceCorps: General and for Minorities
• Additional career exploration resources in the Career Development Center library and main website.

Non-Profit

• Idealist.org
  • FAQ for and about non-profits
  • Top 10 myths about working for non-profit organizations
  • What are non-profit jobs
  • Talking to your parents about a career in the non-profit sector
  • Salaries in Non-Profit jobs
  • Other Career Resources and profiles
• Vault Guide
• WetFeet Guide
• The Foundation Center (directory of US Foundations)
• mycoolcareer.com
• Non-Profit Times - One of the leading publication in Non-Profit Management
• Additional career exploration resources in the Career Development Center library and main website.

Socially Responsible Businesses

• mycoolcareer.com - various career paths including non-profit careers in fundraising
• Socially responsible broker - from RegisteredRep.com
• Blended Value - Resources based on the idea that all organizations, whether for-profit or not, create value that consists of economic, social and environmental value components—and that investors (whether market-rate, charitable or some mix of the two) simultaneously generate all three forms of value through providing capital to organizations.
• Beyond Grey Pinstripes - Great resources for students interested in business and MBA programs that incorporate issues of social and environmental stewardship.
• Fletcher School resources on social entrepreneurship - Boston-based Resources for social entrepreneurs
• UC Santa Barbara – Socially Responsible Career Ideas - Ideas and strategies to explore careers in socially responsible businesses
• 2005 Social Entrepreneurs - Fast Company Magazine

Philanthropy and Corporate social responsibility

• CSRwire - Valuable information regarding careers in Corporate Social Responsibility (includes a directory of CSR organizations)
• LifeWorth - Information and resources for CSR internationally
• Chronicle of Philanthropy

STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE ENGAGED LIFE LISTSERV

Subscribe to the Engaged Life Listserv to receive information about and opportunities (internships and jobs) in socially responsible careers (from the Venture Consortium)