The New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) recently hosted the event, “Navigating Policy-focused Career Pathways,” on October 21st at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. The gathering brought together current students and recent alumni who had previously been affiliated with the NJSPL and are now pursuing careers in public policy. Alumni served on a panel to provide insights into their typical workdays and advice on securing a job post-graduation. In the four years since the NJSPL’s inception at Rutgers University, the center has employed more than 100 graduate and undergraduate students through specific research projects as well as the annual summer internship program.
The panel of six NJSPL alum, who included Jesskomar Gargot, Taylor Hughes, Matthew Duca, Marva Mack, James Barnett, and Ciera Gaither, sparked candid discussions about nurturing relationships with mentors, embracing group activities, attending conferences, and practicing kindness along the way. Executive Director Elizabeth Cooner moderated the panel, and Dean Stuart Shapiro provided opening remarks. Audience members were eager to ask follow-up questions and expand their thinking around entering public policy careers. After the panel, attendees were invited to approach the panelists one-on-one over refreshments, which removed some of the traditional barriers to starting conversations and helped to make networking more accessible.
The event drew a sizeable turnout, and post-event feedback suggests that many participants would be happy to attend a similar program. One attendee noted that she was inspired to continue networking, as she learned about a professor whose work aligns with her research interest. Several students shared that they most enjoyed the conversational aspects of the event. The panelists found the event valuable, too. One of them shared that the format was particularly impactful: “We were there to be resources for the students and making space for them to approach us with questions, either for the group or 1:1, helped make us accessible in different ways.”
This informative yet relatable support model was successful for public policy-focused students and may be effective in other contexts across the university. The NJSPL looks forward to facilitating more opportunities to help students prepare for their future careers in serving the public.