{"id":238,"date":"2020-08-31T19:31:53","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T23:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/sustainability-social-justice\/idce-graduate-students-successful-in-tough-job-market\/"},"modified":"2025-08-06T08:08:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T12:08:44","slug":"idce-graduate-students-successful-in-tough-job-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/sustainability-social-justice\/idce-graduate-students-successful-in-tough-job-market\/","title":{"rendered":"IDCE graduate students successful in tough job market"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Sharon<\/a>
IDCE\u2019s Sharon Hanna advising a student.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clark\u2019s graduate students have had solid success in the recent job market thanks to their diligence, dedication, and experience. The positive results are all indicative of early engagement with Clark\u2019s career planning resources, including conversations with advisers and alumni, and polishing r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and interview skills. Resilience and patience have been the keys to success since the onset of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far, indicators are promising for the Class of 2020,\u201d says Sharon Hanna, director of\u00a0career development and external relations in Clark\u2019s\u00a0 International Development, Community, and Environment<\/a> (IDCE) department. \u201cWhen the economic condition signals there are few jobs, it takes an amount of discipline and motivation to engage in the job search. These outcomes are testament to how IDCE prepares graduates for careers and how their commitment to the job search results in these victories,\u201d says Hanna.<\/p>\n

\"Kortni<\/p>\n

Kortni Wroten<\/strong>, MBA\/M.S. \u201920, earned a dual MBA\/master\u2019s in environmental science and policy<\/a>, and was able to obtain a position by leveraging her network and staying in touch with previous employers. \u201cWhen I was applying to the job I have now, I told everyone in my network who I knew would be able to put in a good word. When it was time for my interview, the CEO told me I had a lot of fans! It definitely helped to have an \u2018in,\u2019\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Wroten is a sustainability specialist for Kim Lundgren Associates<\/a> and works with communities around the country to implement climate action, resilience planning, and other sustainability initiatives. IDCE\u2019s Career Development Office was pivotal in helping her obtain her position, particularly the career workshops, interview preparation, and alumni outreach. \u201cThrough email or informational interviews, I was able to connect with many alumni in positions I wanted to know more about; those contacts helped me learn about the organizational culture and expectations, and provided other tips,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"Jenna<\/a>
Jenna DeFosse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After earning her master\u2019s in international development<\/a>, Jenna DeFosse<\/strong>, M.S. \u201920, secured a position as a campaign communications specialist at CASA<\/a>. Having a prior connection to the nonprofit organization as an intern gave her an edge and helped her secure her position. \u201cBecause I was familiar with the work of the organization, I was able to connect with people there who I knew from my internship \u2014 to get an idea of whether I would be a good fit for the position,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

DeFosse also credits Hanna\u2019s assistance. \u201cSharon is a great resource and person to talk to. She can help with everything and is so positive and supportive,\u201d she says. DeFosse found it helpful to talk to fellow students from the Peace Corps and City Year to determine if those programs were relevant to her.<\/p>\n

\"Adina<\/a>
Adina Cohen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following Hanna\u2019s advice, Adina Cohen<\/strong> \u201919, M.A. \u201920, refined her job search and learned about different organizations by interviewing people she knew from her hometown of Chicago, as well as Clark alumni she reached out to on LinkedIn. \u00a0Recently hired as a grant writer with Esperanza Health Centers<\/a> in Chicago, Cohen says, \u201cThe knowledge and skills I gained through my hands-on coursework and internships in IDCE\u2019s community development and planning<\/a> (CDP) program directly prepared me for success in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hanna notes that there also has been good news for internships for rising second-year students. \u201cWhile a number of organizations rescinded summer internships, students redoubled their efforts and landed remote positions, some extending into fall,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"Buba<\/a>
Buba Sulle Dicko<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

International development student Buba Sulle Dicko<\/strong>, from Cameroon, was looking for an internship in his specialty of monitoring and evaluation. He found success through his professional network and accepted a coveted position with the Malala Fund. <\/a> \u201cI would not have gotten this internship if I hadn\u2019t had the chance to study at Clark University,\u201d he says. \u201cI was able to articulate how my skill set lined up with the requirements for the role based on my knowledge of program monitoring, evaluation, and learning, which I acquired through IDCE.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jessica<\/a>
Jessica Borges<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jessica Borges<\/strong>, also studying international development, secured a monitoring and evaluation consultant internship at Adaptiv<\/a>, a nonprofit organization focused on community-rooted architecture and planning. She currently is creating a project evaluation model to be used for project and community engagement strategies.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile remote work can make mentorship and training \u2014 the essential components of an internship \u2014 more difficult, employers are paying more attention to skills like self-discipline, self-motivation, and the ability to work independently,\u201d says Borges.<\/p>\n

Borges has high praise for her classwork and the IDCE faculty. \u201cThe knowledge I acquired in IDCE has been crucial,\u201d she says. \u201cThe curriculum reflects the most advanced and progressive approaches in the field of international development.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/a>
Kevin Finn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CDP student Kevin Finn<\/strong> realized that the key to securing an internship position during COVID-19 was to adapt quickly and be persistent. \u201cI would frequently follow up with previously submitted applications, discuss the possibility of working remotely, and even volunteer my time without pay, just to gain the work experience,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

He secured a position with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission<\/a> (CMRPC) as a regional collaborative and community planning intern, and helped distribute state funds to local Boards of Health responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. His IDCE coursework has contributed to his success. \u201cI\u2019ve learned a great deal about planning and community development that I have been able to apply directly in the field and the Central Massachusetts community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more graduate student success stories from Clark\u2019s class of 2020:<\/em><\/p>\n