The Office of Career Services provides career and professional development programs for master’s and doctoral students, including skills-building workshops, individual career counseling, job-search strategies, an alumni contact database, and posting of jobs in the Chicago area.
Quarterly workshops provide students with the skills needed to develop efficient job-search strategies, to convey transferable skills, to write effective resumes and cover letters, and to learn sound interviewing techniques.
To help provide networking opportunities, Career Services offers a database of more than 1,000 recent alumni who have volunteered to be contacts, offering advice and guidance for job-seekers. Several of these alumni also serve on quarterly career panels sponsored by Career Services to discuss their transitions from SSA and their current career paths, and to offer advice to graduating students. Alumni and students also participate in a shadow program during the summer to provide one-on-one direct workplace experiences.
Throughout the year, Career Services will send email notices to students alerting them to internships, fellowships, and recruiting opportunities.
During Spring break, students can participate in SSA’s Washington Week. This program brings together SSA alumni in the Washington DC, area with currently enrolled students. Often meeting at alumni work sites, students learn about careers in the public and non-profit sectors, as well as about careers in research, advocacy, lobbying, and program management.
Your career planning should begin the day you’re admitted to SSA. We have our own Office of Career Services—separate from that of the University of Chicago—that offers personalized student resources, training workshops and networking events like Washington Week. One of our most popular resources is the alumni contact database containing more that 1,000 recent SSA graduates available for informational interviews. You should make an appointment with the Career Office soon after starting your program to begin the process of career planning.
An SSA degree—and an SSA student—is truly exceptional. Learn more about the AM degree -- and how it's both equivalent and different from the MSW -- and why SSA grads succeed in a wide variety of social work roles. We invite you and your organization to partner with us as a field education site or post a job for the SSA community. SSA is currently ranked among the top three graduate schools of social work in the United States.
Whether you’re a current student or potential employer, don’t hesitate to contact Michael Jogerst, assistant dean and director of career services, at 773.702.1173 or by email with any questions.