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Home > Degree Programs > Office of Career Advancement > Students and Alumni > OCA Services > Professional Areas of Interest
Professional Areas of Interest
Gateways to Career Success
To help students and alumni find the career information they need, the Harvard Kennedy School Office of Career Advancement (OCA) has organized career areas into Professional Areas of Interest (PAIs). PAIs represent the industries, fields and focus areas through which the majority of graduates enter or re-enter the professional world after they graduate.
For many, identifying a PAI is the first step toward pinpointing a career path. For more information, explore the introductory guides below.
Public Finance
The Public Finance Guide addresses careers working in public finance, including entities such as the U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Federal Reserve and public finance divisions of banks and investment firms.
International Development
The International Development Guide addresses careers in economic, social and political development in transitional and developing countries. Also includes careers in human rights and corporate social responsibility in the context of development.
International Security
The International Security Guide addresses careers in international relations, including national policy implementation, the intelligence community, diplomacy and advocacy. Also includes careers in human rights and humanitarian assistance in the context of conflict and post-conflict situations.
Energy and Environment
The Energy and Environment Guide addresses careers developing sustainable energy and environmental protection, including the role of corporate social responsibility in promoting and achieving sound policy.
Urban Economic Development
The Economic Development Guide addresses careers promoting sustainable economic growth of communities working at the national, regional or local level. Guide includes housing and transportation policy as well as the role of social enterprise.
Social Policy
The Social Policy Guide addresses careers promoting sound policy, systems and organizations in education, health, welfare and criminal justice. Guide includes the role of social enterprise.
U.S. Federal Government
The U.S. Federal Government Guide addresses careers serving in federal government agencies as a career civil servant or political appointee. Guide also includes working in Congress, in the consulting organizations that contract with government and within think tanks and policy institutes that influence public policy and address the reform of government.
Capitol Hill
The Capitol Hill Guide addresses careers in Congress on the personal staff of a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or serving on a Committee staff.
Public Affairs and Communications
Coming Soon
Consulting
Although Consulting cuts across other PAIs, it is also an area of interest in its own right. The Consulting Resource Guide provides overview information about consulting as both a function within each PAI and as an occupation.
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