HKS alumni have felt the impact of layoffs in the public sector and beyond. Help our HKS community by connecting with your fellow graduates on the job market and posting open positions.
Assess, strategize, advance
The HKS Office of Career Advancement (OCA) supports HKS alumni at every turn of their career journey.
If you are considering a career change or are exploring options, the OCA team is here to help. OCA continues to be your central resource for career support—well after you graduate. Work with our dedicated career coaches, refine your resume and interview skills, and tap into the global HKS community to grow your network.
Navigating through times of change
As Dean Jeremy Weinstein wrote in his February 27, 2025 message to the HKS community, the actions taken by the U.S. government have directly impacted members of our community, including many in our alumni community who work as public servants.
The OCA team is doubling-down on supporting our HKS alumni community during this time of consequential change. Consider this page among your career development go-to resources.
This page will be updated regularly to share relevant job search tools and platforms, employer-related programming, alumni-focused webinars to support your job search, online professional development opportunities, and other ways to make valuable alumni-to-alumni ties.
Stay connected to HKS and each other. In addition to signing up for upcoming career events for HKS alumni, learn what our faculty members are saying about the Trump Administration’s policy implications, register or update your contact information with the Harvard Alumni Association, and take full advantage of the job search tools available to you.
Post job opportunities
Upcoming career events for HKS alumni
Individual advising sessions for HKS alumni directly affected by changes in the U.S. federal government
During spring break week, HKS provided nearly 70 individual advising sessions for HKS alumni directly affected by changes in the U.S. federal government. The alumni served spanned graduation years from 1996 to 2024 and the majority reside in the Washington, D.C. metro area. For a quarter of these alumni, this was their first time meeting with an individual advisor.
Virtual tour of JACK
On March 25, HKS provided a virtual hands-on tour of JACK, HKS’s job bank and career management system. Attendees learned how to navigate JACK resources for job seekers or ways to improve their professional skills.
Institute of Public Finance Briefing
On March 26, HKS hosted a career briefing with The Institute of Public Finance (IPF) on summer internships, part-time and contract work, and post-grad fellowships.
Power in Transitions: Building Influence in Times of Change
On April 2, Julie Battilana hosted a webinar to provide essential tools and actionable strategies to help alumni take control of their professional journey.
Career Transitions: Adapting and Thriving in Times of Change
On April 10, HKS hosted a career transitions webinar with Ronald Heifetz on exploring how adaptive leadership principles can help individuals navigate uncertainty, embrace change, and lead themselves and others through career shifts with resilience and purpose.
Effective Communication: Writing So People Read and Respond
On April 17,Todd Rogers hosted a session on research-backed strategies for writing, to ensure busy people read, understand, and respond to messages.
Open Capital Briefing
On April 15, HKS hosted Open Capital for a career briefing on post-grad full time roles in Africa.
Job Searching Strategies in HKS Global Hubs (Berlin, London, Geneva, Dubai)
On April 15, HKS hosted an interactive discussion with alumni to learn how to approach a job search in a new geographic area like Berlin, London, Geneva, and Dubai.
HKS Alumni Masterclass: Elevate Your LinkedIn
On April 16, Dr. Natascha F. Saunders held an interactive session designed to help alumni unlock the full potential of LinkedIn.
Leadership and Happiness: Fulfillment in Career Transitions
On April 21, Professor Arthur Brooks explored the science of happiness and how intentional leadership can help individuals find purpose, resilience, and joy through career changes.
Ikigai Workshop for Alumni
On April 28, HKS hosted a workshop to explore techniques to help find and follow individual's Reason for Being.
Negotiate & Navigate Your Next Role: Self-Advocacy Strategies with Kessely Hong
On May 22, HKS Senior Lecturer Kessely Hong worked with alumni to explore strategies to help them feel more comfortable seeking opportunities, preparing for interviews, and taking a comprehensive approach to negotiating for the resources needed to be successful at work and have a sustainable life.
Job search tools
Use your HarvardKey to log on to our Jobs and Careers for Harvard Kennedy School (JACK) platform, where—after signing up—you can make career coaching appointments, search for jobs, receive tailored job opportunities, learn about upcoming workshops and employer events, and access a library of career resources for HKS alumni. Under the “Employers” tab, search more than 8,000 organizations that have hiring or other professional relationships with HKS.
To schedule a one-on-one career coaching session:
- Log on to JACK using your HarvardKey
- Select “Career Coaching” on the top menu bar
- Select “Schedule a Career Coaching Appointment,” scroll down, and “Check Availability” (without using filters) to see career coaches’ availability
Looking to Hire?
- Maximize recruiting with JACK. Post job openings, connect with top HKS talent in virtual interviews, and explore resumes.
Send your JACK-related questions to oca@hks.harvard.edu.
Connect with 37,000+ HKS alumni on LinkedIn, under the Harvard Kennedy School’s “Alumni” tab, where you can access high-level insight into your fellow graduates’ professional profiles and careers.
The Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (Official) LinkedIn group is another opportunity for HKS community members—alumni, faculty, current staff, and others—to connect. List your HKS degree program on your LinkedIn profile first before requesting to join this group.
Add your resume to the new HKS Alumni Resume Book in JACK!
First, review the short instructional video to learn how to participate. Submit your resume by June 2, 2025 to be a part of the HKS Alumni Resume Book which will be distributed to employers by OCA . The HKS Alumni Resume Book will remain available to employers until August 29, 2025. However, you may opt out of the resume book at any time.
As an HKS graduate, you know the importance of being a lifelong learner—there is important work to do in the months and years ahead. Consider coming back to HKS by enrolling in our Executive Education programs led by full-time Harvard faculty members who design courses that engage and challenge participants in every aspect of public leadership, from strategic management and performance measurement to communication and negotiation.
You receive a 30 percent tuition discount on all open-enrollment Executive Education programs.
NCDA’s board, in collaboration with the Government Relations Committee, created a list of credentialed members who are willing to provide pro bono career services to displaced federal workers.
Jobs and Careers for Harvard Kennedy School (JACK)
Log into JACK to research jobs, book coaching appointments, explore workshops and employer events, and access career resources tailored for HKS alumni.