What Can I Do with My BA in Political Science?
 Preparing to enter the job market is one of the most important tasks you
will face. It can be a trying, even disheartening, experience. This handout is meant to give you some guidance.
 This hand-out explains some of the prerequisites and requirements you
need in order to pursue your chosen career. But, remember, entry
expectations and requirements change all the time. It’s your
responsibility to find out the latest rules and regulations.
Professor Erika Simpson
Political Science Department
University of Western Ontario
Simpson©January 2009
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What Can I Do with My BA in Political Science?
Introduction
Preparing to enter the job market is one of the most important tasks you will face. It can
be a trying, even disheartening, experience. This hand-out is meant to give you some
guidance. It explains some of the prerequisites and requirements you need in order to
pursue your chosen career. But, remember, entry expectations and requirements change
all the time. It’s your responsibility to find-out the latest rules and regulations.
One way to keep up with changes to requirements for entering professional programs is to
consult UWO’s Student Development Centre and UWO’s Student Employment
Services. The Centre has current calendars for most of the professional programs in
Canada and information on other schools in the US or overseas. The Centre’s interactive
technology can provide opportunities for interviews and job searches. And Western’s
Job Search Western magazine is also intended to direct students toward immediate and
longer-term employment.
Notably, if you want to be a high school teacher, a computer consultant or a banker, this
hand-out will not help you out! Students who wish to pursue a career peripherally-related
to the field of political science need to go to UWO’s Student Development Centre for
general information on all types of careers like teaching, consulting, policing, and
banking.
“What Can I do with My Degree in Political Science?” was prepared for students in
the Dept. of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario by Professor Erika
Simpson, email Simpson@ uwo.ca.
Special thanks for the generous assistance of Professors John Cartwright, Michael
Lusztig, Martin Westmacott, Veronica Schild, Barbara Bedont, LL.B and Bill Cross
LL.B., as well as Academic Counsellors Gail Wright, Brenda Innes, Mary Wiltshire,
Linda Austin, and Counselling Assistant Marg Dodson.
This hand-out may be photocopied without the author’s permission.
Simpson©2006
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Table of Contents
Introduction
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Graduate School 4
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What can I do with a MA?
What can I do with a PhD?
Should I apply to a MA or PhD program at a Canadian university?
Should I apply to an American school for my MA or PhD?
Should I apply to British schools for my MA?
How can I fund my graduate studies?
What are the entrance requirements for graduate study?
What salary can I expect after obtaining a graduate degree?
Business School 8
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Should I apply to the undergraduate business program (HBA) or Masters of Business
Administration (MBA) program?
What prerequisites are required for a HBA?
What prerequisites are required for a MBA?
What if I can’t decide between a MBA and Law School?
What salary can I expect if I graduate from Business School?
Law School 9
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How long do I need to study before becoming a lawyer?
What do I need to apply to Law School?
What salary can I expect after earning a LL.B?
Journalism 12
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Should I become a journalist?
What do I need to apply to UWO’s Graduate School of Journalism?
The Foreign Service 13
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What is the Foreign Service?
What is the Foreign Service competition?
What do I do if I want to apply to the Foreign Service?
What are the benefits of becoming a Foreign Service officer?
References 15
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How do professors assess students asking for references?
What do professors need to write you a reference?
Resumés 16
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What is expected in a resumé?
Using the Internet 17
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Is it possible to search for a job on the Internet?
Volunteer Work 19
Why volunteer my time and energy for no pay?
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Graduate School
What can I do with a MA?
 A Master of Arts (MA) can be a valuable and cost-effective way of enhancing your
job prospects. Most MAs take 9-24 months to complete. A thesis on a specialized
topic is usually required.

Some students obtain a MA before entering law school or undertaking a Masters of
Business Administration (MBA) program. A MA tells your potential employer that
you have a strong interest in your chosen field of specialization.
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As the job market becomes more competitive, a MA can help you stay ahead. It is
possible to obtain a Masters in such diverse fields such as journalism,
communications, and international relations.
What can I do with a PhD?
 A PhD is not a particularly efficient and cost-effective way of increasing your job
prospects. Most PhDs take 3-7 years to complete. Comprehensive exams, 1-2
languages, and a long dissertation on a very specialized topic are all required. On the
other hand, you will learn a great deal and a whole new world of intellectual thought
will be opened up to you.

Most PhDs expect to become professors, civil servants or researchers once they
complete their studies. Unfortunately cut-backs to university funding and hiring
freezes mean that it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a job as a professor.
Although the life of a professor is ideal (at least in our view!), it takes many years of
concentrated study to obtain a PhD. And while your friends are earning money, you
will probably sacrifice a good deal of potential income that will not be recouped on a
professional salary. We advise you to think very seriously before you decide to
undertake a PhD.
Should I apply to a MA or PhD program at a Canadian university?
 A decision you need to make is whether you plan to study at a Canadian, American or
international university. Every university has different requirements and prerequisites.
Copies of most university calendars are available at the Career Centre.

Applying to a MA or PhD program at a Canadian university can have many
advantages. First, tuition fees are significantly lower. For example, tuition at the
UWO will cost you up to $4000 during your first year of the MA program. But as
a foreign student in the United States or Britain, you can expect to pay as much as
$10,000-$30,000 Cdn. including accommodation, meals, and books.

Secondly, it’s also important to remember that many MA and PhD students studying
in Canada are awarded scholarships, teaching assistantships and research contracts.
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For instance, teaching assistants (TAs) at UWO are paid approximately $8000 for
assisting professors with one course. The opportunity to teach at this level can be a
useful (and illuminating!) experience. While TAships in the US tend to be more
lucrative (because on top of a living stipend your tuition fees are typically waived)
MAs rarely get TAships.
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Thirdly, a MA from any Canadian university is usually highly-regarded. Whether you
obtained your MA from a prestigious or provincial university does not really matter to
potential employers. A MA from a Canadian school will not prejudice your job
prospects--indeed, it may enhance them because by staying in Canada you will be
better placed to make contacts and network.
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On the other hand, a PhD from a small or unknown university may detract from your
job prospects. For example, if a potential employer has never heard of the university
where you earned your PhD, you can be sure that s/he will be less enthusiastic about
hiring you. Given that you will probably be competing for an academic position with
other students from prestigious American and international universities, you should
carefully consider which universities you apply to for a PhD.
Should I apply to an American school for my MA or PhD?
 The American system of graduate studies is organized somewhat differently. Most
students enter a MA program and then proceed to complete a PhD at the same
university. Indeed, at most American schools students enter directly into the PhD
program without doing a MA. In Canada, on the other hand, many students switch
universities between their MA and PhD.
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You should be aware that some people do not recognize an American MA without the
PhD as a ‘real’ degree. This is because American universities occasionally award
failed PhDs with a MA--a kind-of consolation prize. Yet there are undoubtedly many
challenging and reputable MA programs in the United States. A MA from the John F.
Kennedy School of Government or Harvard is certainly worthwhile and carries a lot
of ‘snob-value’.
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A PhD from an American university is also worth thinking about because American
PhDs are usually granted more quickly than Canadian PhDs. For example, whereas
the average PhD student at the University of Toronto takes 6-11 years to complete,
students in the United States can obtain a MA and a PhD in less than 5 years.
Although U.S. foreign student fees may be higher, you may be finished more quickly.
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Should I apply to British schools for my MA?
 Some students decide to go to a British university for their MA and PhD. British
degrees are generally awarded more quickly and students don’t need to take as many
different classes. The down-side is the cost. Tuition fees and living costs can be
prohibitive.
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Some Commonwealth, Rhodes, and Moss scholarships are available to ‘high
achievers’ (both scholastically and in terms of extra-curricular activities). But these
awards are very difficult to obtain. You may also find that the research focus of your
British university is far-removed from Canadian concerns. Exposure to different
lifestyles in our ‘Mother Country’ and Europe can, however, be rewarding!
How can I fund my graduate studies?
 In general a MA is worthwhile, even if you have to get a student loan to pay for it.
Over your lifetime, the cost of borrowing to obtain your MA will be repaid to you
through higher starting salaries. Although you may already have significant debts
from your BA Honours degree, this additional year of study generally pays off in the
long-run. And employers are usually not reluctant to hire someone with a MA, even if
you are asking for a higher salary.
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There are many different scholarships available to PhD students. Often your first 3
years of study can be generously funded by different federal agencies (e.g. $1000$16,000 yr.) But as government budgets have shrunk, it is becoming more difficult to
get scholarships like a Social Science and Humanities Research Council of
Canada (SSHRCC) grant. You may find that your funding dwindles away and by 4th
year, you are forced to take a part-time or full-time job. During these later years, many
students also find themselves overwhelmed with children, family, and financial
concerns. It can become increasingly difficult to find the time to devote to your
dissertation. In the final analysis, there is probably no one unhappier or financially
less well-off than the ‘ABD’ (All-But-Dissertation!) Of course, the bottom line is that
those who finish quickly are better-off.
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If you are thinking of financing your doctoral studies through student loans, you
should consider this option carefully. Many students drop-out of PhD programs. This
leaves them with crippling student loan payments–and without the PhD. Canada’s
student loan regulations may also be drastically revised in the future. For example,
banks may expect you to repay your loan at a high interest rate (e.g. 7% is presently
common--rates could go even higher!) Or you may be expected to pay a significant
percentage of your income to Revenue Canada after graduation. As the banks
become more involved in guaranteeing student loans, the criteria for obtaining loans
are likely to become more difficult. If at all possible, therefore, you should try to
finance your PhD studies by obtaining TAships, research assistantships, and part-time
jobs.
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What are the entrance requirements for graduate study?
 Most universities take students with a Honours BA and a B+ or higher average. The
average may be based on your final 2 years of study or on your entire transcript. Each
university differs. If your marks for 1st and 2nd year were low, you might consider
taking an extra year of university to improve your average.

To enter graduate school in the US (or McGill University in Canada), you will need
to write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). All American schools require a
strong GRE score. To obtain funding, you probably will need to be in the 90th
percentile. It is possible to rewrite this exam. But if you do take a GRE test more than
once, it is important to remember that the various institutions to which you apply may
follow different procedures in comparing your performance with that of other
applicants. In evaluating GRE scores as one factor in their admissions or fellowship
decisions, some institutions average the scores earned, some use the most recent
scores reported, and others use the highest scores.
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You will also need 2-3 references from your undergraduate professors. You should
ask references from professors who know you well and from whom you received a
good mark. You should also ask your professor directly whether s/he feels s/he can
write you a ‘good’ reference. Most professors feel obliged to tell you if they have to
write a ‘poor’ reference for you. But it is also relatively easy to tell if they plan to
write a ‘lukewarm’ reference (e.g. 3-4 lines of commentary). Read the prof’s body
language and tone of voice–if s/he seems at all reserved or unenthusiastic, consider
approaching another professor for a reference.
What salary can I expect after obtaining a graduate degree?
 It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict your likely salary with a MA degree. Most
people agree, however, that a MA degree is worthwhile and cost-effective given the
time involved and the cost of tuition and full-time study.
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On the other hand, a PhD may not be a wise investment of time and money if you are
intent upon earning a ‘high’ salary. Take some time beforehand to factor in the cost of
tuition and the cost of likely foregone wages (which you would otherwise earn had
you entered the workforce). Notably, starting salaries for assistant professors range
between $50,000-$65,000 a year. Only after many years of teaching and research
(rising through the ranks of Assistant, Associate, and then Full Professor) can you
receive a salary approaching $100,000 a year. While some professors do earn over
$100,000, this salary is usually earned after decades of service to a prestigious
university.
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Business School
Should I apply to the undergraduate business program (HBA) or Masters of
Business Administration (MBA) program?
 The HBA at the University of Western Ontario begins in 3rd year. On the other hand,
to enter the MBA program, you must have a degree and a minimum of 2 years
fulltime working experience. Whether you want to begin business school in 3rd year
or after finishing a specialized degree is up to you. But be aware that those ‘extra’
years spent in an undergraduate program are valuable not just for job training. Look at
these years as a time of intellectual growth and development.
What prerequisites are required for a HBA?
 To enter the HBA program at the University of Western Ontario, you need 10 credits
including Business 257 and OAC Math (or its equivalent Math 12 or 17). A 70%
average based on 5 full courses every year is expected. The admissions committee
examines the trends in your marks over the last 2 years. They are particularly
interested in your mark for Business 2257. They also look at your leadership skills
and part-time jobs. How do you work with others? What parttime jobs have you held?
The Essay Section in the application form expects you to explain what makes you a
unique individual, particularly suited to taking a HBA.
What prerequisites are required for a MBA?
 Canada has 30 MBA programs while the US has over 700. The University of Western
Ontario is viewed as one of the top business schools in North America. A MBA at
UWO is also cost-effective compared to American programs. To apply, you must
have an undergraduate degree; a minimum of 2 years fulltime working experience
(most who are accepted have 4 years experience); a B average over the last 2 years of
university; and a GMAT score with good verbal, writing, and math skills.
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The selection committee studies your GMAT score and weighs it compared to your
academic performance and your fulltime work experience. Because some students in
Western’s MBA program study travel to Asia and Eastern Europe to study, the
committee also looks for all-round good students in terms of academic, work, and
leadership capabilities.
What if I can’t decide between a MBA and Law School?
 It is possible at the University of Western Ontario to apply to both programs and
graduate in 4 years with a Masters of Business Administration and a Law degree. In
this case, you need to apply and be accepted to both programs. You must specialize in
corporate law or business (you can decide this later). But in this way, you can obtain
both degrees in 4, not 5 years.
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What salary can I expect if I graduate from Business School?
 According to their statistics, 86% of students with a MBA from UWO have jobs
within 3 months of graduation. Average salaries are $58,000 a year and range between
$28,000- $120,000 year. “Of course, to earn $120,000 year, you will need to work
really hard at the New York Stock Exchange”, says one of the members of the
Selection Committee.
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Similarly, 82% of students with a HBA from UWO have jobs within 3 months.
Average salaries are $34,000 a year and range between $18,000-$60,000 year.
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For more information about the business programs at Western, contact the director of
admissions, HBA & MBA programs, tel: 661-3419 or email: lgamula@ivey.uwo.ca
Law School
How long do I need to study before becoming a lawyer?
 In order to obtain a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) and become a practising lawyer,
generally you need to complete a 3 year or 4 year BA; study fulltime in Law School
for 3 years; complete 1 year articling; and study for the Canadian Bar Admission
course for 4 months. In other words, you will need to commit yourself to 4½ years of
study beyond your BA before obtaining a BA Law.
What do I need to apply to Law School?
 The competition to get into Law School is intense. For example, UWO generally
receives over 2000 applications. Of course, most students apply to more than one law
school so hundreds of these students will have applied to other law schools. Each law
school’s ‘ratio of acceptance’ is updated in November and available at the Career
Centre. For more information on particular law schools, see “Judging Canadian Law
Schools”, Maclean’s, October 6, 1997, pp. 12-43.

Although most application forms state that you need a 70% average to get into law
school, that minimum average doesn’t hold true of successful applicants. The average
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for successful applicants is currently around 80.9%. Fortunately, most Law Schools
use your best 3 years (out of your 4 years as an undergraduate) to calculate your
average. At this time, for instance, UWO expects you to have earned a minimum 80%
average for 2 years out of your 4 year undergraduate degree.

In addition to a high average, you need a good LSAT score. The LSAT (pronounced
‘elle-sat’) is a 4 hour exam, held 4 times a year. You must register to take the LSAT
exam at least 45 days beforehand. The LSAT tests your reading, logical, and
mathematical skills. It has proven to be a good tool for predicting 1st year law school
success rates. At a minimum, you need a LSAT score of 150, although successful
applicants are expected to score an average of 160. The LSAT is scored out of 180.
While it is possible to rewrite the LSAT, most law schools average your score from
two LSATS. The law schools at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University,
however, pay attention only to your highest score.

Letters of reference and personal statements are not necessarily required for law
school applications. But at this time, UWO expects 2 letters of reference from your
university professors. (See the section on Reference Letters below for further
guidance)

If your average is not high enough, your non-academic activities may be considered
closely by the committee. And the committee will look at your marks separately if 1-2
classes are added on to your record years later.

There is a ‘special category’ for ‘mature’,‘disabled’ or ‘native’ applicants but this
section needs to be fully documented. See this sample application form for more
information.

There is a fee to write the LSAT. You must pay $35 or $50 a year to keep your score
‘active’. The Ontario application process has changed and each applicant fills out only
one application form and pays one fee in order to be considered for many different
law schools (except for the University of Windsor which has its own form and fee).
What salary can I expect after earning a BA Law?
 It is important to remember that even if you obtain a law degree, you may not
necessarily be hired as a lawyer. More and more law graduates are finding it difficult
to obtain employment in Canada. In Ontario alone, the number of practising lawyers
swept upward from 10,500 in 1976 to 16,500 in 1986 and 22,800 in 1996—an
enormous addition for any profession to absorb. In Canada, the total population of the
profession stands at more than 60,000. According to Gordon Proudfoot, president of
the Canadian Bar Association, “Law schools do not warn students when they are
accepted to their schools that the job market for practising lawyers is poor. The vast
majority of students entering law school expect to practice with a law firm. Yet we all
know that very few of them will actually succeed in getting articles, let alone a job.”
At the bar admission class in 1995 at the Law Society of Upper Canada, rumours ran
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rampant that professors were purposely failing an unusually high proportion as a way
of reducing the glut of lawyers coming onto the market. Course professors denied it.
“There are simply too many lawyers right across the country,” said Thomas Ullyett,
chairman of the Young Lawyer’s Conference, a division of the Canadian Bar
Association. “We have got too many lawyers chasing too little work. People think
going to law school is a ticket to the good life. It isn’t.” Adds Mr. Proudfoot, the CBA
President: “At the very least, law schools should give applicants a stern letter of
warning of bleak job prospects and the shortage of articling positions.”

While it is possible to move into domestic or international politics; government or
non-governmental organizations (e.g. human rights organizations); or even business,
some lawyers find themselves unemployed and heavily indebted after 7-8 years of
fulltime study. But with a law degree in hand, some graduates are making their mark
in a wide range of fields, from health to human rights (see Macleans, October 6,
1997).

Remuneration scales as a lawyer can vary widely. Starting salaries at law firms in the
cities average $45,000. Toronto salaries for a first-year lawyer average $50,000. As a
lawyer, you might bill between $100,000-$150,000 a year but out of these billings,
you will need to run a car, computers, telephones, rent an office, pay for professional
insurance, professional association dues, subscribe to legal-research services, employ
a secretary, receptionist, bookkeeper, accountant, and answering service.

What kind of lifestyle can I expect practising law? Most lawyers work long hours 5-7
days a week. While it’s intellectual fun, hands-on, and occasionally dramatic, it’s not
exactly “Street Legal”. As one criminal lawyer explains, “I work 12 to 14 hours a day
from Monday to Thursday; on Fridays, I try to get home by 6 p.m. During the winter, I
work four to six hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays; in summer, just Sundays. I
take a holiday in July and go away on most long weekends. This is a fairly typical
work schedule for a self-employed lawyer.” Furthermore, as an articling student,
Leanne Rapley works 10 or 11 hours a day and spends almost every Sunday at the
office. The firm expects her to bill 1,800 hours to clients every year. She is also
expected to put in 200 non-billable hours each year in “business development”—a
polite term for schmoozing clients and potential clients at parties, wine tastings or
lunches. According to Andrea Timoll, an unemployed lawyer who recently finished
articling, “Now, people article for free or get paid $200 a week plus subway tokens.
Even if you are at a firm, you have to plan for if you are let go. Even firms that have
been around a long time aren’t stable. Those are the times we are living in. It certainly
isn’t as glitzy as all those TV shows. I feel a lot of people I went to law school with
had this vision of lawyering as a very glamorous profession, not realizing that it is
extremely hard work that never ends. A lot of people are really disillusioned once they
get out of there.”
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Journalism
Should I become a journalist?
 The lifestyle of a jet-setting journalist like Gwynne Dyer or Peter Jennings seems
attractive. Whether using the television, print, or radio as a medium, journalists watch
events unfold and help explain current happenings to a huge audience, numbering
thousands, even millions.

If you want to be a news writer, television personality or radio announcer, the skills
you learn in Political Science can be invaluable. Political Science teaches you to
structure, synthesize, and process information. You will learn to speak confidently in
front of others about issues and events. In addition, you will also learn invaluable
skills such as how to research, write, and organize your analysis–skills which are
readily transferable to journalism.

You should also consider taking a journalism course specializing in print, video, or
radio media. Some experience working for a university or college newspaper, like
UWO’s The Gazette is invaluable. One recent Western graduate faxed a news
magazine in Jerusalem for which he hoped to write someday. After several weeks of
persistence, he landed himself an internship with the newspaper. In other words, if
you are prepared to work for peanuts but have the desire to gain valuable journalistic
experience, you can find a job in the media.
What do I need to apply to UWO’s Graduate School of Media and Information
Studies?
 You need a 4 year degree, preferably a BA Honours. You must have at least a B level
average in the last two years of your undergraduate degree. See their website at
http://www.fims.uwo.ca/journalism/admission/Admission.htm
 In 1995, of approximately 280 applications, 40 applicants were accepted to UWO’s
Graduate School of Journalism.
 Other activities are also taken into account in your application. For instance, have you
travelled a great deal? Your ‘written biography’ for the application (explaining your
attitudes and motives) is also very important. Most importantly, you need to be able to
write well. Make sure that others reread your application.
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The Foreign Service
What is the Foreign Service?
 Foreign Service officers serve Canadians abroad and Canadian interests both at home
and abroad. Two departments are the homes of the Foreign Service--the Department
of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

Within the DFA, the Foreign Service works in three areas of specialty. Trade
Commissioners develop Canada’s international trade and commerce.
Political/Economic officers are responsible for furthering Canada’s political,
economic, security, and cultural interests. Management and Consular Affairs officers
administer human and material resources at headquarters and missions. At Citizenship
and Immigration, the Foreign Service is responsible for the overseas delivery of
Canada’s immigration/refugee program.

Foreign Service officers work on a rotational basis in Ottawa and at any of Canada’s
missions abroad. New recruits are based in Ottawa where, in addition to regular work
assignments, they undergo formal training at the Canadian Foreign Service Institute.
First international assignments last from two to four years, although the trend now is
to deploy officers for longer periods of time overseas.
What is the Foreign Service competition?
 In order to become a Foreign Service officer, you need first to write a rigorous
examination. The exam was not held in 2004 and very late in 2005 so there is a
backlog right now of applicants.
 To be eligible to take the Foreign Service exam, you must be a Canadian citizen with
specific academic qualifications. These qualifications seem to vary from year-to-year.
 For example, for the October 1999 competition, eligibility was not restricted.
Anybody could apply to write the exam. For the October 1996 & 1997 competitions
eligibility was “restricted to candidates who will have a post-graduate degree
(Master’s or other graduate degree) in any field or a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB,
BCL or LLL) from a recognized university by the end of June 1997. University
graduates in other disciplines at the Bachelor’s level will be considered ONLY if they
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have significant experience in international commerce or an acceptable level of
language proficiency in Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, Russian or Korean. Knowledge
of a third language is an important asset and is recognized in the selection
process.”(see the Department of Foreign Affairs homepage on the Foreign Service, http://www.dfaitmaeci.gc.ca/english/service/fservice.htm


The qualifying exam is usually held in late October (but was held in June 2005) in
every Canadian city where there is a university and at selected Canadian missions
abroad. Most years only about forty positions are available but usually thousands of
students write the exam.
Only a limited number of candidates are considered for an interview. The interview
requires some roleplaying and participation in simulations. Before an offer of
employment is made, candidates must also qualify for top-secret security clearance
and must be certified medically suitable for assignments anywhere in the world. Once
hired, candidates must obtain the required level of bilingualism in both English and
French within a specified time period. Language training (usually 6 mos. fulltime
study) is paid for by the federal government. As the website explains:
Entrants whose proficiency in either of Canada's official languages is not sufficient will receive
official language training in Ottawa for a maximum of 12 months. Participants who are not already
employees of the federal government will not become employees, but will receive an allowance of
80 percent of the starting salary during this training period. If they cannot achieve the required
proficiency in the 12 months allotted, they will go no further in the program.
What do I do if I want to apply to the Foreign Service?
 You can take 1 and 2-day prep seminars to help you prepare for the Foreign Service
exam. The seminars and prep kits cost approximately $140-210. For more
information, contact the private business, “Foreign Service Examination & Career
Counselling, Inc” at (613) 567-9229. You should also write or phone DFAIT (tel
DFAIT Infocentre 1-800-267-8376) and ask for copies of DFAIT’s recent statements,
speeches, and reports (e.g.“Canada in the World”, 1995).

If you meet the requirements and wish to apply, contact your campus career office, the
nearest office of the Public Service Commission of Canada, or a Canadian mission
abroad. Usually you must apply to write the exam at least 3 weeks before taking the
General Competency Level Test and the Foreign Service Knowledge Test.
What are the benefits of becoming a Foreign Service officer?
 The starting salary is around $50,000 but is negotiable depending on your level of
education. One advantage is that you will be trained to be highly proficient in French
or English. The cost of living overseas may also be less expensive than in Canada.
You will experience a different lifestyle and you may enjoy meeting Ambassadors and
working in one of Canada’s Embassies or Consuls. Some people also appreciate the
opportunity to learn new languages and live in foreign countries for long timeperiods. On the negative side, however, your partner or spouse may not easily find a
job and the federal government is under no obligation to employ your family
members.
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What should I do if I want to work overseas but I don’t want to join the Foreign
Service?
 There are many international opportunities for Canadians. Some students gain
international experience by teaching English abroad. For information about the
English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, see UWO’s Student Employment
Services or go to http://iteslj.org/links/

Other students volunteer to work overseas or find work in specialized fields.
Information about various programs available for Canadians interested in working
abroad can be found in Jean-Marc Hachey The Big Guide to Working and Living
Overseas at
http://www.workingoverseas.com/about_faqs.shtml?AA_EX_Session=aab260676a78
ba42c7de4b4fc84e5852

You could also check my 231 website under travel resources. See URLs like,

Budget Travelling
How to See the World on $25 a Day or Less
Izon's Backpacker Journal

Some older but useful books include: Lisa Yarmoshuk and Christopher Coy A World
of Difference: Every Student’s Guide to Off-Beat Work, Travel and Study
Opportunities (1993); and Alan Cumyn What in the World is Going On?: A Guide for
Canadians wishing to work, volunteer or study in other countries (1988).
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References
How do professors assess students asking for references?
 Most professors write dozens, even hundreds, of references every year. This is part of
their job responsibility. In order to assist your professor to write a good reference on
your behalf, you need to supply as much relevant information as possible.

You should provide the professor with the following information:
1. an up-to-date curriculum vitae (resume) including information about your education;
current and previous employment; volunteer experience; and special skills
(e.g. language fluency, computer skills).
2. a photocopy of your undergraduate transcript(s) including, if necessary, an
explanation of the marking system at your university
3. a covering letter with your name; current telephone number; mailing address and, if
possible, an email address or fax number. The covering letter should also mention the
final mark you received in the class; the title of your essay(s); and explain why you
are applying to your chosen graduate school(s).
4. a photocopy of your ‘Personal Statement’, if it is required for your application. The
professor may also be able to suggest ways to improve your Personal Statement.
5. and the relevant reference forms (with the due date highlighted or on a post-it note) If
the school requires a letter, not a specific form, make sure to inform the professor of
this anomaly otherwise s/he will waste time looking for the reference form. Notably,
you don’t need to enclose addressed, stamped envelopes because professors prefer to
use departmental envelopes to mail your references. It is appreciated, however, if you
include pre-paid Priority Post/Express Post envelopes if you have not given your
instructor sufficient time to write and mail the reference.

Remember to be careful to proof-read your covering letter to ensure that it is wellwritten and clear. And think about dropping by to thank your professor, later, for
writing you a reference (even if your application was not successful).
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Resumés
What is expected in a resumé?
The resumé (or curriculum vitae) is a short, concise, and unique document summarizing
your educational experience, employment history, interests and personal
accomplishments. When you are developing your resume, think about the following
principles:
1. make it individual and unique–a personal ‘advertisement’
2. convey your skills and personal qualities–make extensive use of past tense action
verbs (e.g. organized, taught, implemented, earned, achieved, handled)
3. make concise points and avoid long paragraphs–it should be no longer than 2-4 pp.
4. design it so it’s easy to read and attractive–lots of white space, highlighting, indents
5. ask someone to proofread it
6. use a laser photocopier to print copies
7. consider paying extra for heavier ‘resumé’ paper
8. and customize your resumé by highlighting those skills and abilities which are of
most interest to your potential employer–this requires frequent changes and up-dates
so use a computer to write your resume.

Remember there are no ‘rules’ for resumé writing but you can garner plenty of helpful
ideas from other students’ resumes. Pick up a copy of ‘Western’s Winning Resumés’
in the Resource Centre, UCC or sign-up for a Resumé Feedback Session.
Using the Internet
Is it possible to search for a job on the Internet?
 There are many ways to search for jobs on the Internet. According to John
Chettleburgh in the Globe and Mail, “there are newsgroups, usually organized by
geographical location, that contain job postings for various types of positions.
Newsgroups are similar to electronic bulletin boards containing information on
specific topics. The majority are placed by employment agencies, although many
corporations will post positions as well.

“The advantage of the newsgroups is that specific cities can be isolated and you have
contact with employment agencies who represent hundreds of positions. People
interested in jobs can upload a resumé or email a response to the company posting the
job.”
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
Some examples of Canadian news groups are: can.jobs (jobs across Canada), tor jobs
(Toronto), ont. jobs (Ontario), ott.jobs (Ottawa), bc.jobs (British Columbia), ab.jobs
(Alberta), kw.jobs (Kitchener-Waterloo) and nb.jobs (New Brunswick) us.jobs.misc
(US jobs) uk.jobs.wanted (UK jobs).

Also take a look at bionet.job; biz.jobs.offered misc.job.contract
misc.jobs.offered
misc.jobs.resumes

“There are World Wide Web sites specifically geared to job searching. Many of these
allow you to search for positions by job type, location or specific skills. Again, you
are able to send an E-mail or upload a resumé to the company in question.

To locate job-search Web sites, conduct a search using an Internet search engine such
as Yahoo (www.yahoo.com) and use search items such as Canada, Employment, Jobs.
Students across Canada are also using a new Canada-wide internet recruiter called
CareerOwl (www.careerowl.ca). This is a free service.

Another way to search for jobs is to look into the Web sites of individual
corporations. Many companies’ home pages have links to a section listing jobs
available within the company. To find out the Web address for a particular firm, you
can use an Internet search engine, check company advertising for their Internet home
page address or call them up directly.

Allan Schweyer of Human Resources Development Canada says HRDC maintains a
service on the World Wide Web that allows users to search for work. For instance,
HRDC offers access to a National Job Bank and a new development–the Electronic
Labour Exchange. These services allow users to search for vacancies across Canada.
On the Electronic Labour Exchange, users may develop a personal profile that the
computer then tries to match with employers. If a match occurs, the user is informed
by E-mail. “The same service provides links to all known job-searching services on
the Internet as well as to Canadian news groups that centre on job vacancies.”

Notably, UWO’s Student Development Service (http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/career/UWO) has
information about part-time, full-time and summer employment; the Ontario Work
Study Plan; and On Campus Recruiting. If you are not on-line, computers for students
to access are available in Rm. 210 UCC.

Finally, you can surf some World Wide Web (WWW) sites on your own. Take a look
at:
Netjobs:
JobNet:
JobLink:
Career Mosaic:
misc.jobs.misc
http://www.netjobs.com/
http://sun.cc.westga.edu:80/~coop/
http://joblink.com/joblink.html
http://www.careermosaic.com/
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The Monster Board:
Online Career Centre:
E-Span
CACEE WorkWeb:
http://www.monster.com
http://www.occ.com/occ/OnCampus.html
http://www.espan.com/
http://www.cacee.com/workweb
The Internet is also an excellent source for learning about international career
opportunities. Take a look at some of these interesting links available through the Student
Development Centre at http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/resource/intlopp.html:
http://www.dbm.com/jobguide/internat.html
http://cdc.stuaff.duke.edu/indexemployer.html
http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/intpgm/epb6.htm
http://www.overseasjobs.com
Volunteer Work
Why volunteer my time and energy for no pay?
 Many students volunteer because it gives them a chance to experiment with a possible
career. You might offer to help teach young children because you are thinking of
becoming a teacher. Being a volunteer can give you a chance to try out an activity
before investing a lot of energy training for a career that you might not like.

Volunteering also gives you material for your resumé, which you will need to get a
job or support your applications for admission to other programs. If you feel you have
done a good job volunteering, you could ask the person in charge to give you a letter
of reference. This can be an important addition to your cv.

Volunteering also gives you access to a lot of information that you might otherwise
never learn. By hanging around those whom you might normally never meet, and
learning to see things from different points of view, you will obtain information
which you can’t pick-up from books and studying.

Your growth as a person can also be helped by volunteering. For example, some
students volunteer because they are shy and want to get out and meet more people.
Others learn to organize and plan events. By volunteering you can exercise greater
independence, assume more responsibility, and negotiate with other adults on a more
equal footing.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering and various international and
domestic organizations which need volunteers, see Val Adolph and Valerie Ahwee
Making a Difference: A Guide to Volunteering for Canadian Youth (1990) and JeanMarc Hachey The Canadian Guide to Working and Living Overseas (1995).
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





Some organizations which you could think about working for include: Amnesty
International, Canadian Red Cross, Energy Probe, Greenpeace, National Association
of Friendship Centres, Oxfam, Pollution Probe Foundation, Rediscovery, Sierra Club,
UN Association, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Vision, World Wildlife Fund and the
YMCA/YWCA. World Volunteer Web http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/
Search for Common Ground http://www.sfcg.org/
The Carter Center http://cartercenter.org
Volunteer Abroad http://www.volunteerabroad.com
Finally, you can volunteer for an organization that is eligible to seek internships from
the Federal Government. If you help the organization to apply for federal funding, and
you are hired, you may be paid for doing work that you love to do. One of Professor
Simpson’s first paid jobs was negotiated in this way through an Ontario-based Project
Ploughshares and the Member of Parliament in her Saskatchewan riding (who cosponsored the proposal).
o Here is more information from Career Edge about internships:
http://overview.careeredge.ca/index.asp?FirstTime=True&context=0&FromConte
xt=1&language=1
o According to this website, Career Edge and host organizations help interns break
through the frustrating cycle of "no experience, no job - no job, no experience"
and get their foot in the door of an organization. Interns build their experience and
professional network while earning a standard Career Edge stipend.
“What Can I do with My Degree in Political Science?” was prepared for students in
the Dept. of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario by Professor Erika
Simpson, email Simpson@uwo.ca. Special thanks for their generous assistance to Ms.
Kailey Auger (email gmail) Professors John Cartwright, Michael Lusztig, Martin
Westmacott, Veronica Schild, Bill Cross, LL.B, Barbara Bedont, LL.B as well as
Academic Counsellors Gail Wright, Brenda Innes, Mary Wiltshire, Linda Austin and
Counselling Assistant Marg Dodson.This hand-out may be photocopied without the
author’s permission. Simpson©2005
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