IPSSFOCUS

October 30, 2008

Photo of Capitol
Hill at night

INSIDE FOCUS
“Top Five Reasons to do IPSS”
“Top 5 Reasons by Hala Sun
to do IPSS”
(pp. 1-2) Are you still confused or networking, you must have a resume when you go to a
undecided whether or not you special skill and personality. conference or an event. If you
“10 Tips on How should do International However, the IPSS program also have an abstract summary
to Select an Professional Services Semester will give you an opportunity to of a paper that you wrote, carry
Organization” (IPSS)? Are you still wondering go to various conferences that it with you to the conference.
(pp. 2-3) if the IPSS program is worth it? you could never go to on your
Professor Jean du Preez, own and have access to different 2. Job securing investment
“America’s Next previously the Director of the NGOs, United Nations, media, “I’ve learned more during
Top Resume” IPSS program, and now and other important people that the IPSS semester than any
(p. 3) Director of the International you have always wanted to meet. other three semesters!” This is
Organizations and Three important tips to what you will hear from IPSS
“Featured Nonproliferation Program at the remember in networking: when alumni if you ask them about
Professional Center for Nonproliferation asking for someone’s business their experiences doing IPSS.
Service Studies (CNS), presents the top card, it is polite to give him/her IPSS is an intellectual
Opportunities” five reasons why IPSS is a your business card in exchange. “investment” for your future--
(p. 4) “priceless” experience. Second, the secret to networking you cannot put a monetary
is to follow up. Send a thank you value on all the opportunities
1. Networking card or an email as soon as you you will have and all the
This is one of the most can so that the person will experiences that you will get.
important aspects of IPSS. It is remember you. Third, always Furthermore, after the IPSS
true that to be good in carry a hard copy of your program, you may have the

1
IPSSFOCUS October 30, 2008
“Top Five Reasons to do IPSS” continued from page 1

opportunity to stay at the job or your Before you go out in the organization but you are also impacting
supervisor may help you to connect workplace, the IPSS program provides the world. Many organizations want
you with extra preparation--a three week Monterey Institute students and prefer
with the organization with which you
hope to work. IPSS will open new intensive workshop, in which you will them over other Ivy league school
doors for your future career. learn skills such as conflict resolution, students because Monterey Institute
program evaluation, and students are known to be well-prepared
3. Hands-on application communication skills, that will help you and hard working.
to be more effective at the organization
The Monterey Institute prepares
students to be practical in the field. where you will be working. 5. Opportunity to reflect and plan
“IPSS students are more than just on your goals
interns,” says Professor du Preez. IPSS 4. “In-kind” contribution IPSS is a enlightening experience.
students who took the Arms Control Yes, your internship may be Because you will be put right into the
unpaid, which means, you will be field, after the program, you will be
Simulation class at the Monterey
Institute tell Professor du Preez, “this is working for free. However, your able to reflect and better understand
what we exactly did in class!” When experience working at the organization whether this is the path that you want
you are in the IPSS program, you apply will be valuable, you will make new to take for the rest of your life. It is also
what you have learned and simulated in connections and have access to many life-changing because you make new
different things, and most importantly, friends and relationships which can last
class. The best part is that you are
actually contributing to the you will make a contribution to the a lifetime.
organization and chipping a way at the organization that you chose. You will
world’s problems. be contributing not only to the

“10 Tips on How to Select an Organization”

by staff

1. Take advantage of your
specialization
" Select an organization and work
within that organization so that you
fulfill the goals of your approved
specialization (e.g. nonproliferation,
international development, human
rights, conflict resolution, etc.) Some
assignments will be multidimensional
or more general. That’s fine. You may
not have decided to be a specialist on a
particular issue.
2. Pick an international,
transnational, or regional
organization
! The focus of the work of the
organization must be international or
transnational. Regional organizations
qualify. If it is an NGO or a
governmental organization, it must
have a cross-national or cross-cultural
dimension. Since IPSS is about
gaining practical professional
experience in managing and
addressing transnational social
problems, positions or organizations
focusing on mainly research are not
the type we have in mind for IPSS.
2
This is not to say that a position as an of these organizations. Between IPSS
analyst is out. To the contrary, we and the GSIPS career office we
advertise to organizations that in fact maintain contact with more than 100
you have excellent research and organizations. Check the IPSS website
analytical skills. What we want to avoid for a list of organizations where IPSS
is assigning you to think tanks, fellows have served.
university centers, etc. Other private or
national organizations that meet the 5. Connect through faculty
criteria above may qualify. Talk to Many faculty members have
IPSS staff regarding atypical contacts in international organizations-
organizations. IGOs and NGOs. Consult with them.
3. Do you have prior internship 6. Stick with a region or country
experience? or language
You may have served in a field You may also wish to go to a specific
branch of a larger international region or country. The IPSS team and
governmental organization (IGO) individual faculty members can assist
during your summer internship. You you in identifying organizations within
will obviously have a better chance of this dimension. !
adapting to a larger organization if this Remember that the “language of
is the case. work” in that organization/country
may have a direct impact on your
4. Utilize the IPSS and GSIPS acceptance. Local NGOs and local/
network national branches of IGOs may
Consider applying to an require specific languages of work. Also
organization where GSIPS students remember that the lingua franca at most
have previously served, either IPSS or a of the larger UN agencies is English.
summer internship. This will optimize
your chance of getting assigned at one
 “10 Tips on How to Select an Organization”
IPSSFOCUS October 30, 2008
7. Think about your career beyond the Monterey
Institute
Consider your professional networking needs in selecting
an organization. What are you seeking in the way of
resources, contacts, opportunities for language study, etc.
over and above the professional development component?
8. Saving costs
Consider the feasibility of funding your personal
expenses in a given location--perhaps there are organizations
of relevance in a city/location where you have family
members or friends who could offer modest
accommodations, etc. Perhaps an organization of relevance
exists in a city/location where the cost of living is more
manageable than a major metropolitan area. Field
assignments almost always cost less than headquarters
assignments. Remember that there are paid internships out
there and that you should look for them if you have
considerable financial need.
resume
by Hala Sun
Jeff Wood’s Five Tips:
• Write your resume for the employer--
and not for yourself !
! Create an effective resume by meeting the needs of the
employer. Look at the job description and qualification and
orient your resume accordingly.
• Put the “good stuff ” upfront
" Be straightforward and showcase your experiences that
are directly or closely related to the job description. Do not
put your experiences in a chronological order. Before listing
your experiences, however, you must first analyze your
background. Ask yourself, “Which of these experiences will
be most relevant to the employer?” If the job that you are
applying for is, for example, project management, a good
category to put upfront in your resume is “NGO Project
Management Related Experiences.”
• Do not shorten your background!
" Be concise and straightforward but never shorten your
background because you went over the “one- page limit.”
Two pages are fine--one page rule is normally for
undergraduates. However, do not go over two pages unless
you are going into a teaching career.
3
continued from page 2
9. Difficult entry
Consider visa needs--check the embassy websites for
countries you are considering...perhaps there are challenges
for citizens of one country to procure a visa in that country.
REMEMBER: You will likely need a work permit. While in
most cases the receiving organizations may assist in making
arrangements for you, the responsibility to secure the
necessary visa requirement is yours.
10. Plan for the unexpected
Not everyone gets placed in their first choice
organization. Also, a few students receive their final
placement up to one week before departure. Flexibility and
patience is key. Having a plan B, C, and sometimes D will
facilitate placement, if needed, in your second or third
choice organizations.
For more info: contact Jeff Wood
(Jeff.Wood@miis.edu) or check out
first class IPSS folder under Student Info!
• Determine the key words!
" It is important to determine the crucial words and
descriptions that you want to highlight. After determining
these, proper placement of these descriptions is necessary.
Follow the “Vermont/New Hampshire Theory,” placing
the most crucial aspects of your experiences on the
“Vermont” side of your resume. The rule in the
“Vermont/New Hampshire Theory” is that since we read
from left to right, top to bottom, we have to put the most
important things from left top to right bottom.
----------------> Vermont
Most crucial side;
New
Hampshire
• Keep in mind that a resume alone will
not get you a job
! Having a strong resume is important but the resume
alone is not sufficient because you are not able to explain
your background in detail. A good cover letter is what will
get you to have a job interview. In your cover letter, you
must be able to fully convince the employer that you are
qualified.
 Featured professional service opportunities:
IPSSFOCUS October 30, 2008
Consider these opportunities when you apply in Spring 2009
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW)
The Hague, Netherlands
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Organization (CTBTO)
Vienna, Austria
Arab Institute for Security Studies
Amman, Jordan
United Nations Office for Disarmament
Affairs (UNODA)
Conference on Disarmament Secretariat and
Conference Support Branch
Geneva, Switzerland
International Labour Organization
Employment Sector, Crisis Response and
Reconstruction (CRISIS) or Social Protection
Sector, International Migration (MIGRANT)
Geneva, Switzerland
United Nations Conference on Trade &
Development (UNCTAD)
Division on Investment, Technology and
Enterprise Development
Geneva, Switzerland
Center for Strategic and International
Studies-Pacific Forum
Honolulu, Hawaii
UN in the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions
Committee
Security Council Sanctions Organs Branch
New York, New York
United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR)
Refugee Children, Community Development,
Gender Equality and Children Section
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva Call (Security and Landmine Issues)
Asia Department
Geneva, Switzerland
Global Green USA Legacy Program
International Security, Arms Control &
Environmental Research
Washington, D.C.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
Palestine
DPMI Plus Opportunities
Freedom from Hunger
Ghana, Peru, India, and Mali
SEVA Foundation
Community Self-Development Program in
Mexico & Guatemala
Viva Rio (Peace & Social Development)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CARE International
La Paz, Bolivia
Integral Health Coordination Program
(PROCURSI) Child Survival
La Paz, Bolivia
Fundacion Metis (Social Transformation)
Quito, Ecuador
Foundation EcoCiencia/ Ecuadorian
Foundation for Ecological Studies
Quito Ecuador
Business and Professional Women-Amman
Amman, Jordan
Alliance of Students Against Poverty (Founded
by Finca's John Hatch)
Washington, D.C.
Partners of the Americas
Washington, D.C. and Latin America
Join IPSS on Facebook!
IPSS has created an exclusive Facebook page for IPSS
alumni and prospective participants. If you are an IPSS
alumnus and have not received an invitation to join this group,
please email us at ipssinfo@miis.edu and we will send you an
invite.
For more information:
Contact IPSS program assistants, Hala Sun and Kyle
Abbattista, at ipssinfo@miis.edu.
For a list of all IPSS organizations: (with
hyperlinks)
Visit http://policy.miis.edu/careers/ipss_org.html