Careers
Students graduating in Political Science and Public Policy and Administration from Western Oregon University work in a wide range of fields for many different organizations. Many work in federal, state and local government, including areas such as the Social Security Administration, Oregon State Legislature, Oregon Department of Social Services, and many local governments.
Our graduates also work in various non-profits such as the Salem 55+ Senior Center. You can also find our graduates in the private sector, working in the health insurance industry. Many go into politics, including campaign work and lobbying. Some graduates work in international affairs, such as for Peace Corps, US AID, NATO, and national security.
Graduates in political science often continue, or enlist, in the U.S. military. They can be found in every branch of service.
Below are links to some helpful websites to assist you in your job search.
American Political Science Association Careers
The American Political Science Association is one of the top organizations that employs and helps employ political science and public policy students. This portion of their website offers many resources to those looking for employment in the political science field. It includes examples of career sectors for political science, tools for entering the job market with a bachelor’s degree, and official APSA career publications.
City of Salem
This website holds the jobs listings for positions working for the city of Salem, Oregon. The site breaks jobs up into three categories: Regular Career Jobs, Seasonal/Temporary Jobs, and Internal Jobs. In addition, the site holds a lot of information on the specifics of city jobs, including contracts and policies, benefits, and compensation plans.
League of Oregon Cities
The League of Oregon Cities is an intergovernmental organization that offers many resources to those working in government jobs or looking to get into government jobs in the near future. The site has a jobs page with positions listed from all city and county governments across the state, as well as a few jobs from surrounding states. In addition, they have a variety of informational sources and training for anyone looking to get involved in city government.
Mac’s List
Mac’s List is a website where employers can list jobs and internships for the Portland metro area, as well as major cities in Oregon and southwestern Washington. Mac’s List offers an emailing list to those seeking employment that sends you job listing updates when they are posted. In addition, the company has a blog and podcast that gives job-seekers employment advice to help you get the job you want in the most efficient way.
Oregon State Jobs
This website hosts jobs listings for Oregon State government positions of all kinds. In addition, you can find information on how to apply for these jobs and the benefits of government jobs. This website also offers resources to those looking for these jobs, including information on the application process, job classifications and pay rates, and frequently asked questions.
Wolflink
Wolflink is Western Oregon University’s own job source program that compiles job listings for various positions across the state. They include volunteer, internship and work study opportunities as well, allowing you to search for the position that best suits your needs. Wolflink also allows you to login with your student credentials and save resumes, cover letters, letters of recommendations, and transcripts in your account, making them easily accessible from any computer or phone.
WorkSource Oregon
WorkSource Oregon is the state’s primary resource for those looking for any job in Oregon. The website hosts specific job listings for positions all over the state. In addition, WorkSource has many online resources to help prepare you for getting a job. These include materials to help with increasing your specific skills, as well as links to many education and training companies or websites to help prepare you for work in a certain field.
WOU Service Learning and Career Center
The Service Learning and Career Center at Western Oregon University is your #1 resource for anything you need in your job search. Whether you are narrowing your possible fields of interest or simply looking to improve your resume, the Career Center is prepared to guide you to success. They host many workshops on WOU’s campus to help prepare you for entering the job market, as well as connecting you to career possibilities with local job fairs and recruiting events.
USA Jobs
This is the official website for all federal government jobs. This site has a lot to offer those looking for a job after graduation. Of special interest, this website has a section for Students and Recent Graduates. They list federal job applications by college major, making it easy for you to search for jobs that fit your specialty. In addition, they have separate sections listing internship opportunities and professional positions for recent graduates.