The focus on the career within the field of international affairs is the important choice for every person because this choice means the concentration on the service-oriented path, which is associated with significant benefits and gains. While deciding about getting a graduate degree in the field of international affairs, a student should answer a variety of questions about the personal readiness to serve the public and to respond to such international social issues as poverty, terrorism, and human rights, among many others. Thus, the benefits of getting the degree in international affairs are in receiving the opportunity to contribute to resolving the global social problems and to serve the public within the wide field of social issues without references to the state boundaries; and the challenges are connected with possible difficulties in choosing the concrete sphere in the field of international relations in order to develop the career and realize the personal potential appropriately.
The main benefits of the career within the field of international relations are based on the possibilities to respond personally to the improvement of the people’s quality of life around the world and to address the world challenges directly. The representatives of the US schools of public and international affairs state that much attention should be paid to the person’s inclinations and passion for the work because the job in this sphere should be extremely important for a person who chooses to serve the public (Information Session, November 14, 2013). Thus, Brinkerhoff and Brinkerhoff state that “service-oriented careers are more about a mindset than about career paths… Specifically, the service-choice spiral encompasses self-awareness, serving in community, skills, and knowledge, and job choices” (Brinkerhoff and Brinkerhoff 2007: 8). This service, which is associated with concrete results in changing the world for the better, can also be discussed as one of the career benefits.
From this point, there are some challenges faced by students who choose a career in the field of international affairs, which are in the necessity to see clearly what a person can propose to the world community in order to contribute to resolving the global issues. The career in the field is oriented not only to the career progress itself but also to the social progress. That is why it is important to refer to the idea of self-awareness, development of the necessary skills and abilities to serve the public while choosing the field of interest to act. Different schools propose a wide range of possibilities for students to receive the degree and to start working in the sphere of international public service, presenting the non-profit organizations, legal agencies, and transnational corporations (Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, 2013; Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 2013; SAIS, 2013; SIPA, 2013; Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, 2013). Thus, the important topics to consider while deciding to receive the degree include the focus on the economic sphere or social sphere, terrorism or global poverty, the support of human rights, or the promotion of sustainable development.
Nevertheless, although the career in the international affairs field is associated with the idea of vocation and can be rather challenging for persons, this career provides a lot of opportunities for students to realize their potential and to serve the public in the most appropriate manner. Students should refer to their motivation and passion while focusing on a career in international relations and public services.
Works Cited
Brinkerhoff, Derick, and Jennifer Brinkerhoff. Making a Career of Working for Change. 2007. PDF file. Web.
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. 2013. Web.
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. 2013. Web.
“Information Session on Graduate Programs in International Affairs with Representatives from Columbia, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, and Tufts Universities”. UC Irvine School of Social Sciences. Irvine, California. 14 Nov. 2013. Guest Lecture.
SAIS: Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. 2013. Web.
SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs. 2013. Web.
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. 2013. Web.