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Internships and EmploymentOverview OverviewThe Program in National Security Studies was initiated under a grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). FIU was one of the first four universities awarded this prestigious opportunity under the Intelligence Community – Centers of Academic Excellence (IC-CAE) program. The objective of this effort is to make students aware of the purpose of and the career opportunities within the Intelligence Community. In addition to certificate programs, guest speakers and other events geared toward this effort, the PINSS program encourages students to seek internship opportunities within the IC to enhance the students experience in pursuit of a career within this important field. IC member agencies seek a diverse workforce – diverse in terms of ethnicity, academic disciplines, language abilities and life experiences. Completion of an internship program provides real work experience and enhances the student’s career potential. Internships in the IC also require security background checks and having successfully completed this process also enhances the student’s resume. USSOUTHCOM InternshipsIn partnership with the Latin America and Caribbean Center, we have established a local, unpaid internship program with the United States Southern Command headquarters, which is located in Miami-Dade County. The Southern Command, known as USSOUTHCOM, is the administrative command over the US military operations responsible for South America, Central America and the Caribbean. This program is now available to a limited number of students (especially graduate students but also some upper division undergrads). Individuals from many disciplines will be welcomed at SOUTHCOM – including Political Science, History, Sociology, International Relations, Business, Computer Science, Public Administration, Public Relations, Law and Criminal Justice. Interested students should contact Outreach Coordinator Hector Cadavid or Associate Director David Twigg, at ippcs@fiu.edu, to express interest. Applicants to the internship program will be required to submit two letters of recommendation from faculty members and attend an interview at the Gordon Institute (LC 220 University Park Campus). In order to be referred to USSOUTHCOM an applicant must:
Additionally, an applicant must pass a background security check – which is expected to take at least a month - prior to final approval to work in the USSOUTHCOM headquarters facility. Students may have the opportunity to travel on short trips out of the US for internship related work assignments (i.e. for conferences, meetings, etc.). If accepted for an internship by USSOUTHCOM, academic Internship/Independent Study credits can be arranged, with some additional internship-related academic assignments. This should be discussed with the PINSS Director or Associate Director during the application process. Internship or Independent Study credit may also be available from a student’s major or minor department. Students should check with advisors early in the application process. Other InternshipsMany other internship possibilities also exist. Some of these are paid, many are unpaid. Most are in headquarters operations of IC agencies in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., but some are in other locations, including overseas. The typical application process begins with an on-line application through an IC agency website. Many internships are geared to the academic year and the student works during the summer but some opportunities also exist during the fall and spring semesters. Because of the lengthy background check process, students must carefully adhere to agency deadlines. For example, summer internships typically require applications to be submitted by mid October or November 1st. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) offers one of the better financial packages with its internships. FIU is a member institution of HACU (students need not be Hispanic to apply). Information can be found at www.hnip.net/opportunities. Some other sites for internship information are listed below:
National Security Studies Certificate students should explore these various opportunities and apply to any of interest. It is strongly recommended that PINSS students advise the Gordon Institute staff of any applications filed so that we may bring these applications to the attention of the IC. Employment OpportunitiesStudents should begin applying for full-time, permanent jobs within the Intelligence Community six to ten months before their expected graduation due to the lengthy interview and security background check process. Web sites listed under “Other Internships” contain some information about careers and job opportunities. The predominant job site for the IC, as part of the federal government, is found at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/. The standard application process begins with the submission of an on-line application. National Security Studies Certificate students should explore these various opportunities and apply to any of interest. However, it is strongly recommended that PINSS students advise the Gordon Institute staff of any applications filed so that we may work to bring these applications to the attention of the IC. We will also bring information about job opportunities to PINSS students as it becomes available. We will work with PINSS students to develop their resumes, which should be kept updated for the job search process. Click here for a suggested resume template.
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