Career Plans 2006

John F. Kennedy School of Government 

Harvard University

Class of 2006

The following report on the Class of 2006 is based on data collected from June through September 2006. A variety of data collection techniques were employed, including an exit survey taken by Career Services in June and an e-mail outreach effort over the summer and into September. Interviews with program directors were also conducted to gain data based on personal knowledge of individual members of the class. The overall response rate was 82%.

Observations and Trends: Overall

The majority of Kennedy School students graduating in 2006 (60%) continued to choose positions in the public or nonprofit sector and, as in years past, showed a significant preference for federal/ national government work. Of particular note during this past year:

" Interest in federal government work held reasonably steady (28.4%) after an expected drop-off from the post 9/11 surge — this despite the fact that the assumed best route into U.S. federal government, the Presidential Management Fellows Program, continued to be a challenging and frequently disappointing process for all.

" Nonprofit/NGO employment reached a 7-year low (17.5%), trending down across all degree programs but most pronounced among MPA graduates (16.5% — a 12-year low) and MPA2’s, where theincrease in joint degree candidates was likely a factor.

" The proportion of private sector placements reached a 10-year high (39.5%) but with a distinctly public orientation to most positions. Non-consulting jobs increased significantly in areas as diverse as corporate social responsibility work and public finance.

" Internationally, a growing portion of new Kennedy School graduates landed in Asia, reflecting both the make-up of the grad-uating class as well as attractive opportunities in that region.

" Outside the U.S. federal government and other national governments, top employers in 2006 included: The World Bank, United Nations, New York City government, Boston city government, Booz Allen Hamilton, Citigroup and McKinsey & Co.

" Reflecting the unusually diverse nature of Kennedy School student interests, it was particularly noteworthy that, excluding federal and national governments, over 250 employers were recorded for the Class of 2006; only 10% employed more than one Kennedy School graduate.