JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION GRADUATES

If looking for a degree in public administration, what to do after graduation can be

as daunting a task as getting an education. Because there is no one path to a
career in public administration as there is with doctors or lawyers, what to do with
your degree can be confusing.
With a degree in public administration and social policy you can end up influencing
the major decisions that affect society. Public administration students learn how to
set public policy, communicate effectively, create budgets and understand financial
reports. Organizing people and assets, mediating conflicts and designing programs
are also covered in bachelor's and master's degree programs. Health care
administrators, urban planners and city managers are all examples of public
administration positions. Other possible careers include non-profit management,
court administration and community organization.
Careers in public administration are varied and demand a wide set of skills. Because
of the importance of these jobs in the public sphere, postsecondary degrees and
related experience are greatly valued by employers.
To help clarify, we have gathered 25 exciting career paths in public administration.
They can help you make the most of your education and your work days with
choices on everything from an after school job to what can happen when public
administration goes right.
1. Civil Service
The role of Civil Service administrator is quite broad and can cover a range of
tasks and responsibilities.
The Civil Service is made up of a large number of different departments,
which implement government policies and deliver services to the public.
Administrators contribute to the delivery of these services through duties
such as:
research;
compiling reports;
frontline work with the public;
working on policy documents.
Administration roles are available at various grades including:

administrative assistant (AA);

administrative officer (AO);
executive officer (EO);
higher executive officer (HEO).

The Civil Service is a significant employer, comprising departments, agencies

and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).
2. Charity Officer
A charity officer works for, or is a trustee of, a charitable organization. The
job title can refer to personnel in several roles within a charity. Roles vary
considerably depending on the size, aim and type of organization.

Charity officers may also be called charity administrators, community liaison

officers or project development officers.
Types of charity officer
In larger organizations, charity officers may focus on a specific area, such as:

project management;
business development;
finance;
marketing;
public relations;
fundraising;
volunteer management.

In smaller charities, the charity officer may undertake multiple tasks.

Common activities range from applying for grants or managing volunteers to
providing advice and information.
3. Government social research officer
Government social research officers provide research input for the analysis
required to develop, implement, review and evaluate new and existing
government policies. This research evidence helps inform the policy decisions
of ministers.
The role involves responsibility for the research and analysis of policy, as well
as commissioning and managing research. It is a challenging, fast-moving
and diverse role that has a direct impact on many government activities,
often at a high-profile level.
Research officers are also employed in local government, working for local
authorities.
4. Health service manager
A health service manager is responsible for the strategic, financial and dayto-day running of hospital, general practitioner (GP) or community health
services.
Managers liaise with clinical and non-clinical staff and other partner
organisations, while considering the demands of political policy and local
circumstances.
There is a huge range of managerial roles within health services, including
those in:

finance;
human resources (HR);
clinical management;
staff management;
project management and procurement;
information management;
facilities management;
operational management.

Most jobs are in National Health Service (NHS) settings, with opportunities
also increasing in the private healthcare sector.

5. Housing manager/officer
A housing manager/officer manages housing and related services on behalf
of housing associations, local authorities, charities and private sector
organizations.
The role involves managing a designated patch of housing and keeping in
regular contact with tenants, looking after rental income and dealing with
repairs and neighbor nuisance issues.
Housing managers/officers may work with specific clients, such as homeless
people, minority groups or people with disabilities. They work within a strict
but changing regulatory framework and are usually based in a central office
or local neighborhood housing office.
The manager role may involve line management responsibility for a team of
housing officers, rent arrears staff and tenancy support officers and
participation in more strategic projects.
6. Local government officer
Local government officers are responsible for the development and execution
of council policies and procedures, as well as ensuring that local services are
delivered effectively.
Local government offers a broad professional environment with good
prospects for progression and promotion. It covers a range of officer roles,
with many specialist areas including:
education;
finance;
health;
housing;
human resources;
IT;
leisure and recreation;
libraries;
planning;
regeneration;
social work;
tourism;
transport.
This work is likely to involve contact with members of the public, councillors,
administrators and specialists in other departments or other local councils or
authorities. Some posts, particularly more senior roles, also involve
committee work. Some less senior roles will work more exclusively within
specific departments, but can still be responsible for a variety of services.
7. Social researcher
You'll need to be curious about human behaviour, a logical thinker, and have
an awareness of research methods to get a job as a social researcher
Social researchers plan, design, conduct, manage and report on social
research projects. You will use a variety of methods to collect, analyse and
organise information and data, which you then present to others, either in a
written report or as an oral presentation.

A range of methods, such as interviews, survey questionnaires and focus

groups, are used to investigate the attitudes, behaviour and experiences of
population samples on specific issues. Research findings may be used to
shape policy or to examine the effectiveness of existing policy.
Types of research
The research might centre on a range of topics, such as:
the benefits system;
crime;
education;
the environment
gender;
healthcare;
population structure and migration;
poverty;
social services;
transport;
unemployment.
8. Educator in the Academe
This is the profession where you can impart what you have learn to the
succeeding public administration students.

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

1. Education administrator
If you want to play a role in the smooth running of a university, college or
school, then a career in education administration may be for you
Education administrators organise and manage the administration, support
systems and activities that keep an educational institution running smoothly.
They're usually based in higher or further education (HE or FE), but jobs are
also available in schools and private colleges.
You will normally work in areas such as admissions, quality assurance, data
management and examinations or in a specialist department such as finance,
careers, marketing or human resources. All of these can be either centrally
based or within faculties, departments or other smaller units.
Job titles and job descriptions vary widely, and not all will have 'education' or
'administrator' in the title.
2. Human resources officer
If you enjoy helping others and working with a variety of people then take a
look at what it takes to become a human resources officer
As a human resources (HR) officer you will develop, advise on and implement
policies relating to the effective use of staff in an organisation.
In the role your aim is to ensure that the organisation that you work for
employs the right balance of staff in terms of skill and experience, and that
training and development opportunities are available to colleagues to
enhance their performance and achieve the company's business aims.

HR officers are involved in a range of activities whatever the size or type of

business. These cover areas such as:

conditions of employment;
equality and diversity;
negotiation with external work-related agencies;
pay;
recruitment;
working practices.

3. International aid/development worker

In your role as an international aid/development worker, you will focus on
meeting the needs of people and communities in the developing world...
You will seek to work with developing countries to set up long-term,
sustainable solutions to problems. You could also work on development
projects in fields such as education, sanitation, health and agriculture, as well
as in urban, rural and small business development.
Work in this sector is diverse and encompasses:
conflict;
disaster preparedness;
economics;
education;
environment;
forced migration;
gender equality;
governance;
healthcare;
human rights;
infrastructure;
livelihoods;
security.
Types of international aid/development worker
Career areas include:
administration;
research;
fundraising;
training;
consultancy;
advocacy;
relief work;
economist roles;
medicine;
engineering;
planning.
4. Public affairs consultant
Public affairs consultants are often referred to as lobbyists, but their work is
more wide-ranging. They use their understanding of the political system to
offer political and public policy advice to their clients. Clients may include
private sector companies, trade associations, charities, not-for-profit
organisations and overseas governments.

Keeping abreast of political developments, in order to advise clients on a

possible response, is vital to the role. Key information is sought from
personal contacts, a range of media sources and political intelligence and
monitoring.
Public affairs consultants identify key stakeholders in the decision-making
process at European, national, regional and local government levels. They
work to maintain relationships with these individuals and to assist clients to
promote and protect their interests effectively.

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any
degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. There could
be more job opportunities that are lurking, you just need to be wiser and be ready!