To learn more about policy analysts, visit your local library to find books and periodicals on subjects such as policy analysis, public policy, and think tanks.

One of the resources available at most libraries is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which includes detailed information about occupations—including those mentioned in this article: political scientists, urban and regional planners, economists, psychologists, other social scientists, lawyers, and life and physical scientists. The Handbook is also available online at
www.bls.gov/oco.

Many policy analyst jobs with the Federal Government are posted online. You can apply for these openings through the USAJOBS Web site, www.usajobs.gov. Some student internships are posted on a companion site,
www.studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.asp.

You can also apply for jobs and internships by contacting individual agencies or the

U.S. Office of Personnel Management
1900 E St. NW.
Washington, DC 20415
(202) 606-1800.

Possible job titles include policy analyst, program analyst, program specialist, social scientist, policy coordinator, and management and policy analyst.

The Occupational Outlook Quarterly has related articles that you might find helpful. For tips on finding and applying for Government jobs and internships, see "How to get a job in the Federal Government" in the summer 2004 issue; the article is available online at www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2004/summer/art01.pdf. And for more information about jobs in political and advocacy groups, see "Groupmakers and grantmakers: Jobs in advocacy, grantmaking, and civic organizations" in the fall 2005 issue; the article is available online at www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2005/fall/art04.htm.

You can also find policy-related internships through your school’s career services department and at the Web sites of policy organizations. For an online list of, and links to, policy organizations, see www.c-span.org/resources/policy.asp.

To learn more about careers in policy analysis, including where to look for internships, contact:

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
1029 Vermont Ave. NW., Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 496-0130
www.appam.org