WashU alum Dr. Andrew Selee, formerly of the Wilson Center and now the President of Migration Policy Institute explains think tanks:
Think tanks are similar to universities. Scholars are divided by subject area or region of the world. They produce policy-oriented research intended to inform policymakers. They write books and articles, sit on panels where they discuss their ideas alongside other scholars, testify before Congress and brief decision-makers on their research. Their work is supported by a team of individuals known as program or research assistants. These individuals help with research tasks, event planning, writing, editing, marketing, scheduling, budgets, and day-to-day logistics. This is where interns and entry-level positions are hired on the research side of the organization. Just like a university, think tanks also need human resources, accounting, marketing, development and staff support, too. This is a great area to target if you’re broadly interested in understanding the policy landscape.
Think tanks can be difficult to break into, especially on the research side. Most think tanks require research experience before the internship. You can be competing against graduate students for internship or entry-level positions. Does this mean you shouldn’t apply? No, but you need to really self assess before you write that cover letter (see the GPP Podcast episode on Cover Letters for tips on how to do this).
It is important to appreciate that scholars are not there to teach you. YOU are there to support their research agenda. A good applicant demonstrates that you know this agenda and have demonstrated experience relevant to it. You can show that in coursework, research papers, articles you’ve written for WUPR or a blog, etc.
The more tailored and specific you can be to a research scholar in your application, the better. For example, if you’re applying to the Foreign and Defense Policy – Middle East and Policy Economy internship at the American Enterprise Institute, you’ll want to dive in to the work of Dr. Karen Young. You’ll want to read her publications, see where/by whom she’s being cited and view some of the panel discussions to which she’s contributed. You may also want to follow her on social media – where like-minded scholars, experts and journalists often convene to share their views – and re-share each other’s.
If you feel you don’t yet have the skills or experience necessary to apply, consider engaging in undergraduate research. Talk with your major advisor about opportunities in your department and look at the resources at the Office of Undergraduate Research. Also, write, write, and write some more! Writing is a key skill in policy and advocacy.
Also, think about applying to internships and jobs in the think tank that are NOT research-based! Working in communications, events or human resources at a think tank can get you exposure to ALL the researchers and topics the institution is covering. It’s also less competitive.
Our friends at CSIS shared this piece with us by their Senior Vice President, Jon. B. Alterman: Advice for Job Seekers in Middle East Policy. While it claims to be for Middle East Policy, it’s widely applicable to all think tank applicants!
There are a plethora of think tanks not named Brookings! So while we won’t discourage you from applying there, we will encourage you to expand your aperture. There are hundreds if not thousands of them, so dig in to the following resources to find some more.
- Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government Think Tank list
- The Global Go To Think Tank Index Report (this used to be the best list, but it hasn’t been updated in a few years)
WashU students have historically had success finding jobs and internships at The Atlantic Council, American Enterprise Institute, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mathematica, The Urban Institute and the Center for American Progress.
There are a number of think tanks that are funded by the government. These are called Federally Funded Research and Development Corporations. This means they don’t have to seek funding from individuals, corporations and foundations. Some of their work can be classified. Here is the list of FFRDCs. For you, the ones to consider first are:
- RAND Corporation
- MITRE
- Center for Naval Analyses
- Institute for Defense Analysis
Not-for-profit think tanks may have more of a political leaning. It’s important to understand this prior to applying! For example, The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute are considered more conservative, Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress are left-leaning. The Center for Strategic and International Studies and Center for New American Security are considered more middle-of-the-road. The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft is attempting to disrupt the establishment and advocates for less overseas intervention (so it defies categorization). While scholars in these institutions may have their own leanings which may or may not match the institution, it’s important to understand the reputation of each think tank because that connotation will follow you if it’s on your resume. That said, it’s also important to appreciate that partisanship is often more pronounced on the outside than it is on the inside! So don’t let an organization’s reputation deter you. Read their products, talk to people and do your own homework to see how your values align with an organization. We’ve had a number of students intern at organizations that challenged them to think more critically about their own assumptions.
Check out conversations with WashU alums to hear more about: