Spencer Brown

Author: Spencer Brown

Hello! My name is Spencer, I'm a cartoonist, writer, and general creative type majoring in Government and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

How to Work for the Department of Defense

When most people think about jobs at the Department of Defense (DOD), they think that it involves very hands-on work for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard.  While that is true in some cases, the DOD is much more than that, and the jobs are too! The Department of Defense is a very big tent when it comes to employment.  The DOD mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security.

If you work for the Department of Defense, you are somewhat limited to where you will work and live.  While DOD employees are stationed across the country, the vast majority work at Pentagon in Washington DC.  In fact, the Pentagon is the world’s largest office building, consuming 6.6 million square feet of floor space, with more than 25,000 employees working there on a given day.

Many positions with the DOD are very technical, like providing emergency services to areas in the US that need it most. They also hire maintenance workers, information security specialists, technicians, engineers and public affairs specialists (see the #CJW community resource section.  Given the size of the DOD, it is its own community, so every job you would find in civilian life can also be found in the DOD.  If there’s a field you’re interested in, the DOD is, more than likely, hiring for that position.

So, let’s say that you’re hooked, and there’s nothing that you would want more on this Earth than to work for the Department of Defense or any of its subsidiaries. There are a few websites that might have what you’re looking for, such as usajobs.gov (and if there’s a government job in general that you’re looking for, the first place to look might be usajobs.gov). Handshake has often has positions for the US Army and the NSA, but not directly the DOD. 

The Department of Defense and its subsidiaries provide good, government jobs for people who want to settle down in one of a few select parts of the country and get good benefits while doing serious, important, work. If this at all interests you, keep your eyes on usajobs.gov and see if there’s an opening for your skillset!

WORKS CITED:

https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-US-Department-of-Defense-EI_IE14798.11,35.htm

https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?k=defense

https://lawrence.joinhandshake.com/stu/postings?page=1&per_page=25&sort_direction=desc&sort_column=default&query=nsa

https://www.indeed.com/cmp/United-States-Department-of-Defense/reviews

Spencer R. Brown is a sophomore experiencing their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a media and marketing assistant in the Career Center, and curates articles for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

Librarians

When you think of Librarians, an image of an old woman who barks orders at children and hates fun might come to mind. Actually, it is quite the opposite, as librarians can be anyone of any age with a drive of, as US News puts it, “intellectual exploration”. If you have a lifelong love of learning and want to make a living off of that, the position of librarian is definitely up your alley.

It is important to know that becoming a librarian is not easy.  In addition to an undergraduate degree, librarians are required to get an MLS (or Master in Library Sciences) from an American Library Association-accredited program.  Most MLS programs are two years in length. 

On the job, librarians do much more than just stock bookshelves and order books. Librarians connect people to information and technology, they are knowledgeable in website creation, social media management, and they digitally archive works such as art and literature. As mentioned earlier, being a librarian also involves a lifelong love of learning, and there is a lot of learning on the job involved.  Librarians should also enjoy working with people, as in the end, being a librarian is a service job.

Being a librarian also comes with a lot of flexibility and freedom, where you can choose what projects you want to start. Laura Robinson, the librarian at Clark University, told US News that “As a librarian for over 20 years my day-to-day work changes on a regular basis,” and the job refuses to get old.

There are many places to work as a librarian. There are libraries everywhere, from public and academic institutions, to hospitals, businesses, and museums. There are also many different requirements to work as a librarian.  In Idaho, Librarians don’t need state certification, while in Connecticut, you need an MLS to work in any city with more than five-thousand people, and in communities with less than five-thousand people, as long as you have some “demonstrable training in library science”, you are able to become a librarian. EveryLibraryInstitute.org has a great article featuring states with different stipulations to become and stay a librarian.

Being a librarian is a position with plenty of rules to follow, but once you follow them, you can turn the role entirely into your own. It’s a job that twists and turns so often, it’s hard to be bored and to lose interest, and you yourself control those twists and turns. If you have interest in becoming a librarian, the best way to get involved is to work right here at the Lawrence library, either as a shelver or at the circulation desk. That way, you can network and get some good library experience that might be useful towards your certification!

https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/libcareers/become

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-a-librarian

https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/requirements_to_become_a_librarian_by_state

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/what-library-science-is-and-how-to-become-a-librarian

Spencer R. Brown is a sophomore experiencing their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a Marketing and Media Assistant in the Career Center and creates content for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

Legal Assistants and Paralegals

When people talk about the most popular and important jobs in the legal world, many might say lawyers and lawmakers. However, legal assistants and paralegals are necessary for lawyers and lawmakers to do their jobs.  While the terms paralegals and legal assistants are often lumped together, the two roles can have very different qualifications and tasks to complete. If you are interested in a legal profession that does not require a law degree, and keeps you out of the spotlight while still doing important, steady, well-paid work, then a paralegal or legal assistant job might be for you!

 Paralegals are specifically qualified, with most having an associate’s degree or certification in paralegal studies.  Some law firms will hire paralegals with a bachelor’s degree in a humanities program and then train you to get a paralegal certification while on the job. Paralegals are hyper-focused on getting everything ready for trials: drafting legal documents, researching laws, interviewing clients and generally helping lawyers prepare.

Legal assistants are less specialized, and usually carry the blunt of the administrative work around the firm; they help schedule and keep track of appointments and meetings, and manage the financial work such as billing of clients. However, their work may also encompasses plenty of tasks accomplished by paralegals, such as conducting legal research and creating and proofreading documents. Legal assistants usually only need a high school diploma to be hired, however there are legal assistant certifications that improve one’s chances of being hired.

The job market for legal assistants and paralegals has gotten increasingly competitive, and if you are at Lawrence, you might already be qualified for at least one of these positions! To be a paralegal or legal assistant, you should be organized, with great writing and communication skills alongside a great deal of tech savviness. It is also important to note that paralegals and legal assistants can be anywhere: in government, in law firms, and in businesses.  Therefore, if that interests you, being a paralegal or legal assistant might just be the job for you!

WORKS CITED:

https://www.indeed.com/hire/job-description/paralegal?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9fitmIHP_QIVkAytBh1V-Q8CEAAYAyAAEgKuF_D_BwE&aceid=&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm

https://onlinemasteroflegalstudies.com/career-guides/become-a-paralegal/paralegal-vs-legal-assistant/

Spencer R. Brown is a sophomore experiencing their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a Marketing and Media Assistant in the Career Center and creates content for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

Meeting and Event Coordinators

Whenever you think of event planning or coordinating, the first thing that pops into your mind might be “aren’t those the people that make weddings happen?” While you are technically right, there are other types of event coordinators whose scope of work exceeds a wedding.  One of these is a Corporate Meeting and Event Coordinator.  This position is vital to making sure office and organization events go smoothly.  The other role is that of a Personal Event Coordinator.   Personal Event Coordinators organize personal events like family reunions, retreats, and, celebrations like, yes- weddings. Opportunities for both of these careers are growing incredibly rapidly, in fact, faster than most occupations, so it is very enticing for recent graduates, especially as a starting position.  The pay is on the low end when starting, but the most successful event planners can make seven-figure salaries.

Corporate Meeting and Event Coordinators, self-explanatorily, arrange times for live and virtual meetings, for organizations and clients.  They check technology and registration and make sure everything is accounted for. Some event coordinating can be grander, such as organizing company outings and celebrations, which calls for more moving components like budgeting for meals and/or desserts, decorations, and perhaps a venue.

Personal Event Coordinators may have broader range of responsibility. They can help organizations with events if the organization does not have a designated event coordinator in-house, but they also work with individuals who feel they need help with a birthday party or that wedding. Planning meals/desserts, finding decorations, and a reserving a venue are tasks that are usually part of the job.  Other tasks could include sending proper invitations and organizing transportation and accommodations. Here, the event coordinator may also be in charge of coordinating what to do in a day, depending on the clients’ wishes.

To become a meeting and event coordinator, most employers would prefer a candidate to have a bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field. Certifications for event coordinating can also be helpful.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/event-planner

https://www.salary.com/research/jobs/meeting-event-planner-jobs/wi

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/event-coordinator-vs-event-planner

Spencer R. Brown is a sophomore experiencing their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as the Marketing and Media Assistant in the Career Center and creates content for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!