The world of careers students can choose with a criminal justice degree outside of academia is growing. Currently, however, there is a gap in knowledge, resources and services faculty mentors and their departments can provide to students who are interestedin learning more about these alternative career spaces. As a result, many students must find ways to facilitate their own connections, piece together information about available jobs from the litany of sometimes confusing and overwhelming online portals, and learn to navigate a completely different hiring and negotiation process –one with which their faculty advisor may not have much experience. Students must do this while also navigating the pressures and stigma of making the decision to leave a university setting.
The DCS AltAc Careers Workshop Series is dedicated to providing instructional information to students, curating resources, materials and support for students actively navigating these career spaces, and building connections with practitioners with strong research backgrounds.
The AltAc Industry Rundown guide provides students an overview of six key industry spaces:
(1) government;
(2) non-profit research, training, and technical assistance,
(3) for-profit research & consulting;
(4) non-profit advocacy;
(5) technology, and;
(6) corporate America.
Each industry run down includes more specific information about the industry itself. This includes pace of work; typical role and position titles; expected autonomy of ideas; if employees serve as subject matter experts, generalists or methodologists; anticipated salary and benefits; typical work audiences, and; example industry companies.
Let’s #RockAltAc, together!