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Conferences & Events

#2025APPAM Career and PhD Program Fair

APPAM Career and PhD Program Fair

APPAM is excited to host the third annual Career and PhD Program Fair this fall to connect employers and schools to students and seasoned professionals in the fields of public policy, management, and administration. This event is an opportunity for APPAM student members, recent graduates, and professional job seekers to connect with organizations for informational discussions about careers that typically attract public policy graduates, in addition to current and future openings. The fair is also an opportunity for PhD programs to host an informational table to talk about their program offerings with interested students. The fair will be held in conjunction with our Annual Fall Research Conference at the Hyatt Regency Seattle this year.

November 14, 1:00 - 3:00 PM | Hyatt Regency | Seattle, Washington

Table Information

The APPAM Career & PhD Program Fair is a low-cost way to promote your organization or related PhD program. The 2024 fair had over 500 attendees & 60 participating organizations and universities from around the world. Check out the 2023 and 2024 participants and see below for more information about the 2025 fair.

When: Friday, November 14, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, US Eastern Time
Where: Hyatt Regency Seattle, Washington
Cost:

Exhibitors – Complimentary
APPAM Institutional Members – $150
Non-Members – $250

Are you a government agency or recently impacted organization that needs funding assistance? Contact soliver@appam.org.

Employer Sign-Ups

APPAM is excited to welcome local and national employers to join our third annual Career & PhD Program Fair this November!

Employer Table Package:

One six-foot table with two chairs
Standard conference wireless internet (not suitable for streaming)
Three complimentary APPAM Career Connection job postings
Two complimentary fair staff registrations (event access only)

Why should my organization participate?

In 2024, the conference hosted 3,000 attendees, about 2,100 professionals and 900 students from around the world. Our diverse group of student members are from top undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs studying policy, public management, public affairs, economics, health and education policy, political science, data science, and more. Some of the student members are just starting out & want to learn about potential career & degree paths, while most of our student body is already on the job market and eager to begin their post-graduate careers. Additionally, hundreds of seasoned policy researchers attend the fair for both active job seeking and potential prospects for down the road.

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How do I participate?
Any college, university, institution, or organization that has an interest in hiring policy research professionals is welcome! Participants do not need to be APPAM institutional members, but institutional members receive a table discount. Participating employers are not required to be actively hiring or recruiting for a specific position. This can be used as an informational fair or an active hiring fair, depending on your organization's needs this fall.

Representatives will be expected to speak to APPAM members about possible careers and provide information about working in the field in general and in their organization specifically. This is a great opportunity for brand recognition and to engage with graduate students and experienced job seekers!

Please note that if you choose to have both a Career and a PhD Program table, you must have separate staff for both tables as the tables will not be next to each other.

Table sign-ups will be open from April 30 - September 30

PhD Program Sign-Ups

APPAM is excited to welcome back PhD programs! Space is limited so tables will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. The fair is open to any policy PhD program that is interested in sharing details of their program with conference attendees.

PhD Program Table Package:

One six-foot table with two chairs
Standard conference wireless internet (not suitable for streaming)
Two fair staff registrations (event access only)

How do I participate?
Universities with relevant policy PhDs are welcome to reserve a table at the table. Participants do not need to be APPAM institutional members, but institutional members receive a table discount. Representatives will be expected to speak to APPAM members about possible degrees and provide information about their school's program. This is a great opportunity for brand recognition and to engage with potential PhD students!

Please note that if you choose to have both a Career and a PhD Program table, you must have separate staff for both tables as the tables will not be next to each other.

Table sign-ups will be open from April 30 - September 30

Attendees

The 2025 participating organizations will be added on a rolling basis starting in early summer. In the meantime, check out the 2023 and 2024 participants to get an idea of who may be in Seattle this November.

Entering the job market soon: Meet with potential employers from both Atlanta and all around the country to learn about how to prepare for the job market, what to expect from the interview & hiring process, typical hiring timelines, job opportunities & requirements, and much more.

Interested in a PhD: Meet with PhD Program representatives to learn about the differences between programs, what being a PhD student is like, what courses a particular program offers, and what kinds of benefits and services are offered to students.

Undergraduate or Master's student: Please join us for an Undergraduate & Master's Student Seminar immediately following the fair. 2025 seminar details will be available in late summer, but check out the 2024 Seminar in the meantime. This seminar will feature panel and breakout group discussions with policy professionals. Additionally, there will be nearly 30 Professional Development and Student Research sessions scheduled throughout the three day conference.

Registration & Cost: The APPAM Career & PhD Program Fair is free to attend for conference registrants. RSVP will be requested during registration, but names will not be checked at the door. Conference registration will open in late July 2025.

Questions?

Please see the FAQ below or email Samantha Oliver Thomason, soliver@appam.org.

Career & PhD Program Fair Questions

I already take part in the PhD Fair, can I take part as an employer too?
Who should take part in the career fair?
Is private interview space available?
I’m not attending the rest of the conference. Do I need to pay to register?
I’d like to attend the rest of the conference. Are there other ways I can meet with attendees throughout the three-day conference?
Why should I participate as an employer?
Why should I participate as a PhD program?
How do I sign up?

Questions & Answers

Q: I already take part in the PhD Fair, can I take part as an employer too?

Yes. But please note that if you choose to have both a Career and a PhD Program table, you must have separate staff for both tables as the tables will not be next to each other.

Q: Who should take part in the career fair?

Any national or local organizations who hire bachelor, masters, or PhD graduates, as well as experienced professionals, in the fields of policy, data science, public affairs, economics, statistical analysis, and other relevant public policy research fields.

Q: Is private interview space available?

APPAM Institutional Members can utilize complimentary meeting space, to conduct private meetings or interviews. The boardroom space is available on a first come, first served basis and the form will be available in the spring.

Onsite meeting space is not available to non-member institutions. Learn more about institutional membership benefits, such as discount fair table & sponsorship rates, complimentary meeting & affiliate reception space, and much more, here.

Q: I’m not attending the rest of the conference. Do I need to pay to register?

Full conference registration is not required for table staff. APPAM will offer two complimentary fair-only access passes to the Career and PhD Fair tables.

Q: I’d like to attend the rest of the conference. Are there other ways I can meet with attendees throughout the three-day conference?

Yes! The APPAM exhibit hall is open all day Thursday and Friday, as well as Saturday morning. There's daily refreshments, a poster reception, and a poster luncheon, as well as the headshot lounge, inside of the hall. Exhibitors receive complimentary fair table space as well!

Additionally, there are various special event and branding opportunities available here.

Q: Why should I participate as an employer?

APPAM will host 1,000 student members at our Annual Fall Research Conference, all of whom have the opportunity to participate in the Career and PhD Program Fair. This diverse group of student members are from top undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs around the country studying policy, public management, public affairs, economics, health policy, political science, and data science. Many APPAM student members are on the job market and ready to begin their post-graduate careers. Additionally, the 50 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) travel fellowship recipients will be on hand to meet with potential employers, as well as local students and recent graduates from area schools.

Q: Why should I participate as a PhD program?

This diverse group of student members are from top undergraduate and master's programs. Many APPAM student members are looking to pursue their PhD and are on the search for the right program. Additionally, the 50 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) travel fellowship recipients will be on hand to meet with potential graduate schools and PhD programs, as well as local students and recent graduates from area schools.

Q: How do I sign up?

Employers & PhD programs must complete the forms at the links above. You will be sent an invoice & more details shortly after.

Students and job seekers can sign up during the conference registration process - opening in late July. This is a complimentary conference event.

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