I recently attended a college career fair on behalf of NCMA and had the pleasure of meeting with many students and graduates to discuss leveraging their background toward a career in contract management. When I suggested that one attendee try an internship, he yelped "I need to earn money! I can't give my time for free!" I explained to him that not all internships are unpaid—in fact, there are plenty of programs that offer paid internships, sometimes even at an attractive entry-level pay.

Internships are a great way to build your on-the-job knowledge of contracting and we've compiled a list of some of the internships within the profession. This list will continue to grow, so save the link, remember the shortcut www.ncmahq.org/intern, and refer to it often. Even if your graduation is still some time out, getting a solid head start is to your advantage. If you haven't already done so, take this time to map out your strategy.  

Seven Secrets to Becoming an Overnight Sensation

The Best Places to
Work in the
Federal Government

While we can't guarantee your name will be heard across households all over the world, following the steps in this article can put you on the path to getting noticed and building your professional brand. Learn how Kim Kardashian and Warren Buffett command headlines.

The career outlook for the acquisition field may be favorable, but you still need to make sure you are set apart from other jobseekers. With so many people vying for each position, job recruiters want to be able to easily identify candidates that possess all the right credentials. Make sure your résumé gets noticed! Find out how to craft a professional résumé that best represents your capabilities. 

The Partnership for Public Service surveyed more than 266,000 federal employees from 308 federal organizations—the result, the 2011 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. I was interested to find out how different agencies faired and I believe you will find the results of interest, too. Who do you think ranks number 1?

Your 3-year plan—What type of organization would you like to work for? Respond now!

You are in the early stages of your career, so it is even more important for you to take advantage of all the professional development opportunities available to you. You also want to make yourself known—so please get out and meet, network, and get to know the people that can help guide you. Below are just a few upcoming events. Contact your local chapter and view NCMA's online calendar for additional events.

July 17: NCMA Central Arkansas Chapter Meeting - Little Rock, AR

July 29: FREE Contract Management Career Fair (during World Congress) - Boston, MA