Alumni Spotlight: Davidson on Consular Work
When Jack Davidson (Pardee ’17) was made aware of an opportunity at the Irish Consulate General in Boston from a Pardee School faculty member shortly after he graduated, he jumped at the opportunity and landed a job at the Consulate within a month of receiving his diploma.
Davidson said that while he hadn’t initially been considering Consular work after graduation, he knew from previous experience interning with the Greek Consulate General in Boston that he wanted to pursue the position.
“My job hunt was somewhat unique as it was so short. I learned about the opportunity from a professor who had been contacted by the Consul General about an opening, and he offered to recommend me for the position,” Davidson said. “This all happened right after graduation, so within a month I had started at the Irish Consulate. It goes to show the importance of building relationships with your peers and professors while in school.”
According to Davidson, the research skills that he developed as a graduate student at the Pardee School are integral to projects he currently works on at the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston.
“The many different types of research I did while at Pardee gave me an understanding of sound research practices and what constitutes a thorough study,” Davidson said. “Something else that was very useful was getting to see so many events and receptions. A portion of my work is planning events, and while at Pardee I learned how to organize and manage these from start to finish.”
Davidson said his time serving as President of the Pardee Graduate Council as well as the relationships he developed with faculty and his fellow graduate students at the Pardee School helped prepare him for the work he does as an Administrative Officer for the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston.
“Looking back at this point in time, the experience that has proved to be the most influential was serving as the President of the Pardee Graduate Council. The skills that I developed during my year in that position have been essential while working as a part of a team, prioritizing many different goals, managing programs, and executing events,” Davidson said. “I can think of several important professors as well, who I have continued to keep in touch with since graduation. They are always able to offer perspective and advice even though I am no longer once of their students.”
When asked about his advice to current Pardee School students, Davidson said he would urge any student to explore opportunities at the Pardee School outside of the classroom.
“The best advice that I can offer to current students is that they should not simply take the classes while at Pardee. They must engage with the professors, be active in the programs that their peers are organizing, and attend the many events that the school hosts. If a student knows exactly what career path they intend to take, this is the best way to learn about and build relationships with people in that field,” Davidson said. “If they have not yet decided on a career path, nothing is better than seeing what options there are and being able to contrast their benefits and burdens. It is the things that happen beyond the classroom that really can make the difference, and can stay with them long after they graduate.”