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Consulting, regulatory affairs, and compliance

In the private sector, there are three main areas where policy graduates typically work. You can learn more about each below.

Students talk to an employer at BAH in DC 2025

Public Sector Consultants

Help government agencies and nonprofit organizations solve complex challenges, from modernizing operations to improving service delivery. These roles blend analytical, strategic, and communication skills and often appeal to students who enjoy problem-solving and teamwork

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, second from right, meets with faculty, staff and student researchers in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery during Evers's tour of the Discovery Building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on March 5, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW-Madison)

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Act as liaisons between their companies and government agencies. They manage the complex process of getting products approved for sale and ensuring continued compliance with regulations throughout the product lifecycle

A draft document is held up as faculty and staff discuss and provide feedback on the Visioning Committee’s initial concepts to help inform recommendations for the university’s next strategic framework during a Strategic Visioning Community Conversation held in the Gordon Dining and Event Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)

Compliance Specialists

Ensure an organization adheres to all relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies by developing and implementing policies, conducting audits, and providing training to employees. They also help mitigate risks, investigate violations, and act as a liaison with regulatory bodies

Sample job titles in this area

  • Management Consultant
  • Strategy Analyst
  • Policy Implementation Specialist
  • Organizational Change Consultant
  • Data and Performance Analyst
  • Regulatory Affairs Analyst/Specialist
  • Compliance Analyst/Specialist

Top skills for success

These careers provide good options for students who are detail-oriented, have strong analytical and communication skills, and possesses high integrity. They should also be proactive, adaptable, and able to manage complex, time-sensitive projects in a collaborative environment. These roles are ideal for someone who enjoys working with data and routines, ensuring a company follows rules and regulations strategically and proactively.

How to make the most of your summer in DC

Or, how a policy internship becomes a policy job

Jarom Gordon, Jun 03, 2026

Editor’s note: Launchpad mostly features expert Q&As, deep dives on federal agencies, and other Serious Policy Content. As an experiment, we let Jarom (a Senior Program …

By Marie Koko
Marie Koko Director of Career and Employer Services
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A student shares their internship experience with Notion, working on compliance and regulatory affairs

My internship at Notion was a unique experience compared to many traditional La Follette placements because it focused on security, governance, risk, and compliance within a technology company rather than a government or nonprofit setting. Despite this difference, the work …

By Marie Koko
Marie Koko Director of Career and Employer Services
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AI Search is here (in beta)!

Hello everyone. As you may have seen in my email last week, as of TODAY, April 15th, our Hub now features an AI powered search! It has some generic suggested prompts which I am not a big fan of, but …

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Marie Koko Director of Career and Employer Services
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Career resources

Skill building courses

LinkedIn Learning

Contact & location

Phone
608-262-3908
Address

Sterling Hall, room 2406
475 N Charter Street
Madison, WI 53706

Career service hours

Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (Remote)
Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (Remote)
Wednesday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm (On Campus)
Thursday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm (On Campus)
Friday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm (On Campus)

To make an appointment with me, just email your preferred dates/times - and whether you prefer in-person (W-F) or virtual (M-F) - and I will respond with a calendar hold.