Career Resources for Women
The Cawley Career Education Center is a space where students and young alumni can ask questions related to all aspects of their personal career development. We provide a supportive and nonjudgmental environment because we know how often personal identity affects career decisions. While the information we provide below is a good start, it is not exhaustive. If you have any feedback regarding these resources, please let us know at careercenter@georgetown.edu.
If you would like to speak with a counselor or advisor at the career center, make an appointment at our front desk on the first floor of Leavey.
Know Your Rights
As an employee it’s important to know that you have rights in the workplace. It is against the law for employers to discriminate against its employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, pregnancy, and age.
Illegal Interview Questions
There are certain questions employers may not legally ask you in an interview. These include questions about your family or marital status, pregnancy (current or planned), and your spouse’s occupation, just to name a few. For more information on illegal interview questions, see:
- Career One Stop
- A U.S. department of labor presentation on illegal or inappropriate interview questions (PDF)
Evaluating Employers
InHerSight is a website that rates employers on how supportive they are for the women who work there. This can be another useful data point to help you decide whether a company might be a good fit for you.
Negotiating Offers
One persistent fact of working life in the U.S. is the pay gap between men and women who work full-time. Women working full-time in 2020 earned 82 percent of what men earned. Whatever the sources of this discrepancy—and if you are interested, we encourage you to read more (Dept. of Labor statistics, Harvard economist Claudia Goldin’s work here )—one aspect of earnings is negotiating for higher salaries and other benefits. While we do not subscribe to the idea that women can simply negotiate away the gender pay gap, we do recommend all students negotiate job offers from employers. Here are some resources to help you with that negotiation:
Campus Resources
Beyond the career center, here are some other offices on campus that could help you the intersections of career, identity, and your individual experience.
Georgetown University Women’s Center — The mission of Georgetown University Women’s Center is to support, educate and empower women of all cultures, races, sexual orientations, genders and ages. The Women’s Center celebrates women’s achievements and advocates for a climate that promotes social justice, free of all barriers and discrimination.
Health Education Services — Health Education Services offers health promotion programming and health communication materials for students. Health Education Services also provides assessment, treatment, or referrals on the issues of body image, eating disorders, nutrition, substance abuse, stress management, sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, pregnancy, and overall health and wellness. All clinical services are completely free and confidential.
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) — CAPS serves the mental health care needs of students and the campus community. Many students come to CAPS when they experience life events or academic pressures that leave them feeling anxious, confused, lonely, angry, depressed or overwhelmed. When those feelings persist for more than a few days, it is often helpful to speak with an unbiased, objective professional. Some students come only for consultation about how to help a friend or family member. Any personal issue that is troubling you may be discussed in counseling.
Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action — The mission of the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action is to promote a deep understanding and appreciation among the diverse members of the University community to result in justice and equality in educational, employment and contracting opportunities, as well as to lead efforts to create an inclusive academic and work environment. The Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action’s services include:
- Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Guidelines for service and assistance animals on Georgetown’s campuses (PDF)
- Counseling
- Educational programming
- Faculty hiring and outreach
- Local, small, disadvantaged business enterprise (LSDBE) contracting
- Mediation (PDF)
Professional Associations
Most professional associations offer student memberships at a discount, and memberships usually come with access to programs such as speaker events, or job fairs.
Alliance for Women in Media
McLean, VA
Phone: 703-506-3290
The Alliance for Women in Media is an organization for women, by women. They are committed to supporting women across all media segments, to expand networks, educate and celebrate accomplishments.
Through recognition events and professional development, their purpose is to bring talented, dedicated, established and up-and-coming women in media together. Their members benefit from shared ideas and experiences, and receive access to professional training and the acknowledgement they deserve.
Mission: The Alliance for Women in Media connects, recognizes, and inspires women across the media industry.
American Business Women’s Association (ABWA)
Overland Park, KS
Phone: 800-228-0007
Provides opportunities for businesswomen to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership education networking support and national recognition. Call the ABWA’s national headquarters for local contacts.
American Medical Women’s Association
Alexandria, VA
Phone: 703-838-0500
Email: info@amwa-doc.org
Serves female health professionals.
Association for Women in Communications
Alexandria, VA
Phone: 703-370-7436
Email: info@womcom.org
Offers a mentor program and an annual career day.
Association for Women in Computing
San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415-905-4663
Email: info@awc-hq.org
Serves programmers analysts technical writers and entrepreneurs. Contact the national headquarters for local information.
Association for Women in Science (AWIS)
Washington, DC
Phone: 202-326-8940; 800-886-AWIS
Email: awis@awis.org
The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving equity and full participation for women in science mathematics engineering and technology. AWIS has more than 5000 members in fields spanning the life and physical sciences mathematics social science and engineering. Events at the 76 local chapters across the country facilitate networking among women scientists at all levels and in all career paths.
Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT)
Washington, DC
Phone: 202-785-9842
Monthly events with speakers periodic seminars on trade topics and a job bank.
Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
Lawrence, KS
Phone: 785-832-1808
Email: crewnetwork@crewnetwork.org
For women working in all facets of commercial real estate. Call the national headquarters for local contacts.
Financial Women International (FWI)
Arlington, VA
Phone: 703-807-2007
Email: info@fwi.org
Formerly known as the National Association of Bank Women FWI serves women in banking and financial services.
Institute for Women’s Policy Research
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue, and strengthen families, communities, and societies.
International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM)
Email: president@iawm.org
Serves composers conductors performers and music lovers. Provides venues for female artists to perform and helps promote their shows.
National Association of Insurance Women
Provides opportunities for woman in the insurance industry to expand their circle of business contacts and knowledge through association activities such as state meetings regional conferences and a national convention. Use national Website to locate local chapters.
National Association of Women Business Owners
Washington, DC
Phone: 202-638-5322
Leadership training and a network for women who have been in business for themselves for more than eight years.
Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT)
The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is a nonprofit professional organization designed to promote women doing business in international trade by providing networking and educational opportunities. Members include women and men doing business in all facets of international trade including finance public relations government freight forwarding international law agriculture sales and marketing import/export logistics and transportation. Web site contains information about conferences events chapters in the United States and around the world as well as a job bank. Email:ewhalley@worldnet.att.net
Society of Women Engineers
New York, NY
Phone: 212-509-9577
Contact the national headquarters for local contacts.
Women in Aerospace (WIA)
Washington, DC
Phone: 202.547.0229
WIA is dedicated to expanding women’s opportunities for leadership and increasing their visibility in the aerospace community. Offers networking and professional development opportunities.
Women in Housing and Finance (WHF)
Falls Church, VA
Phone: 703-536-5112
Email: whf@whfdc.org
Monthly luncheons a job bank professional development and special-interest groups on insurance securities technology.
Women in International Security (WIIS)
Center for Peace and Security Studies
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
Phone: 202-687-3366
Email: wiisinfo@csis.org
WIIS (pronounced “wise”) is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for women working in foreign and defense policy. An international nonprofit non-partisan network and educational program WIIS is open to both women and men at all stages of their careers.
Women in Technology International (WITI)
Sherman Oaks, CA
Phone: 818-788-9484
Email: member-info@corp.witi.com
WITI’s mission is to empower women worldwide to achieve unimagined possibilities and transformations through technology leadership and economic prosperity.
Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO)
New York, NY
Phone: 212-688-4114
Email: info@womenpresidentsorg.com
An organization for women whose businesses annually gross more than $2 million. The organization’s mission states: improving business conditions for women entrepreneurs and promoting the acceptance and advancement of women entrepreneurs in all industries.
Women’s Caucus for Art (WCA)
New York, NY
Phone: 212-634-0007
Has established a national network through research exhibitions conferences and honor awards for achievement. Call the national headquarters for local contacts.
Women’s National Book Association (WNBA)
Alexandria, VA
Phone: 703-578-4023
Serves women in publishing writing and editing as well as those who have an interest in books. Offers professional-development programs.
Advocacy and Education
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Washington, DC
PHONE: (202) 785-7700
AAUW is a national organization of 135,000 college graduates focusing on advocacy for equity and education for women and girls. 135,000 Members. 1800 Chapter and/or State affiliates. Education; Civil Rights; Employment; Reproductive Rights
Elevate’s mission is to help women advance in the workplace, both for themselves and the greater good. They strive to change the culture of business from the inside out – by investing in women.
Federally Employed Women (FEW)
Washington, DC
Phone: (202)898-0994
FEW is a non-profit, non-partisan, membership organization representing the over one million women employed by the federal government throughout the world. Founded in 1968, FEW has actively worked to eliminate sex discrimination and enhance career potential for civilian and military women working in the Federal sector. On the national, state, and local levels, FEW actively lobbies on issues of interest to Federally employed women. 330 State and/or Affiliates.
InHerSight
The mission at InHerSight is to improve the workplace for women by measuring it. They bring women’s insights together into a common framework to show what’s working and what’s not at companies, and to help more women find their ideal workplace.
MomsRising
MomsRising combines the best of American innovation and ingenuity. They are a transformative on-the-ground and online multicultural organization of more than a million members and over a hundred aligned organizations working to increase family economic security, to end discrimination against women and mothers, and to build a nation where both businesses and families can thrive.
The National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
(NCNW) is a council of national African American women’s organizations and community-based sections. Founded in 1935, the NCNW mission is to lead, develop, and advocate for women of African descent as they support their families and communities. NCNW fulfills this purpose through research, advocacy, and national and community-based services and programs on issues of health, education, and economic empowerment in the United States and Africa.
National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc.
New York, NY
Phone: 212-222-5660
This nonprofit volunteer organization is involved with community service leadership develop and enhancing career opportunities through networking and programming. For information on NCBW chapters and programs in your area contact the national headquarters.
NWLC are passionate champions of policies and laws that help women and girls achieve their potential throughout their lives — at school, at work, at home, and in their communities. They’re committed advocates who take on the toughest challenges, especially for women who are low-income and those who face multiple forms of discrimination — and we make change happen. They are proud to have been on the frontlines of virtually every advance for women for more than 40 years, benefiting women, their families, their communities, and the nation.