Fellowship or Service Program Overview

Fellowship or service programs are paid positions that generally span one or two years with an organization, often a nonprofit. They often provide individuals with opportunities to engage in meaningful community service or social impact work, while also encouraging personal growth and developing leadership skills. Applicants apply to the program and, once accepted, are trained for a specific role for the duration of the program. Roles are often located at a different site, such as a school. At the conclusion of the program, participants move on to different careers and/or organizations. Fellowship programs train you for roles related to Education, Media and Journalism, Healthcare, Public Policy and Government, Environment and Sustainability, Social Entrepreneurship and Non-profits, and Technology. Fellowship programs are often in person and many require people to move to the location of the fellowship program. Most fellowship programs are considered employment and thus the participants do not have other employment. However, some programs require participants to secure their own employment as a condition of the fellowship. Fellowships provide important work experience and training to prepare for a career, and are not meant to be the highest paid positions related to that career. A fellowship is valuable because of the work experience, training, and professional network it helps you build. However, fellowship programs typically do not offer support with the job application process.