deputy director

fellow

research associate

program manager

chairperson

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Working at CSIS was an incredible experience.  As an intern, I went in with only a small amount of knowledge pertaining to my project's field, but within a couple weeks was able to keep up with SMEs in conversation.  My coworkers were great and the work environment was friendly and open despite the overall fast pace of the workflow.  

One of the best parts about working here was that 2 or 3 times a week there were guest speakers who would lecture over lunch (provided free).  These lectures were open to all employees and interns and were always fun, engaging, and highly informative.

I was a web dev/design intern in CSIS, and I was offered a temp full time position as a assistant web developer after 6 months of working there. I was mentored by their head developer, who was very knowledgeable and who genuinely cared about my career. The culture of the place is very edifying, and it encourages creativity and taking of initiatives. CSIS have allowed me to mature not just as a developer, but also as a responsible human being.

As an intern, I have a lot of responsibility and potential to hone various professional skills. It can be a bit tense with the amount of work that I have to get done on a regular basis but the deliverables are meaningful and worth the effort.

Working as an intern at CSIS was a fantastic and rewarding experience. My job tasks were flexible and communication within my program was excellent; I really felt like part of a supportive and dedicated team. Although the environment is fast-paced and deliverables of the highest quality are expected, for anyone who is an international relations wonk and can thrive by working at a think-tank with the best of the best, CSIS is the place to apply.

I was a contractor for a specific project.  I was taken care of as a temp employee, in such a great way.  The administrative staff made reservations for my travel then, ensured that if I had any problems, that they were fixed very fast.  During the briefings, we took breaks, and the staff encouraged people to get to know each other, and ensured there was a very diverse group of people in attendance.

Beautiful building with a great workplace culture that was fun, friendly and welcoming.  My superiors were always helping me improve my skills and guiding me through new processes.  I never felt unappreciated as an intern and due to my high work performance, I was awarded hourly pay after 1 month working at CSIS.  Lots of networking opportunities and endless interesting events available for staff to attend.

As the top think-tank for defense and national security, CSIS is full of brilliant, experienced experts and current/ former practitioners. It does a great job of providing its interns the opportunity to gain exposure to a variety of different policy areas; however the pay and prospects for advancement within the organization for entry-level employees is a bit disappointing.

Definitely it is a place that everybody in IR would like to work at some point but this is not a final destination. You can't move up unless you obtain a Ph.D degree in the field or have worked for government +10-15 years. 

It is recommended for university grads for 2-3 years but you have to find another place that can encourage your career and have better compensation.

I loved my time at CSIS.  The work was meaningful and the people were professional and great to be around.  There is not much negative to say about it with exception to the pay is below what you would make at a for profit organization, but you do not go there to make a profit.  You go to CSIS to make a difference.

CSIS, although large overall, each department feels like a little family. There are numerous opportunities whether its networking, getting a published research/writing piece, or gaining valuable work experience in your field, this is the place to be. Great people, good management, good location.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Deputy director 2 salaries reported	$135,000 per year
Fellow 2 salaries reported	$92,500 per year
Research associate 1 salary reported	$67,500 per year
Program manager 1 salary reported	$63,500 per year
Chairperson 1 salary reported	$19.40 per hour

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