Alumnus uses HNC skills and network to impact US policy

Second-year MAIS student Grace Faerber interviewed Alex Martin (HNC Certificate ‘18 and SAIS MA International Economics, International Law and Organizations ‘19) about his role as a Trade Policy Researcher at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). 

After graduating in Spring of 2019, Alex was connected to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) by some Hopkins-Nanjing Center and Johns Hopkins SAIS classmates and encouraged to apply for their internship. Alex had specialized in International Economics throughout his studies, and had worked in the business sector in China for three years prior to attending the HNC, so the opportunity to work in trade research at the China Affairs Office at USTR was very appealing.
 
In his interview, Alex described his 3-month internship fondly, explaining how the relatively small China Affairs Office provided him with much support and mentoring. He was able to develop the necessary skills and experiences to conduct USTR-style research, briefing, and memo-writing on US-China trade issues like the Belt and Road Initiative. He was given ample opportunity to demonstrate his knowledge of China as well as his Mandarin language skills, conducting research and analysis in Mandarin and doing some translation work. 
 
When it came time for the end of his internship, Alex decided to apply for an open job position at the office. Alex was able to lean on the impressions he made at the China Affairs Office to bring attention to his job application out of the hundreds likely received by USAjobs. Alex explained that his studies and experience at the HNC and Johns Hopkins SAIS also helped make him more competitive when applying to the USTR; academic studies of international economics, focus on China and US-China relations, and Chinese language skills are all highly regarded by the USTR and other federal government branches. Alex also explained that his connections and friendships with his HNC and Johns Hopkins SAIS classmates helped him greatly in the networking process. 
 
Alex emphasizes the value of internships, especially for the federal government, where job postings receive hundreds of applications - doing an internship for the office you want to work for makes a huge difference when it comes time to apply for a job, so that someone at that office can help speak to your experience and skills. He also noted that today, the USTR offers paid internships, which is beneficial to post-graduate students. 

Alex explained his experience working at USTR as unique from other US federal government agencies, mentioning that because the Office is relatively small, compared to the Commerce Department, State Department, or other larger federal government agencies, he is able to better connect with the staff and see his work be utilized and appreciated. In his position, he conducts research and analysis on pressing issues of US-China trade and commercial relations to prepare briefs and memos for staff and political appointees at the USTR. He described it as gratifying to see his hard work be used to further US policy. 
 
When giving recommendations to incoming and current students looking to break into the DC job scene, he focused on the large and engaged alumni community. He explained that you can find HNC and Johns Hopkins SAIS alumni at nearly any government, private-sector, or non-profit organization you may be interested in, and most are extremely open to speaking with you about their position, organization, and experience. Particularly in offices focused on China, Johns Hopkins SAIS students dominate! 
 

Grace and Alex were connected by Professor Mushkat at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. Both Grace and Alex were very interested in international law careers during their studies, and reached out to the HNC’s resident international law expert, legal scholar, and lawyer Professor Mushkat for advice. Alex greatly enjoyed his international law courses at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, which inspired him to continue his studies and concentrate in international law while at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington, DC. He served as the Domestic Focus Editor for the SAIS International Law Review and as Treasurer of the International Law Society. When Grace reached out to Professor Mushkat, she recommended Grace contact Alex for insight into the DC scene for those interested in the legal profession! Alex explained that having an international law background is extremely helpful in his trade policy research, and for understanding the WTO, international trade norms and laws, and legal remedies for resolving US-China trade disputes. He added that there are many legal scholars and lawyers working at the USTR - his direct supervisor being one such example.