# How does one become a member of a think tank? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942 "2008-01-17T22:44:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942/1 "2008-01-17T22:44:05Z")
For a long time, when I started school, my plan was to get a BA in History, with a Minor in Military studies. Since then, the plan has changed. But at the time, I always thought it would be a good basis to try to get a job at a thinktank or war college. Since then, I have learned that most war colleges reserve teaching posts for actual military personnel, but I am still curious about how one ends up being part of a thinktank. It seems that were I to do the History with the military focus, that would pretty much be my only chance to actually use this knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942/2 "2008-01-17T22:59:56Z")
Generally, you apply for them, like you do for any other job. Here’s a list of employment opportunities at the Brookings Institute: [http://www.brookings.edu/about/employment.aspx](http://www.brookings.edu/about/employment.aspx) If you want someplace more conservative/libertarian, here’s the Cato Institute: [http://www.cato.org/jobs/jobops.html](http://www.cato.org/jobs/jobops.html) Since you’re more interested in the millitary, maybe the Center for Stategic and International Studies: [http://www.csis.org/about/jobs\_interns/](http://www.csis.org/about/jobs_interns/) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942/3 "2008-01-17T23:27:05Z")
Or, the Bland corporation… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942/4 "2008-01-17T23:36:29Z")
Well, the Bland Corporation doesn’t exist as a think tank. The RAND corporation does, however, and here is their employment site. [http://www.rand.org/jobs/](http://www.rand.org/jobs/) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942/5 "2008-01-17T23:37:08Z")
A colleague of mine taught at one of the military staff colleges. She has a PhD from a well-known university, just as you’d expect from most other graduate level instructors or professors. You may wish to look into getting an internship at a think tank. I suggest you spend some time looking at think tanks and see which ones cover fields you are interested in, then send them a resume and cover letter. But as has been said, getting a job at a think tank really isn’t any different than getting a job in sales or marketing or burger flipping. There are entry level positions in all of those areas, and you just have to start applying in order to find one of those jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942/6 "2008-01-18T01:12:50Z")
Fascinating. Thanks guys! _off to polish up my resume…_ ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-member-of-a-think-tank/433942/7 "2008-01-18T01:35:38Z")
**Or** , alternate between lobbyist and high-level government official for a decade, then retire and get a sweet appointment.