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How to Find a Summer Opportunity in the Environmental Sciences

How to Find a Summer Opportunity in the Environmental Sciences. Organized by Becky Ostertag-UHH Biology, PIPES/PACRC, EPSCoR, LSAMP, Keaholoa, and UHH MOP Funded by an NSF Ecosystem Studies Grant (Grant # 0546868). Overview. Types of opportunities for undergraduates

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How to Find a Summer Opportunity in the Environmental Sciences

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  1. How to Find a Summer Opportunity in the Environmental Sciences Organized by Becky Ostertag-UHH Biology, PIPES/PACRC, EPSCoR, LSAMP, Keaholoa, and UHH MOP Funded by an NSF Ecosystem Studies Grant (Grant # 0546868)

  2. Overview • Types of opportunities for undergraduates • Why should I get experience outside of school? • Where to look for opportunities • Application process • Search and identify • Building a resume • Additional documents • The interview • Questions

  3. Job Outlook • Understand natural world and impact • Determine environmental impacts • Develop management plans for restoration and avoidance • Educate and train general public • Develop/manage sustainable communities • Job opportunities are growing! • Private companies • Non-government organizations • State and Federal agencies • Universities

  4. Why Get Experience?? • Environmental Sciences  wide field • Narrow interests • Hands on experience! • Reinforce classroom learning • Techniques, research design, etc. • Learn specific skills • What professionals do • Establish contacts for future: job offers, letters of recommendation, Networking!!! • Graduate school • Future jobs – experience stands out

  5. How To Gain Experience • During school: • Work for a professor (lab/research assistant, directed research, etc.) • Summer: • Research Experience for Undergraduates • Field Stations • Part-time/seasonal work • Internships • Volunteer programs • Work-study ~ Federal natural resource agencies

  6. Finding Careers in Environmental Sciences • Internet searches • General search engines • State specific • Agency specific • Project specific • Ask a professional • College professors, career center • Join a professional society • Meetings, publications, discussions, job availability

  7. The Application Process • Search and Identify • Build your Resume • Additional Documents • Interview Process

  8. Step One: Search and Identify • Internet / career center search • Narrow down fields of interest • Location • Volunteer, internship, credit • Research of interest • Be aware of deadlines!! • Read details • Housing? Airfare? Stipend? Accessibility?

  9. Step Two: Your Resume • Determine objective • State desired job • Skills and necessary experience • Structure content around objective modify central resume accordingly • Cover letter / personal statement • State the facts: brief and to-the-point • Purpose: meet or exceed job requirements and demonstrate interest • Written communication skills • Sell yourself and impress!

  10. Step Two: Your Resume • Marketing tool  obtain interview • Put yourself in the readers’ shoes: • What would you look for? • Clear and concise! • Bullet points – key phrases • Short sentences • Details during interview • Format • 10-12pt. Font • 1-2 pages • Spell check • Revise, revise, revise • 3rd party critique

  11. Step Two: Your Resume • Tips: • Action words (prepared, managed, developed, etc.) • Use %’s, $’s and #’s • Highlight your strengths! • Match needs of hiring company – keywords • Outside opinion (friend, professor/advisor, critique service • Be positive!

  12. Step Three: Additional Documents • References • Professor, advisor, employer • Letters of recommendation • Start early! • College transcripts / supporting documents • Be complete

  13. Step Four: The Interview • Preparation • Personal • Industry – ask questions • First Impression • Enthusiasm • Be prompt • The Interview • Positive attitude, excitement, confidence • Be specific • What interests you, what you want to do • More specific  find what’s right for YOU

  14. Summer is Approaching… • Interested? Get started! • Deadlines: February-April • Letters of recommendation • Handout, career center, professors • Work on resume • Submit several applications

  15. Questions?

  16. PIPES: Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science • REU: Research Experience for Undergraduates • UH-HIP: University of Hawaii Hawaiian Internship Program • MASSIP: Micronesian and America Samoan Student Internship Program

  17. Previous Interns • Tina Fillmed • 2001 MASSIP Internship, Yap EPA • Now Director of Yap EPA • Noelani Puniwai • Na Pua Noeau in middle and high school and UH-HIP in 1997 • Student researcher on coral reef and stream projects • Currently working for Hawaii Biodiversity Mapping Program and starting Ph.D. at UHM • Francis Quitazol • UH-HIP in 1997 – USDA FS – invasive weeds • 1998 – Forest Technician, USDA FS California and Utah • 2000 – Haleakala National Park – various positions • 2004 – The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii – Natural Resource Assistant • 2006 – TNC of Hawaii Natural Resources Manager, Maui

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