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Discover Summer Opportunities in Environmental Sciences Organized by Becky Ostertag

Learn about various types of summer opportunities in environmental sciences for undergraduates and why gaining experience outside of school is crucial. Find out where to search for opportunities, the application process, and steps to enhance your chances of success. Explore job outlook and career paths in private companies, NGOs, and government agencies. Gain insights on how to build a resume, prepare additional documents, excel in interviews, and leverage networking for future prospects. Discover firsthand experiences from previous interns and kickstart your environmental science career today!

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Discover Summer Opportunities in Environmental Sciences Organized by Becky Ostertag

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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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