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 # )

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

Job Outlook Understand natural world and impact 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! Job opportunities are growing! –Private companies –Non-government organizations –State and Federal agencies –Universities

Why Get Experience?? Environmental Sciences  wide field Environmental Sciences  wide field –Narrow interests Hands on experience! 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 Graduate school Future jobs – experience stands out Future jobs – experience stands out

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

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

The Application Process 1. Search and Identify 2. Build your Resume 3. Additional Documents 4. Interview Process

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

Step Two: Your Resume Determine objective Determine objective –State desired job –Skills and necessary experience –Structure content around objective  modify central resume accordingly Cover letter / personal statement 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!

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

Step Two: Your Resume Tips: 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!

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

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

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

Questions?

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

Previous Interns Tina Fillmed Tina Fillmed –2001 MASSIP Internship, Yap EPA –Now Director of Yap EPA Noelani Puniwai 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 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