How to Find a Summer How to Find a Summer Opportunity in the Opportunity in the

Environmental SciencesEnvironmental Sciences

Organized by Becky Ostertag-UHH Biology,Organized by Becky Ostertag-UHH Biology,

PIPES/PACRC, EPSCoR, LSAMP, Keaholoa, PIPES/PACRC, EPSCoR, LSAMP, Keaholoa, and UHH MOPand UHH MOP

Funded by an NSF Ecosystem Studies Grant (Grant # Funded by an NSF Ecosystem Studies Grant (Grant # 0546868)0546868)

OverviewOverview• Types of opportunities for Types of opportunities for

undergraduatesundergraduates• Why should I get experience outside of Why should I get experience outside of

school?school?• Where to look for opportunitiesWhere to look for opportunities• Application processApplication process

– Search and identifySearch and identify– Building a resumeBuilding a resume– Additional documentsAdditional documents– The interviewThe interview

• QuestionsQuestions

Job OutlookJob Outlook• Understand natural world and impactUnderstand natural world and impact

– Determine environmental impactsDetermine environmental impacts– Develop management plans for restoration Develop management plans for restoration

and avoidanceand avoidance– Educate and train general publicEducate and train general public– Develop/manage sustainable communitiesDevelop/manage sustainable communities

• Job opportunities are growing!Job opportunities are growing!– Private companiesPrivate companies– Non-government organizationsNon-government organizations– State and Federal agenciesState and Federal agencies– UniversitiesUniversities

Why Get Experience??Why Get Experience??• Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences wide field wide field

– Narrow interestsNarrow interests

• Hands on experience!Hands on experience!– Reinforce classroom learningReinforce classroom learning– Techniques, research design, etc.Techniques, research design, etc.– Learn specific skillsLearn specific skills– What professionals doWhat professionals do– Establish contacts for future: job offers, Establish contacts for future: job offers,

letters of recommendation, letters of recommendation, Networking!!!Networking!!!

• Graduate schoolGraduate school• Future jobs – experience stands outFuture jobs – experience stands out

How To Gain ExperienceHow To Gain Experience

• During school:During school:– Work for a professor (lab/research Work for a professor (lab/research

assistant, directed research, etc.)assistant, directed research, etc.)• Summer:Summer:

– Research Experience for Research Experience for UndergraduatesUndergraduates

– Field StationsField Stations– Part-time/seasonal workPart-time/seasonal work– InternshipsInternships– Volunteer programsVolunteer programs– Work-study ~ Federal natural resource Work-study ~ Federal natural resource

agenciesagencies

Finding Careers in Finding Careers in Environmental SciencesEnvironmental Sciences• Internet searchesInternet searches

– General search enginesGeneral search engines– State specificState specific– Agency specificAgency specific– Project specificProject specific

• Ask a professionalAsk a professional– College professors, career centerCollege professors, career center

• Join a professional societyJoin a professional society– Meetings, publications, discussions, job Meetings, publications, discussions, job

availability availability

The Application ProcessThe Application Process

1.1. Search and IdentifySearch and Identify

2.2. Build your ResumeBuild your Resume

3.3. Additional DocumentsAdditional Documents

4.4. Interview ProcessInterview Process

Step One: Search and Step One: Search and IdentifyIdentify• Internet / career center searchInternet / career center search• Narrow down fields of interestNarrow down fields of interest

– LocationLocation– Volunteer, internship, creditVolunteer, internship, credit– Research of interestResearch of interest

• Be aware of deadlines!!Be aware of deadlines!!• Read detailsRead details

– Housing? Airfare? Stipend? Accessibility?Housing? Airfare? Stipend? Accessibility?

Step Two: Your ResumeStep Two: Your Resume• Determine objectiveDetermine objective

– State desired jobState desired job– Skills and necessary experienceSkills and necessary experience– Structure content around objective Structure content around objective

modify central resume accordinglymodify central resume accordingly• Cover letter / personal statementCover letter / personal statement

– State the facts: brief and to-the-pointState the facts: brief and to-the-point– Purpose: meet or exceed job Purpose: meet or exceed job

requirements and demonstrate interestrequirements and demonstrate interest– Written communication skillsWritten communication skills– Sell yourself and impress!Sell yourself and impress!

Step Two: Your ResumeStep Two: Your Resume• Marketing tool Marketing tool obtain interview obtain interview

– Put yourself in the readers’ shoes: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 phrasesBullet points – key phrases– Short sentencesShort sentences– Details during interviewDetails during interview

• FormatFormat– 10-12pt. Font10-12pt. Font– 1-2 pages1-2 pages

• Spell checkSpell check– Revise, revise, reviseRevise, revise, revise– 33rdrd party critique party critique

Step Two: Your ResumeStep Two: Your Resume

• Tips:Tips:– Action words (prepared, managed, Action words (prepared, managed,

developed, etc.)developed, etc.)– Use %’s, $’s and #’sUse %’s, $’s and #’s– Highlight your strengths!Highlight your strengths!– Match needs of hiring company – Match needs of hiring company –

keywordskeywords– Outside opinion (friend, professor/advisor, Outside opinion (friend, professor/advisor,

critique service)critique service)– Be positive!Be positive!

Step Three: Additional Step Three: Additional DocumentsDocuments

• ReferencesReferences– Professor, advisor, employerProfessor, advisor, employer

• Letters of recommendationLetters of recommendation– Start early!Start early!

• College transcripts / supporting College transcripts / supporting documentsdocuments

• Be completeBe complete

Step Four: The InterviewStep Four: The Interview• PreparationPreparation

– PersonalPersonal– Industry – ask questionsIndustry – ask questions

• First ImpressionFirst Impression– EnthusiasmEnthusiasm– Be promptBe prompt

• The Interview The Interview – Positive attitude, excitement, confidencePositive attitude, excitement, confidence

• Be specificBe specific– What interests you, what you want to doWhat interests you, what you want to do– More specific More specific find what’s right for YOU find what’s right for YOU

Summer is Approaching…Summer is Approaching…

• Interested? Get started!Interested? Get started!

• Deadlines: February-AprilDeadlines: February-April

• Letters of recommendationLetters of recommendation

• Handout, career center, professorsHandout, career center, professors

• Work on resumeWork on resume

• Submit several applicationsSubmit several applications

Questions?Questions?

PIPES:PIPES: Pacific Internship Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring SciencePrograms for Exploring Science

•REU:REU: Research Experience for Research Experience for UndergraduatesUndergraduates

•UH-HIP:UH-HIP: University of Hawaii University of Hawaii Hawaiian Internship ProgramHawaiian Internship Program

•MASSIP:MASSIP: Micronesian and America Micronesian and America Samoan Student Internship ProgramSamoan Student Internship Program

Previous InternsPrevious Interns• Tina FillmedTina Fillmed

– 2001 MASSIP Internship, Yap EPA2001 MASSIP Internship, Yap EPA– Now Director of Yap EPANow Director of Yap EPA

• Noelani PuniwaiNoelani Puniwai– Na Pua Noeau in middle and high school and UH-HIP in Na Pua Noeau in middle and high school and UH-HIP in

19971997– Student researcher on coral reef and stream projectsStudent researcher on coral reef and stream projects– Currently working for Hawaii Biodiversity Mapping Currently working for Hawaii Biodiversity Mapping

Program and starting Ph.D. at UHMProgram and starting Ph.D. at UHM• Francis QuitazolFrancis Quitazol

– UH-HIP in 1997 – USDA FS – invasive weedsUH-HIP in 1997 – USDA FS – invasive weeds– 1998 – Forest Technician, USDA FS California and Utah1998 – Forest Technician, USDA FS California and Utah– 2000 – Haleakala National Park – various positions2000 – Haleakala National Park – various positions– 2004 – The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii – Natural 2004 – The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii – Natural

Resource AssistantResource Assistant– 2006 – TNC of Hawaii Natural Resources Manager, Maui2006 – TNC of Hawaii Natural Resources Manager, Maui