Green Careers Digest: February 2nd, 2012 - The Groundhog Edition

GREEN CAREERS DIGEST: February 2^nd, 2012 - The Groundhog Edition

1. Sustainability Solutions Café – TOMORROW: FEBRUARY 3^rd, 2012, 3 – 4:30 PM (Campus Event) 2. All Ivy Environmental & Sustainable Development Fair – Save The Date – 2/24/12 3. 1-Year Post-Graduate Internship –Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania – DEADLINE: 2/15/12 4. Research Internship & Land Management Internship – Mohonk Preserve (New Paltz, NY)(Summer) - PAID 5. Climate Change & Sustainability Research Assistant – ICF International – (Entry Level Job) 6. Analyst Intern – 3Degrees (San Francisco) 7. Seasonal Short-Term Jobs in Environmental Education (Web Resource) 8. GIS/Environmental Engineering Internships – City & County of San Francisco – DEADLINE: 2/15/12 – PAID 9. 1^st Annual Climate Leadership Conference (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – 2/29/12 – 3/1/12 10. Interested in Sustainable Agriculture/Agribusiness? (Web Resource)

1. “Taking Sustainability Literally” – TOMORROW: FEBRUARY 3^rd, 2012, 3 – 4:30 PM – Fairchild Lobby Sustainability Solutions Café featuring Mark McElroy - author, Corporate Sustainability Management and Jed Davis '83, T'85 - Director of Sustainability, Cabot Creamery. Free coffee, refreshments, and café-style small group discussions framed by Mark McElroy's concepts of context-based sustainability metrics. Cabot Creamery Director of Sustainability, Jed Davis '83, T'85, will share how his company has used such metrics to "take sustainability literally" and benefit their bottom line, employees, customers, and the environment. Supported by the Porter Family Fund for the Sustainability Minor. For more information, please visit:http://bit.ly/gK20R7

2. All Ivy Environmental & Sustainable Development Fair – Save The Date – 2/24/12 – REGISTER NOW Network with employers. Learn about green jobs and internships. Learn how to make yourself a desirable candidate in a trending market. Register for the All Ivy Environmental & Sustainable Development Fair that will take place at Columbia University on February 24^th, 2012. Each year students from Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Princeton, Yale, UPenn, and Harvard convene in New York City to network with employers and learn about opportunities. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/wkFlJn or email Jesse.Wingate@Dartmouth.edu.

3. 1-Year Post-Graduate Internship –Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania – DEADLINE: 2/15/12 Positions are open in education, urban forestry, plant protection, plant propagation, arboriculture, botany, horticulture and the rose and flower garden. For more details go to http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/ed_internships.shtml

4. Research Internship & Land Management Internship – Mohonk Preserve (New Paltz, NY)(Summer) – PAID The Mohonk Preserve is New York State’s largest non-profit nature preserve with integrated programs in Ecosystem Research, Land Stewardship and Management, and Environmental Education. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/xPa5Uf

5. Climate Change & Sustainability Research Assistant – ICF International – (Entry Level Job) ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI) partners with government and commercial clients to deliver professional services and technology solutions in the energy and climate change; environment and infrastructure; health, human services, and social programs; and homeland security and defense markets. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/wdoYPZ

6. Analyst Intern – 3Degrees (San Francisco) In this role, the Analysis Intern will capture a hands-on strategic and practical education in some or all of the following, depending on the qualifications of the candidate: Fundamental analysis of renewable energy and carbon markets, update and expand existing business models and analysis, produce fundamental and technical analysis (Excel based), grow and maintain existing databases. For more information, please visit: http://www.3degreesinc.com/about/careers

7. Seasonal Short-Term Jobs in Environmental Education (Web Resource) Interested in spending a summer spreading the word about sustainability? Interested in having an impact on others while developing skills and knowledge in an environment-related field? Consider a short-term job by visiting: http://www.backdoorjobs.com/environment.html

8. GIS/Environmental Engineering Internships – City & County of San Francisco – DEADLINE: 2/15/12 – PAID The City and County of San Francisco is seeking student interns for various architecture/engineering disciplines, to provide support to in-house Engineering · Architecture · Landscape Architecture · Planning · Surveying · GIS staff. The City Departments that employ interns are the Airport Commission (SFO), Department of Building Inspection (DBI), MTA Municipal Railway (Muni), MTA Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT), Port of San Francisco (Port), Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Department of Public Works (DPW), and Recreation and Park Department (RPD). For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/yzUUzU

9. 1^st Annual Climate Leadership Conference (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – 2/29/12 – 3/1/12 Interested in becoming actively involved in a professional network? We always try to suggest that students become involved and make an effort to try and attend national conferences. The 1^st Annual Climate Leadership Conference will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the end of the month. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/ytfGr9 Note: Students have a reduced rate.

10. Interested in Sustainable Agriculture/Agribusiness? (Web Resource) Many folks are looking for a hands-on trade experience during their off-term. If you have an interest in sustainable practice and would like to engage in a hands-on learning opportunity, consider one of the opportunities listed at the following website: https://www.biodynamics.com/internship.html

Green Careers Digest: October 13th, 2011

GREEN CAREERS DIGEST: OCTOBER 13^th, 2011

1.) BROWNFIELD INDUSTRY INFORMATION (RESOURCE & JOB BOARD) 2.) TOPTENUSA – EXERCISE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN THE ENERGY SECTOR 3.) OPERATION WALLACEA PRESENTATION (CONSERVATION RESEARCH) – 10/20 at 1 PM 4.) ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM BULLETINS – UPCOMING EVENTS 5.) AMERICAN COUNCIL ON RENEWABLE ENERGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 6.) ALL IVY ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FAIR – SAVE THE DATE – 2/24/2012 7.) AS YOU SOW – NON-PROFIT CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY – VARIED RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS 8.) FALL 2012 – E.P.A. GREATER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FELLOWSHIP (2 – YEAR PROGRAM) 9.) START NETWORKING WITH THE DARTMOUTH GREEN ALUMNI GROUP! 10.) CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP (INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES)

1.) BROWNFIELD INDUSTRY INFORMATION (RESOURCE & JOB BOARD) BrownfieldRenewal.com is designed to be the online guide to smart remediation, redevelopment, and reuse of brownfields. The website brings you the latest industry news, the most up-to-date information. In addition, you can see video interviews and search through jobs and internships in the brownfields industry.

2.) TOPTENUSA – EXERCISE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN THE ENERGY SECTOR TopTen USA is the leading source of independent information on the energy efficiency of common products. A nonprofit, TopTen identifies and publicizes the most energy-efficient products on the market. Internship(s) will post in DartBoard soon. For more information, contact Jesse.Wingate@Dartmouth.edu.

3.) OPERATION WALLACEA PRESENTATION (CONSERVATION RESEARCH) – 10/20 at 1 PM Operation Wallacea is a network of academics from European and North American universities, who design and implement biodiversity and conservation management research programmes. Research opportunities for students available. On-campus presentation will be held on Thursday, October 20^th, at 1 PM at 105 Life Sciences Center. For more information please visit: www.opwall.com.

4.) ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM BULLETINS – UPCOMING EVENTS Interested in learning more about opportunities on campus? Visit the Environmental Studies Program page for more information about upcoming events, programs, and industry-specific information at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~envs/bulletins.html

5.) AMERICAN COUNCIL ON RENEWABLE ENERGY INTERNSHIPS (WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER) The ACORE internship program is designed for individuals interested in making a career in the renewable energy industry. The focus of the program is to assist young professionals along the path of professional development, gaining the knowledge, resources and experience they need to join the renewable energy industry, whether it be in industry and trade, finance or policy. For more information, visit: http://www.acore.org/acore-internship-program

6.) ALL IVY ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FAIR – SAVE THE DATE – 2/24/2012 The All Ivy Environmental & Sustainable Development Fair will be hosted by Columbia University on 2/24/2012. For up-to-date information, follow the Facebook Fan Page at http://on.fb.me/q676Fy.

7.) AS YOU SOW – NON-PROFIT CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY – VARIED RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS Toxics Research Intern; Extended Producer Responsibility Research Intern; Solar Research Intern As You Sow promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies. As You Sow is based in San Francisco, but has virtual opportunities. Toxics Research internship requires background in chemistry. Solar Research internship requires engineering coursework. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/qCUkm8

8.) E.P.A. GREATER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FELLOWSHIP (2 – YR. PROGRAM) DEADLINE: 12/12/2011 The GRO Undergraduate Fellowship is intended for students entering their last two years of study before obtaining their first bachelor’s degree. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships program, is offering Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) undergraduate fellowships for students in environmental fields of study. For more information, visit: http://1.usa.gov/pNB8ad

9.) START NETWORKING WITH THE DARTMOUTH GREEN ALUMNI GROUP! The mission of Dartmouth Green Alumni (DGA) is to unite, strengthen, and provide opportunities for members of the Dartmouth community engaged in the environmental, energy, technology, and other sectors aiming to build a greener, more just and sustainable future for humanity. Visit the website at: http://www.dartmouthgreenalumni.org/

10.) CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS (INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES) Conservation International’s science, policy and field work focuses on protecting and maintaining the health of the species, habitats and ecosystems that are the building blocks of a healthy planet. There are varying opportunities abroad; from Peru to Mexico, and Columbia to Liberia. Conservation International has internships for individuals with non-environmental study related backgrounds as well. Visit the website for more information: http://bit.ly/n8qAQ8

How to Navigate a Career Fair

After attending several career fairs in Manhattan with only 14 employers, I'm starting to see small signs of a turn-around: longer (if not "2006 long") lists of employers attending career fairs. Nice. With that, and the impending arrival of fall career fairs come September, here are my suggestions for navigating a career fair.

1. Take it seriously. Unless you are a visual art major and it's a "casual career fair," dress well--no jeans, tight clothes or white sneakers. Think: Summer's over, even if it's still warm outside. Ties, jackets, dress pants, dark shoes and socks for men. Shirts that don't show the navel and skirts or pants that don't defy gravity for women. Err on the side of conservatism. "She wore WHAT?" is always a perennial discussion among recruiters.

(Also, breath mints are always in vogue. Chewing gum at the fair or smoking outside--bad idea.)

2. Bring copies of your resume, but don't be disappointed if the employer prefers not to take it. Companies have rules and internal procedures regarding applicants. Occasionally, these rules will dictate that they can't take resumes. (Did you know some employers are legally required to preseve any comments they write on your resume at a career fair?")

Most employers will require you to apply for positions online to be considered as an official applicant. So don't be turned off by the line, "To apply for a position, go to our website.

3. Know who you want to talk to in advance, and have something interesting to say. Chances are good that you've heard a lot about the elevator pitch, and for good reason: You'll have under 30 seconds to introduce yourself to employers.

Here's a cheat sheet to know what to say: Every good introductions should include two pieces of information:

• A summary of who you are and what you are looking for, and
• An ice breaker that shows you are familiar with the organization's project and services--and culture. (I often recommend searching Google News by organization name, reviewing websites, and reviewing employer profiles such as Hoover's, Vault, and WetFeet.) Many job seekers don't do this, and taking the time to read in advance can help you stand out.

Not sure what you want to say? Check out 15SecondPitch.com, and the site's pitch wizard. It will help you condense and revise your "stump speech."

4. Don't be afraid to spend time with the "lonely employer." Job fairs can feel like popularity contests with lots of candidates in one line, and other booths that are almost empty. Stop by and say hello to the quiet tables, too. You may be surprised at what they have to offer, and it can be a great time to get one-on-one advice from the employer's perspective.

5. Get to know other job seekers at the event--especially when you are in line. Your next lead could come from the person standing in front of you or behind you in line. Making friends with others interested in the same company may seem self-defeating, but it isn't--especially given that you may have different interests, skills, and experience in terms of job function. Remember the common job search rule of thumb that over 60% of job offers are the direct result of networking!

6. When you talk to employers, keep your conversation focused and brief. Introduce yourself with a small handshake. Job fairs often feature long lines of candidates, and can be daunting to employers. Keep your ears open as candidates before you talk to employers, and consider introducing the employer to the candidate behind you in line if the discussion veers along a path of mutual interest. You demonstrate you are a team player when you introduce your "competition" with ease and present their interests, "This is Ben and he's also interested in brand management." When you demonstrate a high level of cooperation and courtesy, you can make an employer more willing to share their own business card--which, in turn, gives you a great vehicle to follow-up after the event.
 
7. Come early or stay late--and help employers or event organizers out if they are interested. Career fairs can be an exhausting endeavor for employers and fair exhibitors: Volunteering to help someone out can be a very smart way to get your foot in the door later--and to stay top of the employer's mind later.

This is my career fair "short list." What is yours?