Get an Internship or go to Grad school in the Environmental, Organismal or Management Field!When I was an undergrad I didn't know how I would make my way into graduate school and become an ornithologist, but I started applying for internships right after my Junior year to do anything I could on birds. No job was too far, and no work was too menial as long as it paid some money (I couldn't afford to work for free during my summers). I applied for at least 15 jobs that first year, and scored a job in North Dakota. To get to my first internship, I took a bus from New York to a tiny town in the middle of the prairie pothole region of the country. I spent that summer learning field techniques including bird ID & nest finding skills, and wore a lot of bug spray to ward off the mosquitos. That summer was my first taste of real working field biology and I never went back. That job also led to my next job, grad school, and a career. For that reason I started this page with links to help Pitt-Johnstown student's find quality internships and jobs. I update these links semi-regularly. If you notice anything needs to be updated feel free to send me an email!
So; when should you LOOK for a job? Some summer jobs will get posted as early as mid-October, especially Federal jobs. Others will hit in November. Expect to have your applications and cover letters ready to start being submitted by January and February for those summer internships! Other internships could be available at any time of year!
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