Career Development for Students

How do I find a mentor while I'm in school?

• Take advantage of the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society Mentoring Program. This program will pair you with a mentor in your field who is also a School of Forest Resources alumna/us. Click here for more information.
• Undergraduate research and independent studies can often provide an opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship with a faculty member in your program.
• Joining a professional society can introduce you to a variety of people in your field who would be happy to share their experiences with you.

• They can offer you a variety of career deveopment opportunities including training opportunities, state/regional/national meetings for networking and sharing the latest information, internships, and employment information
• They help you determine the key issues in your field and build a base of knowledge on these issues
• They give you an opportunity to meet future employers, mentors and colleagues
• A few professional society links:
  • American Fisheries Society
  • American Water Resources Association
  • Forest Products Society
  • The Pennsylvania Forestry Association
  • Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society
  • Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council
  • Society of American Foresters
  • Society for Conservation Biology
  • Society of Wood Science and Technology
  • The Wildlife Society
  • Penn State Student Chapters:
    • American Water Resources Association
    • Forest Products Society
    • Society of American Foresters
    • The Wildlife Society

What are the benefits of an Internship?

• Hands-on experience
• Build up your resume
• Familiarity with trade lingo and current trends
• Opportunities to network in your field
• Opportunities for letters of recommendation
• Access to job postings
• The possibility of future employment

• If you want to find out if a field really interests you:
  • Look for internships that offer a wide variety of experiences so that you can sample the field
  • Select an employer that is large enought to offer experiences in different disciplines
  • Identify a mentor to help you navigate through the experience. This will also help you to develop a better understanding and perspective of the field.
• If you want to develop skills and abilities to complete your training:
  • Set specific goals in advance of the internship
  • Communicate these goals clearly to your internship host
  • Make sure the internship experience will provide you with the opportunity to achieve your goals
• If you are looking for a hands-on work experience:
  • Be specific about the type of experience you need
  • Follow-up on something with which you are already knowledgeable and skilled if you want to specialize
  • If you want to broaden your scope of experience, select an internship that will complement your abilities, skills and knowledge.

How to I apply for an internship?

• Start looking for summer internships in early spring
• Visit a faculty member or advisor in your field of itnerest to get leads on propsective opportunities.
• Tailor your cover letter and resume to each individual and company. Do not send a letter to ACME Forestry and then refer to your eagerness to work for Smith Brothers, Inc.
• Follow up your resume with a phone call to reinforce your interest
• Develop specific goals related to the job opportunity; be prepared to state specific skills you offer
• Indicate specific areas of interest and expectations
• Be honest on your resume
• Make sure your resume includes experience as well as your education on the day you graduate
• Be within half an hour commute of the internship location, or be prepared to arrange housing

How can I get the most out of an internship?

• Once you decide on the profession that interests you, try to define the specific work experience you think you would enjoy.
• Find out what is required of professionals in that field and in that particular role.
• Prepare a complete resume (or job application), and have it ready for the internship interview.
• Make sure that your resume addresses knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the internship you are interested in.
• Phone or email the contact person or internship host to set up an appointment/interview.
• When you meet with the internship host, treat it as professionally as a job interview. During the interview, be sure to share your specific goals for the internship.

   

* The School of Forest Resources thanks the the USFWS Connecticut River Coordinator's Office for use of the information contained in it's Intership Strategies web page at http://www.fws.gov/r5crc/help/tips.html.