Environment & Sustainability
Environment & Sustainability
Environmental concerns, such as climate change, are among the most urgent challenges that we face. Tackling these problems will prove vital to our economic success, our health and safety, and our national security and will require partnerships between industry, government and nonprofit organizations. That means that jobs for students interested in the planet can be found in every sector and every type of work.
Opportunities span a diverse range of career fields, from accounting to zoology, and settings--outdoors, office, lab, or a combination. By all industry estimates, the environmental field will continue to expand, making it an excellent career choice well into the future.
Job Title Examples:
- Urban and Regional Planners
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Scientist
- Climate Change Analyst
- Attorney
- Chief Sustainability Officer
- Sustainability Specialists
- Development Coordinator
- Climate Change Analyst
- Energy Broker
- Wind Energy Project Manager
- Soil and Water Conservationists
- Park Naturalist
Skills Needed:
- Analytical
- Quantitative
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Communication
Find Opportunities
Using IrishCompass, LinkedIn, and ND’s alumni association directory called myND is the best way to start on the networking front.
Job Databases:
- Agrinovis
- Conservation Job Board
- Environmental Career
- Environmental Career Opportunities
- Green Jobs Network
- Idealist
- National Park Service
- National Science Foundation
- Summer Research
- Sustainable Business
- Zintellect
Industry Timeline
Recruitment for these types of roles occur as the need arises in the organization. It is helpful to look throughout the year for opportunities. Opportunities are available on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Applying and Interviewing
Resumes/Cover Letters
Your resume will often be the first impression for a potential employer. You want to make sure that your resume is concise, direct, and specific. Ensure that your resume is tailored for the position and for the industry. Highlighting relevant coursework can demonstrate your fit for a particular position.
A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer. Use the position description to make specific connections between your skills and experience and what the organization is looking for in a candidate. The cover letter should be concise and well-written—if a potential employer reads your cover letter and is intrigued, they will then read your resume. Your cover letter should not repeat your resume verbatim, but enhance it. Together the cover letter and resume can help land you an interview.
Interviewing
Most interviews will contain a mixture of resume based questions (questions about your past experience) and behavioral based questions (your ability to handle prospective situations at work. Most positions will begin with an interview that has a mix of these questions.
Research the company/organization, current and previous projects they’ve worked on, and even the people that you’re interviewing with. This will not only help provide talking points but will show your knowledge and genuine interest in the position.
Online Resources
Explore further:
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Science and Conservation
- Environmental Job Titles
- Conservation Job Titles
- Park and Public Land Jobs
- Exploring careers or engagement opportunities in Science Policy
- Climatebase
Professional Associations:
- Air & Waste Management Association
- American Academy of Environmental Engineers
- American Fisheries Society
- American Solar Energy Society
- American Wind Energy Association
- Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists
- Ecological Society of America
- National Association of Environmental Professionals
- North American Association for Environmental Education
- Society for Conservation Biology North American Region
- Society for Ecological Restoration
- Society for Freshwater Science
- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
- Society of Wetland Scientists
- Soil Science Society of America
- The Wildlife Society
Campus Resources
Career Counselor:
Chris Washko
Engineering and Innovation Careers Program Manager
Schedule an Appointment
Student Clubs:
Employer Examples:
- Audubon Society
- Center for EcoTechnology
- Environmental Law & Policy Center
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Ikea
- Invenergy
- National Park Service
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
- Patagonia
- Sierra Club
- Trinity Consultants
- Weaver Consultants
- World Wildlife Fund
Join Handshake:
Personalize your feed, explore your curiosities, and get updates that matter to you. Handshake is a dynamic system that works to match students with the most relevant resources and opportunities offered by our office including:
- Access to personalized job recommendations – This is based on major, career interests, and profile information such as skills and experiences. When students fill out their profile, they’ll be able to see jobs and internships that match their interests and skills.
- Ability to schedule one–on-one counseling appointments – Counseling appointments are able to be scheduled through Handshake and held virtually via Zoom.
- Ability to Interact with employers – Students can research contact information for local and national employers. Employers can also message students with opportunities and information.
- Connect with students across the country - Students can interact with their peers through messaging, get tips and advice, as well as network.
- Search for and apply to open positions - On Handshake, students can see jobs and internships posted specifically for them as well as employers actively recruiting from Notre Dame.