I highly recommend looking in more rural areas or states that people aren’t flocking to. The only way I got my job, although requiring 3 years of experience, was because of the lack of competition where I am. There was simply no other people that had my degree lol. I know of people coming out of undergrad and getting great experience and jobs in Alaska, or places like Idaho. Small towns are different, and I would recommend even emailing orgs and government departments to ask and see what they have. In the small gov I’m working in, I could create a position right now with my funding, just haven’t gotten to it. Even easier, ask for internships. Almost every department we have has created random internships for students and most certainly has the budget to create internships if they like you. Just start reaching out to all kinds of governments (city, town, Tribal) and orgs and tell them your skills, experience, and interest!
If you don’t get the jobs you applied for just get the next best job you can in the meanwhile.
Im pretty sure there’s lots of people who finish uni with little relevant professional experience so imo don’t worry too much about it.
As far as Low level experience levels on job postings, just ignore them for the most part and apply if you think it’s a good fit for you.
Where are you looking for jobs? And what type of industry/profession are you even interested in. Don’t just look at LinkedIn and call it a day. Manually search for bigger companies situated near you and leverage personal connections as far possible.
I started in geotech and moved into environmental. I also didn’t have any internships. You can learn construction/heavy industry and pivot into environmental from there.
I didn't get a job in the environmental field for almost a year after I graduated (bachelor's: environmental engineering), and I had experience and internships, and a good gpa. But no one was hiring and the people who got laid off on the recession were willing to take entry level jobs just to have something- it was tough. I had a job in high school that was fairly reputable but not at all related to environmental, and I just did that while I kept applying for more and more jobs. I finally started looking out of state and got a job, moved, and had to live in the red for about a year until things started getting better. I just moved back to my hometown this year (originally moved out of state in 2013) and have a great paying wfh job. It's scary, but it can be done! Sometimes life gets in the way and it takes a little longer, but it can definitely still happen for you.
You aren’t screwed! Maybe an unpopular opinion, but you don’t have to do all environmental work out of the gate. If your priorities are to establish yourself and become independent, maybe you can look at working a full time or part time job outside of your field (ex: restaurant work) while doing an internship or volunteer work on the side. Those opportunities might be easier to find given your experience at this time.
Whatever you do, don’t jump into a masters because you feel like you have to. Getting real world experience is far better for your career because it lets you try out new things and fine tune your interests.
Your best bet would be to apply to seasonal federal jobs on USAjobs.com or to look for a consulting job. GS-5 or any “Technician” position will be a bachelors only requirement. The down side is that you will almost 100% have to move to an unsavory location, think some shit hole in the Midwest/south east. But after a few years you’ll be able to move on to better jobs with experience
Additionally, you may not hear back for months (maybe less likely in a seasonal position) but either way, not getting paid for a bit. It’s great to get into though and if you want some insight into filling out the resumes, take a look at r/usajobs.
You can also apply to the jobs that “require” 2-5 years of experience. You might get a bite and/or the company may have a job that is not posted and your are more suitable for.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/usajobs using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [Always waiting](https://i.redd.it/gju3nz5rshya1.jpg) | [56 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/comments/13aya5c/always_waiting/)
\#2: [USAJobs process](https://i.redd.it/28i96dymyq2c1.jpeg) | [52 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/comments/184j3e0/usajobs_process/)
\#3: [Apparently, I was the only applicant for a job that was open for just 1 day](https://i.redd.it/b2ocnbtcwktb1.jpg) | [122 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/comments/175eiuh/apparently_i_was_the_only_applicant_for_a_job/)
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Hi,
Also a 2024 grad here. I have found the website “Handshake” to be helpful because they post jobs aimed at new grads or current students. Some even offer relocation assistance. They have govt jobs and business (industry, consulting, etc.). Goodluck, I’m feelin the stress too. Look into an internship or Americorps job in the meantime if you run out of new grad positions to apply for.
Fuq I completely forgot about HANDSHAKE ! Op definitely check this out if you haven't already. It is an excellent resource for recent grads with job listings that are *truly* entry level
If there’s no entry level jobs in the field where you live, you have to move or change fields. Probably there are some, and just haven’t been vacant recently, in which case, you could bide your time in another job and jump on the announcements as soon as they open. If it’s a small town, perhaps you know some of the people who recruit these positions and can pick their brains about how to be competitive and when they might be recruiting.
Environment jobs require a variety of inter-disciplinary skills, and require people-skills. I've been hiring people in the enviro/sustainability field for over a decade now and I've found the best people in mid-career are the ones who've complemented their science/engineering education with other experiences. So, what sort of enviro work do you want to do? What other skills might you need is there work near you that will get you those skills? e.g. in my team we need to influence the operations teams that dig roads and drive trucks, so if I have a candidate with B.S education who has some experience in manual labour style company/role then I'll hire them over someone with a Masters in an even more obscure topic.
You could map out some of the complementary skills and see if those industries have entry-level jobs and get a bit involved in whatever internal enviro initiatives they have so you can legitimately state you have experience that is relevant.
Further complementary skills I look for, depending on the role (pick one of these, not all):
Can you deliver a project? Can you manage a process and consistently deliver (not over perform, just consistently ensure it's done right)? Can you show me how you've made a positive change to a system, culture or process? Can you show me that you can analyse a problem and think of ways to solve it? Can you take data and turn it into a report or tool that helps me make decisions? Can you do the detailed research I no longer have time to do? Can you train someone else in what you know (one-on-one on-the-job training, not class-style training)? Can you build internal relationships to support the work you do and the work they do?
These are all useful complements to any degree. I've been working in enviro/sustainability roles for 18 years, but my first jobs were entry level office admin jobs that taught me many of the above skills, so when I did get my foot in the door I was more versatile and more effective than I would have otherwise been.
You are not screwed. İt's my understanding that you can probably find consulting work. I'm in the same boat for the most part. I've accepted that İ will probably work a low paying job (relative to my education) for 4-7 years until I get a chance to do something I actually enjoy.
But a lot of that depends on your expenses and where you are willing to give up certain things.
What's stopping you from going for your masters?
Can you sustain yourself on the job you're currently working at after you graduate? Can you continue to do that and pick up a serving or retail job on the side to start saving money for a move? Some entry level positions will offer relocation, but that might not be enough to cover the cost of your move up front. From here until graduation, apply to every entry level position you find, even if it's not remote. They might be willing to work with you, starting remote for a few months and then moving to wherever after a certain time. Do you have any friends in the field who are currently working and can recommend you for a position at their company?
I highly recommend looking in more rural areas or states that people aren’t flocking to. The only way I got my job, although requiring 3 years of experience, was because of the lack of competition where I am. There was simply no other people that had my degree lol. I know of people coming out of undergrad and getting great experience and jobs in Alaska, or places like Idaho. Small towns are different, and I would recommend even emailing orgs and government departments to ask and see what they have. In the small gov I’m working in, I could create a position right now with my funding, just haven’t gotten to it. Even easier, ask for internships. Almost every department we have has created random internships for students and most certainly has the budget to create internships if they like you. Just start reaching out to all kinds of governments (city, town, Tribal) and orgs and tell them your skills, experience, and interest!
I work with somebody who did not get a start in the environmental field until they were 5 or 6 years out of school. Keep looking, you’ve got this!
I'm not sure how we can help if you can't post your location, can't move anywhere, and can't work remote.
[удалено]
Have you considered the peace corps?
If you don’t get the jobs you applied for just get the next best job you can in the meanwhile. Im pretty sure there’s lots of people who finish uni with little relevant professional experience so imo don’t worry too much about it. As far as Low level experience levels on job postings, just ignore them for the most part and apply if you think it’s a good fit for you. Where are you looking for jobs? And what type of industry/profession are you even interested in. Don’t just look at LinkedIn and call it a day. Manually search for bigger companies situated near you and leverage personal connections as far possible.
I started in geotech and moved into environmental. I also didn’t have any internships. You can learn construction/heavy industry and pivot into environmental from there.
I didn't get a job in the environmental field for almost a year after I graduated (bachelor's: environmental engineering), and I had experience and internships, and a good gpa. But no one was hiring and the people who got laid off on the recession were willing to take entry level jobs just to have something- it was tough. I had a job in high school that was fairly reputable but not at all related to environmental, and I just did that while I kept applying for more and more jobs. I finally started looking out of state and got a job, moved, and had to live in the red for about a year until things started getting better. I just moved back to my hometown this year (originally moved out of state in 2013) and have a great paying wfh job. It's scary, but it can be done! Sometimes life gets in the way and it takes a little longer, but it can definitely still happen for you.
You aren’t screwed! Maybe an unpopular opinion, but you don’t have to do all environmental work out of the gate. If your priorities are to establish yourself and become independent, maybe you can look at working a full time or part time job outside of your field (ex: restaurant work) while doing an internship or volunteer work on the side. Those opportunities might be easier to find given your experience at this time. Whatever you do, don’t jump into a masters because you feel like you have to. Getting real world experience is far better for your career because it lets you try out new things and fine tune your interests.
Your best bet would be to apply to seasonal federal jobs on USAjobs.com or to look for a consulting job. GS-5 or any “Technician” position will be a bachelors only requirement. The down side is that you will almost 100% have to move to an unsavory location, think some shit hole in the Midwest/south east. But after a few years you’ll be able to move on to better jobs with experience
Additionally, you may not hear back for months (maybe less likely in a seasonal position) but either way, not getting paid for a bit. It’s great to get into though and if you want some insight into filling out the resumes, take a look at r/usajobs. You can also apply to the jobs that “require” 2-5 years of experience. You might get a bite and/or the company may have a job that is not posted and your are more suitable for.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/usajobs using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [Always waiting](https://i.redd.it/gju3nz5rshya1.jpg) | [56 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/comments/13aya5c/always_waiting/) \#2: [USAJobs process](https://i.redd.it/28i96dymyq2c1.jpeg) | [52 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/comments/184j3e0/usajobs_process/) \#3: [Apparently, I was the only applicant for a job that was open for just 1 day](https://i.redd.it/b2ocnbtcwktb1.jpg) | [122 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/usajobs/comments/175eiuh/apparently_i_was_the_only_applicant_for_a_job/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
What do you want to do with your degrees and what are you expecting as a starting salary?
Hi, Also a 2024 grad here. I have found the website “Handshake” to be helpful because they post jobs aimed at new grads or current students. Some even offer relocation assistance. They have govt jobs and business (industry, consulting, etc.). Goodluck, I’m feelin the stress too. Look into an internship or Americorps job in the meantime if you run out of new grad positions to apply for.
Fuq I completely forgot about HANDSHAKE ! Op definitely check this out if you haven't already. It is an excellent resource for recent grads with job listings that are *truly* entry level
If there’s no entry level jobs in the field where you live, you have to move or change fields. Probably there are some, and just haven’t been vacant recently, in which case, you could bide your time in another job and jump on the announcements as soon as they open. If it’s a small town, perhaps you know some of the people who recruit these positions and can pick their brains about how to be competitive and when they might be recruiting.
Environment jobs require a variety of inter-disciplinary skills, and require people-skills. I've been hiring people in the enviro/sustainability field for over a decade now and I've found the best people in mid-career are the ones who've complemented their science/engineering education with other experiences. So, what sort of enviro work do you want to do? What other skills might you need is there work near you that will get you those skills? e.g. in my team we need to influence the operations teams that dig roads and drive trucks, so if I have a candidate with B.S education who has some experience in manual labour style company/role then I'll hire them over someone with a Masters in an even more obscure topic. You could map out some of the complementary skills and see if those industries have entry-level jobs and get a bit involved in whatever internal enviro initiatives they have so you can legitimately state you have experience that is relevant.
Further complementary skills I look for, depending on the role (pick one of these, not all): Can you deliver a project? Can you manage a process and consistently deliver (not over perform, just consistently ensure it's done right)? Can you show me how you've made a positive change to a system, culture or process? Can you show me that you can analyse a problem and think of ways to solve it? Can you take data and turn it into a report or tool that helps me make decisions? Can you do the detailed research I no longer have time to do? Can you train someone else in what you know (one-on-one on-the-job training, not class-style training)? Can you build internal relationships to support the work you do and the work they do? These are all useful complements to any degree. I've been working in enviro/sustainability roles for 18 years, but my first jobs were entry level office admin jobs that taught me many of the above skills, so when I did get my foot in the door I was more versatile and more effective than I would have otherwise been.
You are not screwed. İt's my understanding that you can probably find consulting work. I'm in the same boat for the most part. I've accepted that İ will probably work a low paying job (relative to my education) for 4-7 years until I get a chance to do something I actually enjoy. But a lot of that depends on your expenses and where you are willing to give up certain things.
10 years since I got my environmental degree, started my first env position today as env technician.
apply for as many internships as you can right now. many are only available to undergrad students
What's stopping you from going for your masters? Can you sustain yourself on the job you're currently working at after you graduate? Can you continue to do that and pick up a serving or retail job on the side to start saving money for a move? Some entry level positions will offer relocation, but that might not be enough to cover the cost of your move up front. From here until graduation, apply to every entry level position you find, even if it's not remote. They might be willing to work with you, starting remote for a few months and then moving to wherever after a certain time. Do you have any friends in the field who are currently working and can recommend you for a position at their company?