Whether you are close to graduation or years away it is never too early to start planning your career and job search.

 But wait…you have no idea what kind of job you want or what kind of jobs are even available?

 Luckily there are lots of resources available for you…

1. Keep an eye on the College of Forestry Employment Opportunities Board. We post current job openings and internships here. Look at jobs that are listed and note the qualifications that you will need to get these positions. This will help guide you in selecting courses during your academic program that will meet job qualifications.  http://studentservices.forestry.oregonstate.edu/sre/employment-opportunities

2. Check out the information on the Career Development Center website for information on what you can do with your major, writing a killer resume, and more. http://career.oregonstate.edu/
 - Create a "Handshake" Profile so that you are notified when new positions become available and employers can recruit you!

3. Create an account at USAjobs.gov! This is the place where all federal agencies post jobs and the portal where you apply for them. Again you should look at the jobs listed and take note of the qualifications that you will need for these positions. I have attached a Fact Sheet about USAjobs.gov and how to use this site.  We also have On- Campus presentations about how to navigate USAjobs.gov so watch for the announcements in the Fernhopper newsletter. https://www.usajobs.gov/

4. Check out the job descriptions and qualifications at the Office of Personnel Management (federal) website.  You will find detailed descriptions of federal job classifications and qualifications by the position type and ranking. This will include the education and experience needed for federal positions that you should be aware of and make sure you are getting before you graduate. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Serie

5. Check out resources available from individual state and federal agencies. Agencies often publish information sheets about position types that you might be interested in or have websites about careers with their agency. Below are links to a few agencies that  might be of interest.

Bureau of Land Management
Forest Service
US Department of Agriculture
US Geological Survey
US Fish and Wildlife
US National Park Service

NOTE: Federal job qualifications will note SEMESTER hours of coursework required. Since OSU is a quarter system you will need to multiply the semester hours required by 1.5 to find the total QUARTER credits that you will need to qualify.

Use seasonal work, internships and volunteer opportunities to get experience in your field before you graduate. There are lots of opportunities from local to national organizations. Watch the Fernhopper and the OSU College of Forestry Employment Opportunities webpage. Check out these national organizations…

Pathways Program
Youth Engaged 4 Change
Student Conservation Association Americorps
Youth Conservation Corps
National Wildlife Refuge System

6. Look at websites for non-profit organizations and for profit companies that specialize in natural resource management, analysis, restoration, etc… Don’t be afraid to inquire if there are opportunities to job shadow an employee or ask questions about the kind of work that they do. Internships are often available as well. Here are some examples
Nature Conservancy
Defenders of Wildlife
Ducks Unlimited

7. Subscribe to the Conservation Job Board for a weekly email with listings of jobs in conservation, ecology, forestry, wildlife, fisheries and more. Another great site that has lots of job descriptions in the field of Natural Resources is the Eco Canada Environmental Career Profiles.

 8. Talk to your advisor about opportunities for career development at your next advising appointment.