Masters of Environmental Science and Management

Easy Strategies: Job Search and Cover Letter Writing

About YOU

•  What’s your name? •  Major paper/project topic?

•  What is your ideal job and location?

Designated Professional Development Resources to Help with Job Search and

Strengthen Your Resume & Cover Letters

•  Cara Mitnick, Graduate School Professional Development Director -

cmitnick@uri.edu 874-2644

•  Center for Career and Experiential Education – Roosevelt Hall

ccee@dept.uri.edu 874-2311

MESM = Highly Rated by Employers

By choosing this prestigious masters program, you have already taken the first step

towards a successful job search by demonstrating to employers that you have good judgment, and can make the cut of a

selective program.

How Do Employers Hire? Can you demonstrate you have what employer needs?

Skills (employer needs)

Experience

(they think they need)

Fit (pleasant, good colleague)

This order can change if they like you and you present well

on paper/in person.

Employers want to hire Graduate Students with attributes and skills - DEMONSTRATE IN

COVER LETTER AND INTERVIEW

1. Graduate Student Attributes: (a) Advanced Content/Subject Knowledge; (b) high level skills

(i) to analyze/synthesize data; (ii) to examine/solve problems; (c) creative intellect inspire innovation

2. Technical Skills

3. “Soft” or “Universal” Skills Sets or Competencies

If you don’t have the skills you see listed regularly in job postings, get ‘em!

•  Confer with advisor on course selection •  Certificate programs •  Student and Professional Organizations •  Conferences (attend/present) •  Write for publications •  Attend lectures •  DO AN INTERNSHIP!

Experience •  Don’t be (overly) intimidated by experience

requirements •  Labs, research, volunteer/community

service, leadership, class projects – count! •  DO AN INTERNSHIP

Fit

Your professors, supervisors, classmates will be your recommenders and know about jobs.

How am I perceived?

Collegial, pleasant, hardworking, punctual, confident, eager to learn and help? Yes!

I. Job Search 1. MESM Rocks: “Tracks” webpages outline your academic and professional paths • Wetland, Watershed and Ecosystem Science http://web.uri.edu/cels-gradprograms/specialization-wetland-watershed-and-ecosystem-science/ • Environmental Policy Management: http://www.edc.uri.edu/mesm/docs/tracks/EPM.pdf

2.  Job Boards, specialized and general: Conbio.org, Conservationjobboard, Ecojobs.com, usajobs.gov, Indeed, Rhodynet, LinkedIn, coloradostate

Job Search, continued 3. LinkedIn – You need online presence so you and employers can check each other out • Patricia Hickey, Executive Director at Mendocino County Resource Conservation District: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-hickey-54b7652a • Rob Hancock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hancock-959b3528 • Rachel Sholly, Chief Program Director at RI Office of Energy Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-sholly-55883b9

4.  Networking – professional orgs./events, Society of Wetlands Scientists, State Chapters – get names of

people to contact, attend functions, reach out via email, LinkedIn http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/Wetlands/wetlands-resources-associations-organizations.html

Job Search – Three Places to Look 1. Private Sector - environmental consulting firms GZAhttp://www.gza.com/our-company,

ECS Consult http://www.ecsconsult.com/ 2. Non-Profit Organizations, NRDC, Earthwatch 3. Public Sector

a. Federal - U.S. EPA, NOAA, Dept. of Interior b. State - MA Dept. Environmental Protection or MA

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs c. Local – (i) Boston Dept. of Env., Energy, Open Space; (ii) New Bedford Office of Environmental

Stewardship http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/environmental-stewardship/ - the Office supports the City’s efforts regarding compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and administers the Wetlands Protection Act and wetlands regulations.

II. COVER LETTER •  Format: 1 page, 3 or 4 paragraphs •  No typos, no grammatical errors,

inaccuracies. Have someone w/ great editing skills review.

•  Use same font and type size on resume/CL

•  If possible, address to specific person, not “To Whom it May Concern”

•  Block style, left justified

Format Header, Date, Employer Address, Salutation

Joan Conservation 55 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881

(401) 874-2466 cmitnick@uri.edu

October 14, 2016 Ms. Jordan Morrisette Manager, Corporate Administration Tetra Tech 1234 Blackacre Avenue Providence, RI 02906

Dear Ms. Morrisette:

I am writing to apply for the management analyst position in the Washington DC office of Tetra Tech, listed on the company’s website (1740000211). At Tetra Tech, I would be excited to use my Masters of Environmental Science and Management degree background and my extensive data collection and analysis experience to support the company’s project teams in providing innovative solutions to client needs.

Use Dr./Ms./Mr. then last name. Use “Ms.” not “Mrs.” You do not need to include first name.

If you can’t discern gender, do not use Ms. or Mr., just say “Dear Jordan Morrisette” or use “Dear Recruiter” or “Dear Hiring Manager”

Google name to confirm gender

Note, left block paragraph set up

Next, Analyze the Job Description & Research the Employer

Review job description: (1) Highlight 3 or 4 most important qualifications or

“skill sets” employer seeks (2) Highlight your resume experiences meeting

those criteria: when have you effectively demonstrated and been complimented on those skills?

(a) Highly technical positions – keep concise and bulleted; focus on relevant tech. skills and exper.

(b) For private employers be results oriented (3) Research employer and mission statement

(esp. for non-profits). Understand what they do, culture, what they’re proud of

Opening Paragraph – 3-4 sentences •  First sentence: tell them you write to apply for specific

position, and name the organization •  Make your strongest argument as to your qualifications •  If networking or referred, mention it, “Sally Smith, dean of

students at URI, recommended I contact you. Dean Smith believes my experience as a writing instructor, my masters degree in creative writing and my highly rated teaching skills will allow me to make a positive and immediate contribution to the creative writing program at the University of Akron.”

•  Do not begin with “My name is Sara Jones.” •  State your geographic tie if not obvious.

Cover Letter Body is about YOU! 1-2 paragraphs

Outline how you meet employer’s criteria Focus on top 2-3 skills, using keywords from job post/website

• For more technical position: Mention/bullet relevant skills you developed (lab techniques, research jobs, volunteer/leadership positions, community service)

• All positions: relevant technical skills, languages, computer apps

• For more narrative letter: share detailed examples of your qualifications. Don’t just say, “I’m a good analyst/writer.” Use active, concrete language and any objective approbation, i.e., “I analyzed Chesapeake Bay soil samples and drafted a report, which my superiors reviewed and submitted without changes to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.”

• Last sentence: tie back to what you can do for the employer

Examples of Skills Ability to preserve confidentiality of information. While working in URI’s Office of Financial Aid, I kept confidential records, and notes of conversations in a password protected file. Accuracy and attention to detail. In all lab work, I used my critical thinking skills and attention to detail to solve complex issues such as _______________. Work effectively with diverse groups of people. While serving as a Conference Organizer for international students, I worked closely with visitors from around the world and introduced them to the university and referred them to resources. In addition, as a tutor in the College Readiness Program at Rhode Island College, I prepared students of color to excel on their exams and on their projects. The four students I tutored improved their test scores by two letter grades by the end of the semester.

•  Entry-Level Environmental Engineer (NO-005-16) •  Date: 10/20/16. •  Job Locations: Massachusetts - Norwood •  GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (GZA) is currently seeking an Environmental Engineer to support our environmental

remediation practice. The successful candidate will have a solid educational background, and must be self-motivated with a professional attitude.

•  As an Environmental Engineer, you will work in a fast-paced team of Project Managers and Principals. You will perform extensive fieldwork and gain experience in drilling oversight, soil/groundwater/soil vapor sampling, monitoring well installations, air monitoring, remediation/construction oversight, and operation of remedial systems. You will also prepare detailed and accurate field documentation, data analysis and reporting.

•  [As a highly motivated masters degree candidate in __________with extensive environmental fieldwork and oversight experience, I believe I can be an effective and positive contributor to the project teams at GZAENvironmental, Inc.]

•  Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or Geology (Master’s Degree a plus) • 0-2 years of related environmental experience in the fields of site investigation, implementation of remedial alternatives, and/or design of remedial systems • Strong attention to detail with excellent analytical capabilities • Perform technical execution of projects under the supervision of project managers • Ability to follow direction, and work independently or in a team setting • Strong communication skills, problem solving and organizational skills • Working knowledge of computers and Microsoft Office suite • 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER and FE/EIT certification a plus • A valid driver’s license in good standing

•  About GZA: •  • Stable work environment, • Generous, company-subsidized benefits package •  GZA is an employee-owned multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm. We are an ENR Top 500 Design firm

focused on geotechnical, environmental, water, ecological, and construction management services. With a staff of interrelated professionals dedicated to providing high-level expertise on complex projects above, below and at ground-level, GZA’s experts provide seamless integration across practice areas, client type, and location.

Job Qualifications Experience Coursework/Projects

Degree or Credentials

•  Solid Educ. Background

•  MS Env. Sc.

MESM

•  Fieldwork •  Documentation •  Data Analysis

and Reporting

Internship Project in class

•  Experience with soil/groundwater

Internship Project or learned in class

•  Attention to detail

•  Organizational skill

•  Editing •  Categorizing

species •  Org. Leadership

•  Ability to take direction/work on a team

Internship Project

Thank you note After an interview -

send a “thank you note” within 2-3 days §  Thank the interviewer for time and information shared §  Reiterate your strengths and enthusiasm §  Send business letter, OR §  Send a “business” email –  Dear Ms. Laverty,

–  Thank you for taking the time to interview with me this past Thursday. The information you provided regarding Drugco’s training programs and certifications solidifies my desire to work with your organization…