On September 10, 2024, the Kottman Lobby buzzed with excitement as students gathered for the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) Internship Forum.
Organized by SENR Career Development, the event showcased 40 posters detailing students’ summer internships. The forum was open to anyone interested in learning about internship opportunities, creating a vibrant atmosphere of shared experiences and advice.
Students eagerly discussed their internships with peers and visitors, offering insights on how they secured their internships, their responsibilities and what they liked most about their positions. "We find students like to learn from each other," said Lucia Hadella, career advisor and one of the organizers of the forum. "As career advisors, we can talk all day about internships, but there’s something so impactful about students getting advice from their peers who went through the process of searching for, and finding, an internship firsthand."
Students sharing their internship posters and experiences with other students. Photos by Duane Gandelot and Jessica Caton Diefenbach.
Throughout the event, three common themes emerged from the advice shared:
- Start your internship search early – With many students vying for summer internships, beginning the search early broadens students’ options and relieves the stress of trying to find something last-minute.
- Explore possibilities – Be open to opportunities you might not have initially considered.
- Reflect on your experience – Use your internship to further your career development by reflecting on what you’ve learned.
Take the next step
To help students take the next steps in their career journeys, SENR Career Development encourages students to take advantage of several upcoming events.
- Employer Pop-Up Events in Kottman Lobby
- SENR Career Services workshops, including “Searching for Jobs and Internships” on September 16
- Fall career fairs, such as the CFAES Career Fair on September 26
- ODNR Immersion Day on September 27, in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences
For more details on these and other Career Development events, visit the SENR website.