For Employers

Partner with us to prepare and connect with your future employees

Today’s successful graduates combine a strong academic background with skills indicative of career readiness. Opportunities to supplement classroom knowledge, build professional networks, and learn about the expectations and cultures of organizations allow students to excel as they enter the workplace.
As employers seek their next Hokie hires, they often invest in internships, co-op programs, and other engagement opportunities that help new hires hit the ground running.
Creating and promoting these opportunities is the mission of the College of Natural Resources and Environment’s director of employer relations. If you are an employer with a current opening or would like to partner with us to help prepare students for future careers, contact John Freeborn at freeborn@vt.edu or 540-231-1138.
Opportunities for employers to partner with CNRE
Learn more about these options for connecting with and helping prepare young professionals:
- Host a small group of students for A Day in the Life program at your organization, where students can learn about your company’s career opportunities, culture, and values.
- Attend the annual CNRE Career Fair.
- Create a new internship or recruit a student for an existing position.
- Spend a day at Virginia Tech, meeting with students and faculty and speaking with a class or student organization.
- Participate in a webinar for current students, alumni, and others.
- Join the College of Natural Resources and Environment LinkedIn group.
- Hire a Hokie by signing up for Handshake, Virginia Tech’s platform for posting jobs, accessing resumes, interviewing, and more.

Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
- Feb 16 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM Online / Zoom Making Recruiter Connections: Building Networks and Relationships
- Feb 18 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Zoom Third Thursday Lunch & Learn: Burning Ring of Fire, with Adam Coates
- Mar 03 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Virtual CNRE Spring Networking and Career Fair
Internships offer a unique chance to test the waters
There’s no better way for students to gain real-world experience and for employers to give a student a trial run in their organization than an internship. In fact, many students who complete internships end up being hired for full-time positions by their employers. Since they’ve already spent time on the job, they’ll be able to start work in third gear instead of first.
Watch these videos to learn more about the value of internships from the student participants.
Value of outreach and making connections
Marissa Ardovino, a wildlife conservation major, describes her summer internship with an interagency partnership between the National Park Service, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Researching at the Harvard Forest
Sam Matson, a forestry major, provides an overview of her internship as an undergraduate researcher at the Harvard Forest in Pelham, Massachusetts.
Interning at the Newport News Waterworks
Erik Platt, an environmental resources management major, shares information about his summer forestry internship at the Newport News Waterworks in Newport News, Virginia.
Testing the waters through internships
Jonathan Reynolds, a recent graduate with degrees in water and environmental resources management, believes his internships laid an important foundation for a career in water management.
Missed a webinar? You can still watch the video!
CNRE provides a variety of informative webinars each semester on topics ranging from working for the National Park Service to navigating job search tools. Most are recorded so you can watch any time.
- Why Conservation Needs Social Science: Understanding the Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation
May 5, 2020 - Being Competitive in Today’s Job Market: An Evening with a Recruiter
April 28, 2020 - USAJOBS: Navigation and Tips
April 23, 2020 - Exploring the National Park Service: Careers and Internships
April 21, 2020