Internships
Kick-start your career with an internship!
When Rosa Williams attended a CNRE career fair as a sophomore, she never expected to walk away with a summer job at one of the world’s largest companies. “One of the best parts of this experience has been seeing real-world applications of the things that I've been learning in my classes,” said Williams, an intern in the packaging systems department at 3M. “There have even been a few times where people here have referenced my professors during training. It’s amazing to know that some of my coworkers have learned from the professors that I see every day on campus.”
Connecting classroom learning to a dynamic career
Internships are a critical bridge between your experiences in college and a future career, helping you to clarify career goals, enhance your resume, and start building a professional network. They can also lead to potential job offers, as employers often hire interns who have proven their abilities. Lastly, internships offer a chance to learn about the culture and values of a workplace or industry and see if it’s the right fit for you.
Using data to see the whole forest
Geography major Gunjan Barua spent the past summer using GIS and remote sensing technology to understand forestry practices as a GIS developer intern for GFR Forestry Consultants in North Carolina.
“My internship experience has been a rich educational journey, affording me the chance to delve into the nuances of how forestry companies use geospatial database systems in everyday operations.”
A roadmap to finding your internship
From career fairs to resume support, a number of resources are available to help you get ready for an internship. Here’s a three-step guide to help you along the way!
- Sharpen your resume and cover letter
- Complete a self-assessment about career exploration to help you get started.
- Connect with John Freeborn, director of employer relations.
- Attend a career event or make an appointment with the Career and Professional Development Office.
- Start searching for internships
- Talk to your professors and peers: they’ve walked the path you’re on.
- Register for and attend a CNRE career fair.
- Explore the CNRE Job Board regularly.
- Reach out and make connections
- Join student organizations that interest you
- Make sure your LinkedIn page is up-to-date and targeted to the internships you’re seeking.
- Apply early, apply broadly!
Catching up with oystercatchers
An average day for intern Desraeli McBride consisted of driving out to the coastal edges of the Virginia shoreline to monitor the hatching and behaviors of oystercatchers for the American Oystercatcher Project, a wildlife conservation initiative that merges hands-on conservation research with GIS technology.
“The most rewarding thing about my internship has been developing a wide range of field skills and an understanding of what work in every part of the coastal ecosystem can look like.”
From Amazon to The Weather Channel, CNRE graduates are making an impact
CNRE students have been tallying an impressive list of internships in Virginia and beyond. Here’s a partial list to help you imagine the possibilities of where CNRE can take you.
- 3M
- AccuWeather
- Amazon
- American Biofuels
- Bartlett Tree Services
- Caterpillar
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Conservation Management Institute
- Dominion Energy
- E & J Gallo Winery
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Esri
- Georgia Pacific
- Geospatial Intelligence Service
- GFR Forestry Consultants
- Guidehouse
- IKEA
- International Paper
- NASA
- National Park Service
- National Weather Service
- The Nature Conservancy
- Newell Brands
- North American Bear Center
- NOAA
- PepsiCo
- Pratt Industries
- Procter & Gamble
- Smithsonian
- Torc Robotics
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Geological Survey
- U.S. State Department
- Virginia Department of Forestry
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation
- Virginia Cooperative Extension
- The Weather Channel
- Trees Atlanta
- Unilever
- WestRock
- Weyerhaeuser