5 Tips for Finding Research Opportunities

1. Office of Undergraduate Research provides numerous research opportunities including multicultural summer research, undergraduate research, international opportunities programs, and directed research to name a few. Check out potential faculty sponsors i

Many internships are paid with the average intern receiving $20.82 per hour. Some unpaid internships, however, provide professional experiences that are priceless. The short-term financial sacrifice of an unpaid internship can pay off heavily in the long run by getting outstanding work experience and excellent networking contacts.

3 Tips for Internship Planning

1. Know what you want before you start searching. What type of internship are you looking for? What skills do you most want to develop? What type of organization and work environment fit your interest and values?
2. Start early and get help. Keep the recruiting cycle in mind- many companies hire summer interns in September and October...8 months before the actual internship start date! 
3. Ask three critical questions before accepting an internship. What type of training is provided?

Benefits of government employment include the opportunity to serve your country or community in an enormous range of roles, a greater degree of job security than some sectors, and excellent benefits (health insurance, vacation time, etc.).

Getting into government jobs may be a long process, requiring persistence and patience.  However, once in the system, it can be easy to move around within it. 

Jobs Beyond Academia and The Tenure Track: Workshop Series

This five-part workshop series highlights the most important areas of a graduate student’s job search beyond academia and the tenure track.

What to Include

• Resume
• Writing samples
• Computer work
• Awards
• Transcripts
• Class projects
• Goal statements
• Documents created at internships
• Student leadership examples

Electronic Portfolios

Electronic portfolios can be created by loading work samples into a web site. The URL for a web portfolio can be put on your resume allowing an employer to view your work before or after an interview. Here are samples and an online portfolio tool:

Format

Utilize consistent formatting throughout all of your professional documents, including your resume, cover letter, and references. Keep the header that contains your name and contact info the same and utilize consistent font style. 

Common Sections

Education

Include all educational degrees received starting with the most recent. Include the degree, program name, institution, and date of degree. Your dissertation or thesis title and advisor name for each program may also be included for PhD and masters work.

Ph.D. Conservation Biology, July 2021
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN

B.S Wildlife and Conservation Biology, May 2015
Ohio University, Athens, OH

There are two ways to get jobs and internships - applying to active postings and networking. Networking is the most effective strategy as over 75% of jobs are obtained through connections, but knowing where to look for openings is critical to a successful job or internship search.