I enjoyed the ability to try out the many different roles within the Fish and Wildlife Service. They tailored the experience to my major and interests, so I spent most of my time with the Refuge Biologist. I learned a lot and gave me the hands-on experience I was looking for to guide me to possible career options.
What I wish was different
I enjoyed it fully though I wish there were more options of what I could have gotten to do with my major. Microbiology is niche so I didn't expect a lot but even some work with phytoremediation would have interested me.
Advice
Realize that the government moves slower than you want it to. Also, you are going to make mistakes but no one will judge you for them. Everyone I worked with just wanted to see me grow and find new paths.
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Research technician
May - August 2019 • Cape Canaveral, FL
What I liked
I loved to be able to travel and work outside jointly for the entirety of my Summer.
What I wish was different
I wish we had extended our Cape Canaveral studies longer instead of moving bases so quickly.
Advice
Apply! There are so many positions out there that people don't apply for. Apply for them all.
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US Fish and Wildlife Service Directorate Fellows Intern
May - August 2019 • Fairbanks, AK
What I liked
My favorite part of this experiance was spending two months in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge looking for shorebird nests and analyzing the data we collected there to write a report.
What I wish was different
I would have liked longer to work on my report but I had to go back to school. It is also much easier to get bird work in the summer when school lets out earlier in may because that is when the breeding season starts.
Advice
My greatest peice of advice is to apply to as many jobs as posible and you will end up with onw you really like. Also find what you are passionate about and persue it.
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Fish and Wildlife Intern
May - August 2019 • Anchorage, AK
What I liked
I liked working on my own projects and being in charge of a project.
What I wish was different
I wish the project could have been longer and involved more people!
Advice
I would say to always keep an open mind and be persistent.
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Biologist Intern
May - August 2019 • Marion, MT
What I liked
I loved visiting another part of the country and seeing how different the landscape is in the Northwest.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have stayed longer!
Advice
Living on Lost Trail National Wildlife Rrefuge was a lot different than living down here. There was no one else around for an hour. I found that in the northwestern United States even if you lived in town, there are not that many people around and all the shops close early. If you can deal with that, it's a great experience.
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Assistant Leader of the Youth Conservation Corps at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
June - August 2019 • Virginia Beach, VA
What I liked
It was a summer of good old fashioned hard work and lots of sunshine. Getting to see unique wildlife on the job was a plus.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have worked there for longer, but we had a late start date.
Advice
Apply for jobs that you don't think you're going to get. I landed this one because I applied for another position within the refuge that I was really not qualified for, which eventually led to the hiring staff matching me with this position.
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Biological Science Aide
October 2017 - August 2018 • Los Banos, CA
What I liked
This position allowed me to have a wide variety of experiences involving the biological sciences.
What I wish was different
I wish i could have stayed on longer, it was a great job.
Advice
There’s lots to learn, experience as much as you can!
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Shorebird Intern
June - September 2018 • Sag Harbor, NY
What I liked
I loved this position entirely - working outdoors, serving as a steward for the land, assisting the success of endangered species.
What I wish was different
I wish this was a longer position! I would love to have done this as a long-term job.
Advice
Even if something is a short-term experience, do it! The connections, job experience, and personal growth is worth it despite not lasting the long-term.
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Invasive plant intern
June - August 2018 • Crestone, CO
What I liked
The location next to the mountains and seeing all the elk in the refuge.
What I wish was different
Wish I would have been doing something with the threatened rio grande chub that was down there.
Advice
Do as many internships that you can to get a better understanding of what you want to do for the rest of your life.
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Directorate Fellow
June - September 2018 • Newport, OR
What I liked
I liked the project and my supervisor.
What I wish was different
I wish that there was more to my project or other work opportunities.
