All the WWF employees I encountered were SO welcoming and willing to chat with me about their experiences. I had the opportunity to hear from professionals across the entire organization, some of which were moderated by the internship program coordinators.
My team was also always available for feedback and questions. They did a great job walking me through the complex structure of GEF projects that are nested within WWF and the overall process projects go through, from conception to evaluation.
What I wish was different
Working full-time for the first time in a remote position was very challenging. I wish I had been able to interact with co-workers and other interns more casually.
Advice
Take advantage of the resources you have available to you while you can! WWF has quite a few really awesome tools, like their media hub (known as The Hive) and their internal network employee search. Reach out to employees and ask if they'd be willing to talk about the projects they're working on, or what their positions are like. Not only will you learn a lot, you'll make some great connections.
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Public Partnership Intern
January - August 2021 • Hanoi, Vietnam
What I liked
I like the people there a lot. It was an NGO so the working environment was more friendly and relaxed than a corporate environment. It was a flat hierarchy too so I could reach out to any manager for questions.
What I wish was different
The mentorship part could have been better since it was a small office so my manager who was also my mentor was very busy and I had to actively design my own learning path there.
Advice
I'd recommend people to hustle in their internship, connect with people and try to do as many things as they can. Almost like abusing the learning curve when you're starting out - it will be worth it.
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Food Waste Intern
June - August 2017 • Washington, DC
What I liked
I liked the freedom I had with this position as well as learning different contributers to food waste. I focused specifically on how to shift consumer preferences to frozen foods (seafood specficially) as a means of reducing food waste. Many of the projects initiated at WWF are founded as visions had by employees, so there is very much an entrepreneurial factor to working here with a focus on conservation.
What I wish was different
It was a bit difficult for me as I did not see my boss often and did not have daily tasks. Rather, I had an overview of my internship roles and engaged in whatever tasks I thought fit when I worked. This freedom may be difficult for some; it was for me at first, but I learned to make the most of it and ultimately learned a lot about time management and exploration in the field.
Advice
Share any ideas you have with your boss, engage in research/projects that may not be asked directly of you but that you feel benefit the organization.
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Amazon Coordination Unit Intern
June - August 2018 • Quito, Pichincha Province
What I liked
The people, the space, the connections, the work and passion towards concrete environmental issues in the Amazon Rainforest
What I wish was different
I would have extended my period of time working there
Advice
Always be prepared to learn and do all sorts of administrative and technical duties
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Transparent Seas Project Intern
July - September 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
Very interesting research experience, amazing staff, other friendly interns.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Communication Intern
June - July 2018 • Bozeman, MT
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
Take the risk - this was not the easiest opportunity to secure. It required hours of logistical planning to ensure a smooth transition on the other side of the country, but every long email chain and attempt at finding an apartment was worth it. The internship was short, but it was my dream job. My skills and resume grew tremendously because of this opportunity, and I would absolutely do it again despite what seemed like insurmountable odds.
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Citizen Science Intern
February - August 2018 • Valdivia, Los Ríos Region
What I liked
-working in a Spanish-speaking country
-personal investment in the work product (a wildlife monitoring app for Chilean Patagonia)
-managing work in a international NGO
What I wish was different
-more time to see the project through to the finish
Advice
-Managing workflow requires constant upkeep!
-Being in the place your project works on makes all the difference- local voices are important
