How to Get an Environmental Job

In this article I’m going to provide a breakdown of the different kinds of jobs within the environmental industry and my top tips on improving your chances for getting hired.

Since a young age, I loved wildlife and nature, and knew I wanted an environmental job. While the high school guidance department didn’t offer much assistance at the time in teaching us degree options, I had whittled mine down to two : zoology or environmental science.

I chose Environmental Science because it had broader applicability. Once in school, I learned of state agencies responsible for wildlife management and for years I dreamed of becoming a wildlife biologist. However, I wasn’t really in the right major, and while that wasn’t the biggest hindrance, it certainly didn’t help me. Wildlife biologist positions are highly sought after and therefore competitive, usually resulting in overqualified people being picked for the job. At least this was my experience.

I was therefore outcompeted when coming out of college, in fact, I was for most jobs. The only offer I landed was a 6 month environmental steward position at a state park through Americorps, earning a measly $6.50/hour. I knew finding a job would be difficult, but I never anticipated just how competitive it would be. As someone who graduated a year early, with honors, and two internships, I thought I would be a more desirable candidate, but in all reality it’s so hard to set yourself apart coming right out of school.

Job Sectors

It helps to know what kind of jobs there are. For the most part, all jobs fall within three major categories: Public Sector, Private Sector, and non-governmental organizations and/or non-profits.

Public Sector (aka government)

Working in the public sector means you’re a government employee in some way. Whether that’s municipal like being a town sustainability coordinator, a state employee working in an agency like fish and game, or at the federal level possibly working as a marine biologist with NOAA.

In the environmental world, the origin of employment in its most basic sense, comes from environmental regulation. Environmental staff are needed to complete and/or process environmental permits, manage natural resources, and conduct research. Granted, I’ve only interned within the public sector, so my experience is limited and I cannot speak in greater detail about the work public sector employees do. 

Typically, pay can be lower than other fields of employment, but benefits are generally great and there’s  decent job security. There is opportunity to move laterally within or between agencies, or vertically with promotions.

Private Sector (for profit)

Essentially, these are company jobs. As an employee at an engineering firm, I work within the private sector. The work we get comes from clients, which can be other companies like developers, or the public sector like state DOTs. The client hires us to perform field surveys, agency consultation, permitting, and more. 

These jobs tend to be higher paying, have many benefits, and can be great career builders. Employee owned companies offer even more benefits in terms of retirement and profit sharing. While usually jobs are secure, layoffs are possible during times of economic difficulty (as we saw with the pandemic). Additionally, sometimes private sector jobs can require more of a time commitment, especially if your job has a field component, overtime and/or overnight travel may be required. 

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) And Nonprofits

This sector consists of groups like the Audubon Society or Sierra Club. These organizations operate primarily off of grants and donations, pursuing work that is aligned with their cause. In my experience, full time positions at NGOs can be difficult to come by, and the pay can vary drastically.

There is a wide range of scale with these jobs as they can operate on a small local level, like a land trust, or at the national level like the Audubon Society, and everywhere in between. Furthermore, there’s also an array of positions available within these organizations, so they don’t just employee environmental staff. These groups require administrators, financial staff, and marketing professionals just to name a few.

Top Tips for Increasing Chances of Getting Hired

Now that you know what kind of jobs are out there, you can better prepare for the job you want

Tip #1: Optimize Your College Tour

When touring colleges, visit the department you’re interested in and ask for details about the types of majors they have. Tell them what you’d love to do for a living. Professors are a wealth of knowledge, resources, and connections.

Tip #2: Customize Your Experience With Internships and Volunteering

Public sector and NGO jobs are usually more competitive than private sector. Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door as it helps if you already have a presence and can list that experience on your resume. As I mentioned in my volunteering post, volunteering is one of the easiest ways to gain experience in your field of interest and make you a more competitive candidate, especially if you’re currently employed and have time constraints.

Tip #3: Revamp your Resume

I have a picture on my resume which can be pretty polarizing, some people love it and others dislike it. However, after a complete revamp of my resume to make it more aesthetically pleasing, including a picture from my days of bird banding, I got the job I currently have now in part because of it. My primary intent of putting a picture on my resume was to highlight my environmental experience, not many people have held a hairy woodpecker before, let alone on a resume! However, having a unisex name (Jordan), I’m often assumed to be a man, so the photo is a nice way of making it very clear. 

Tip #4: Incorporate Job Listing Language into your Application

Look at the job posting to find details of qualifications and duties of the role and incorporate that language into your application and cover letter. If you’re looking to obtain a job in the public sector, I first recommend visiting USAjobs.gov as all federal listings are posted there. Federal employment positions have very specific qualifications that need to be met. From what I’ve been told, generally public sector resumes can be longer and the more information you can include the better. Whereas private sector, short and sweet is more the way to go and you don’t want your resume to exceed one page front and back.

Tip #5: Where to Find Environmental Job Listings

There are many places to find environmental job listings. Below are my go to options:

• Indeed: great for private sector jobs and occasionally NGO/non-profit jobs
• Texas A&M Job Board: This is great for internships and temporary jobs with NGO/non-profits and public sector jobs with state agencies. These listings are national but tend to be more abundant with opportunities in the Western US.
• USAjobs.gov: This is the website to view and apply for federal jobs of all types
• Conservation Job Board: a national job board with listings typically for NGOs and non-profits
• State agency websites: If you’re looking for a public sector job with a specific state, they likely have a website with job listings for all state agencies
• Non-profit and/or Land Trust Network Pages: often, non-profits within a state will form a network where they post updates, needs, and job openings. Some examples in Maine include the Maine Association of Non-Profits (MANP) and Maine Land Trust Network (MLTN), both of which offer pages for job listings. Look for equivalent networks in your area
• Company Websites: If you want to work for a specific company, check their website. Typically companies, especially larger ones (both scale and geographically) will post openings on their website with information on where to apply.