Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Environmental Professionals At NRDC
Olivia, an Equitable Decarbonization Advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, suggests that undergraduate students seeking entry-level positions in this field should consider internships at nonprofits, noting that "they're very competitive," and also program assistant roles, which, while sometimes involving "administrative or operations focused work," are crucial for organizational function. Further, Olivia highlights the value of legal fellowships or pursuing a Master's in public policy or urban planning to increase competitiveness for nonprofit positions.
Entry-Level Positions, Nonprofit Internships, Administrative Work, Legal Fellowships, Graduate Programs
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Olivia Walker
Equitable Decarbonization Advocate
Natural Resources Defense Council
Yale University, 2016
UCLA FEMBA
Environmental & Related Sciences
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Climate, Environment and Sustainability
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Internships at non-profit organizations are valuable entry-level opportunities, although they can be competitive.
2. Entry-level program assistant roles, though sometimes involving administrative tasks, offer a way to gain experience and contribute to the organization's mission.
3. Legal fellowships or externships offered by non-profits or universities provide another avenue for students interested in law or policy, often with salary support from the university
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
Many nonprofit organizations offer internships. If you can get your foot in the door with one of those while you're in college, it will make it much easier to get a position after graduation. So that's the first step to try.
Granted, I applied for internships at nonprofits when I was an undergrad and didn't get any. They are very competitive, so don't be discouraged if you don't get an internship right away.
There are also roles like the program assistant position I originally started in at NRDC. That role is changing, but we will still have a similar entry-level position available. It's a junior role largely focused on internal work.
You'll be delegated research requests, or sometimes administrative or operations-focused work from other people. Don't get discouraged by being asked to do administrative tasks. It can be boring, and you might wonder why you got an environmental science degree to process expenses.
However, it's work that needs to be done for the organization to serve its mission for the environment or other social issues. The smaller tasks are important too, and they all contribute. You just have to keep that in mind and work through it.
Many organizations still have roles like that available, and NRDC does too, though in a different capacity. If you are considering law school, many of these organizations offer legal fellowships for the summer or legal externships during the academic year. They also offer fellowships after you graduate from law school.
Some universities have fellowship programs that will place you at a nonprofit. Being diligent about application deadlines for these is key. Nonprofits often welcome these opportunities because the university typically pays the salary.
There's also the option to get a Master's in Public Policy if you want to pursue graduate school but not law school. It's much easier to get your foot in the door at a nonprofit with a Master's in Public Policy or a Master's in Urban Planning than without. That's an academic program to consider as well.