Environmental employment appears headed toward boom Teleconference panelists expect wave of environmental retirees this decade Norfolk, VA (April 2000)-- Opportunities seem to be growing in environmental careers according to keynote speaker David O’Connor, acting Assistant Administrator for the Administration and Resources Management for the EPA, at the Environmental Careers World Teleconference broadcasted from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia on April 20, 2000. University students viewing the teleconference nationwide were able to address panelists regarding the future of environmental careers and how they can become better qualified applicants to fill the growing need for environmental specialists. Panelist Al Spells, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Virginia Fisheries Coordinator, said that the key is thoroughness during the interview and Al Spells, USFWS showing the employer that you have basic knowledge of the position for which you are applying. Another important skill according the Spells is “people skills.” “The Fish and Wildlife Service stresses diversity. If you can deal with many different types of people you will have a great start with the Fish and Wildlife Service.” Though each interviewer may have personal preferences, according to Spells, if you possess people skills it will open many additional doors for you with the local and global need for qualified employees. Many of the panelists stressed the possibility of a shortage in environmental specialists due to the fact that many companies expect a significant number of retirements in the next five to ten years. Though environmental legislation has been curtailed—new environmental laws and regulations where one of the major drivers creating the surge of environmental jobs in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, demand has kept constant, and appears to be heading once again to a resurgence. Panelists at the Environmental Careers World Teleconference 2000 represented Chesapean Kayak Tours, ENSR, Inc., ETI Environmental Professionals, Georgia Pacific, National Park Service, Peace Corps, Student Conservation Association, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Environmental Career Center, LLC. The Environmental Career Center sponsored the event. Many of the panelists agreed that good writing and communications skills are very important. Rob Friedel, Manager of Human Resources for ENSR, Inc. also finds that Rob Friedel ENSR, Inc. listening skills are critical element to career success. ENSR is an international consulting company and they are also seeking candidates with strong environmental science and engineering backgrounds. Friedel advises interviewees to learn something about the company and be prepared to explain how you can contibute to their success. “The ideal candidate for an environmental position with the Peace Corps is someone with a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental science/studies/education, ecology, wildlife biology or management, resource management, recreation, park administration or conservation,” says Liz Thapaliya, a Peace Corps recruiter. “In some cases experience leading environmental activities, gardening, nursery work, tree planting or park management can substitute for a degree.” Thapaliya advises to apply early. It takes six to nine months from the application to beginning a Peace Corps assignment in one of their seventy-seven countries.

Our next careers conference is the Student Environmental Careers Conference February 17, 2004 Comments or Questions? E-mail: eccinfo@environmentalcareer.com or call 757-727-7895 Call 1-800-745-0639 to order the Environmental Careers World Teleconference 2000 video 160 minute VHS videotape $19.95 VISA or Mastercard accepted or mail check or fax puchase order to: Environmental Career Center 2 Eaton St, Suite 711 Hampton, VA 23669 Fax: 757-727-7904 Chris Niewold of the National Park Service and Geoff Carter of the Student Conservation Association (SCA) recuit employees to work in Yellowstone National Park and many other of our nation’s greatest national parks and monuments, and wilderness areas. Geoff Carter, SCA Carter said that SCA places employees primarily at Department of Interior locations, but they also have a lot of work at national forests and at military bases. Jeff DeBlieu, is director on the Nature Conservancy’s Nags Head Woods Preserve on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Nature Conservancy is growing and career opportunities are solid. DeBlieu had exciting news that TNC is increasing efforts to manage landscapes and they expect to hire more than fifty ecosystem managers within the next two years to maintain the biodiversity in the broad landscape scale. The Georgia Pacific Corporation seeks candidates with experience, such as persons who have worked for federal or state agencies according to Pat Wood, a senior manager of Federal Regulatory Affairs. Georgia Pacific seeks candidates with the science and engineering backgrounds that ENSR and ETI Environmental Professionals also seek. In the environmental consulting and environmental industries, “the greatest demand right now is for those with training in field geology/hydrogeology, chemistry, environmental and civil engineering and regulatory compliance” according to John Shipman of ETI Environmental Professionals (www.etiprofessionals.com). Shipman says John Shipman ETI Environmental Professionals, Inc. that the specific skills that are needed include: 40-hour OSHA (Health & Safety) training; field sampling/analytical equipment; CAD design (AutoCAD and Microstation); computer skills in Excel/Lotus, database programs and analytical programs. Teleconference participants had a unique look at European environmental careers. Walter Leal Filho is conducting research on European environmental technology employment. He Professor Walter Filho Sweden joined the teleconference via telephone and provided a summary of employment trends and needs across the Atlantic. He estimates that there are one million environmental jobs in Europe which is slightly more than the job estimates for the U.S. The Environmental Career Center presented initial results of the Environmental Employment Survey. “Forty-seven percent (47%) of employers said job opportunities will increase in the next six months. The Environmental Employment Survey report will be available later this year. Previous environmental careers conferences: Environmental Careers World Teleconference 2000 (20 Apr 2000) Green Careers Videoconference (9 Nov 2000) Student Environmental Careers Conference (6 Feb 2001)