Career Opportunities for Students Increase with Help from Alumni

Alumni Collaborations

These changes allow students to gain insight into careers from people who share their passion and educational background. One of those alumni is Sofia Abuqube ’20, who earned a degree in environmental studies and now is employed as an environmental specialist with National Grid. She shared some advice with students: “Don’t be afraid to explore your interests and ideas. Remain open to both academic and personal experiences. Working in an unexpected field may position you for your dream job!” 

Beyond offering advice, alumni contribute to students’ career exploration and development by participating in events such as panel discussions, hosting job shadow opportunities during winter break, engaging with classes, and representing their employers at the spring and fall career and internship fairs. These fairs typically welcome back more than 50 alumni who are eager to showcase their employers. 

Donor-Funded Career Development Initiatives

Many ESF students face financial barriers that hinder their ability to pursue career-related opportunities, especially those that are unpaid, geographically distant, or not directly related to their degree requirements. Recognizing this need, the ESF Career Development Program was established with the support of ESF alumni and donors. This initiative, which was honored with the National Association of Colleges and Employers Career Services Excellence Award for Small Colleges, provides financial assistance to students, making possible opportunities such as internships, conference participation, research projects, and career-related travel. Since its inception, the program has empowered over 100 students to engage in career-enriching experiences across 23 U.S. states (including Puerto Rico), in 19 countries, and on six continents, with a total program contribution exceeding $350,000. 

Conner Grant, who earned a B.S. in aquatics and fisheries science in 2023, was supported by the program when he served as an intern with the Department of Aquatic Resources at the Swedish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, a world-class research group that monitors the status of Sweden’s fishery resources. He worked on projects analyzing the accumulation of radionuclides and impacts of warming climate within a nuclear power plant outflow.

“Over the course of 13 weeks I underwent a degree of academic, professional and personal development I could not have imagined prior,” he wrote in a report about his experience. “I am leaving this experience a more complete student, scientist and individual, ready to accept any challenge post-graduation, and I have my ESF Career Fellowship and many mentors to thank for it.”

The Career Fellows program is funded through generous support from the Fink Family Foundation (Jesse ’79 and Betsy ’79 Fink), the Douglas L. and Susan M. Cotton Fellowship, the Robert M. Sand ’50 Internship Fund, and the Clara and Wilton B. Griffiths ’51 Endowed Fund. 

Unlocking Potential: An Opportunity for Employers

Alumni, as well as students, can benefit from these enriched connections. Employers that choose ESF for recruitment are partnering with an institution that shares their vision for innovation, sustainability, and excellence. Here are some ways prospective employers can seek out skilled ESF graduates for their workforce:

Talent Pathways

By partnering with ESF through Handshake, employers have access to a powerful network of job and internship opportunities. Handshake is a comprehensive database system that allows employers to post jobs and internships for free and communicate directly with students who might be a good fit. Handshake also facilitates participation in on-campus career events, ensuring employers access to a pool of motivated and qualified candidates. 

Fostering Long-Term Partnerships

ESF is committed to creating collaborations that align with both corporate objectives and college priorities. We invite alumni to explore opportunities such as: 

• Professional Development and Education Needs: Partner with us to meet your organization’s training/upskilling needs.
• Sponsoring Research Projects: Support innovative research initiatives that benefit your company and advance industry knowledge.
• Innovative Business Solutions: Collaborate on creative solutions that drive business success and foster long-term growth.

Partnering with ESF offers individuals and corporations a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse and talented student population focused on science and the environment. Strategic partnerships with ESF demonstrate a commitment to corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship. 

To learn more about any of these initiatives or to explore potential partnerships in greater detail, please contact us at careers@esf.edu.

Build Organizational Brand Awareness

Employers can go beyond career and internship fairs to maximize their visibility at ESF.

• Tabling in the Gateway Center:  Engage with students and showcase what makes an organization unique.
• Hosting On-Campus Interviews: Conduct interviews in a familiar and accessible setting for students, increasing the likelihood of attracting top talent.
• Joining Our Employer Partnership Program: Gain enhanced opportunities to increase an employer’s presence within the ESF community. We extend our gratitude to our 2024 employer partners for their invaluable support, showcased through various partnership levels. (Gold Level: Davey Tree, Bartlett Tree Experts, SavATree; Silver Level: Whiting-Turner; Green Level: Arcadis and O’Connell Electric)

Fostering Long-Term Partnerships

ESF is committed to creating collaborations that align with both corporate objectives and college priorities. We invite alumni to explore opportunities such as: 

• Professional Development and Education Needs: Partner with us to meet your organization’s training/upskilling needs.
• Sponsoring Research Projects: Support innovative research initiatives that benefit your company and advance industry knowledge.
• Innovative Business Solutions: Collaborate on creative solutions that drive business success and foster long-term growth.

Partnering with ESF offers individuals and corporations a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse and talented student population focused on science and the environment. Strategic partnerships with ESF demonstrate a commitment to corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship. 

To learn more about any of these initiatives or to explore potential partnerships in greater detail, please contact us at careers@esf.edu.