iMEP program’s career service supports the professional development goal that each student envisions, develops an action plan together with the student and provides resources to help him/her achieve the goal eventually.
The program understands that students need different career supports as they progress in their graduate studies. Good career decisions start with a good understanding of oneself and the needs of the society. It is important that the students can identify their interests and strengths while be aware of the trends and needs from the job market. Upon this understanding, students can better position themselves when seeking opportunities and also can build up their strengths intentionally and purposefully. At iMEP program, students can have one-on-one career counseling, receive updates of internships and job opportunities and attend network events which bring them together with people who work in the fields with years of experiences.
Then the students need practical skills to showcase their capabilities. Intensive trainings in professional writing and speaking are essential. The program provides workshops of resume writing, professional email writing and interview tips to help students present themselves confidently and effectively.
In the process of landing an internship or a job, students may also come across many questions and challenges. Questions such as how to know whether it is a suitable position, how to know more about the organization, how to communicate with potential supervisors and colleagues, how to negotiate a satisfactory salary, all need experienced and sophisticated guidance. At iMEP program, students can feel free to ask these questions, attend specific workshops and get advice from career service staff, faculty and alumni.
Students of the iMEP program emerge with the skills they need to forge evidence-based environmental policy solutions in the public and private sectors. They will have access to a host of resources including career coaches, workshops, webinars, career fairs, library resources and proprietary job databases. They will also have an opportunity to be paired with a career advisor who is there to share first-hand experiences and offer personalized advice to help them hone professional skills.
“Students want skills they can use in their jobs: economics, statistics, program evaluation, policy analysis and science translation that are finely tuned to the environmental policy realm. The interdisciplinary nature of the iMEP program sets it apart to uniquely train a new generation of environmental leaders.”