Questions
Q: What type of professional development training does SEAS offer?
A: Career Services hosts a variety of networking and professional development events throughout the academic year. Our Admitted Student Visit Day presentation recording gives a comprehensive overview of the resources, programs, and events that the careers team provides enrolled students each year: https://seas.umich.edu/admissions/admitted-students/career-paths
Q: What resources are there to help students gain work experience outside of the classroom (ie internships, job searches for after graduation, etc.)?
A: Our Admitted Student Visit Day presentation recording gives a comprehensive overview of the resources, programs, and events that career services provides enrolled students each year: https://seas.umich.edu/admissions/admitted-students/career-paths
Q: What sort of post-degree resources does the program offer?
A: All SEAS students will maintain access to career resources (such as eRecruiter, canvas, SEASnet, etc.) after they graduate. Additionally, alumni are more than welcome to reach out to the careers services staff to schedule advising appointments, have cover letters and resumes reviewed, etc.
Q: Are students required to complete an internship during the program?
A: SEAS students are not required to complete an internship as part of the program, however many students do choose to take on internships over the summer months!
Q: What type of support does SEAS provide for internship opportunities?
A: Career Services assists in interview prep and application support for any internship students are interested in, which might include resume review, mock interviewing, and cover letter assistance. SEAS partners with several employers on funded internships and posting but we also have some reserved funds to support interns who find a highly desirable but unfunded internship. In these instances students can apply to the Edna Bailey Sussman (https://seas.umich.edu/student-services/financial-aid/funding/edna-bailey-sussman-fund-environmental-internship-program) and Marshall Weinberg (https://seas.umich.edu/student-services/financial-aid/funding/marshall-weinberg-internship) programs.
Q: What type of internship opportunities are available?
A: Internships range across many sectors of sustainability: non-profit, government, and private/business. Many students pursue and identify internships on their own or access them through jobs postings from SEAS, or with some of our partners. Perennial partners include the World Resources Institute, Rocky Mountain Institute, and National WIldlife Federation to name a few.
Q: Are there internships available that take place outside the local level?
A: Yes, internships are nationwide and global, not just local. One outcome of the 2020 pandemic is an increase in remote interning that while often meaning students work from home, allows wider access to employers and internships anywhere in the world.
Q: Could you elaborate on examples of internships and full time jobs that the class of 2020/2021 obtained?
A: We are currently collecting data from our recent alumni that graduated between December 2019-August 2020. We do not have this finalized at this time. We do have data available for alumni who graduated through August 2019.
Q: What are the typical companies that hire SEAS graduates and what roles do they have?
A: Please see Career Services Specialization Sheets
Q: What kind of opportunities exist through SEAS for networking with companies with potential job openings for graduates?
A: SEAS Career Services works closely with SEAS Alumni Relations on many different engagement opportunities throughout each school year. Local and sometimes virtual happy hours, informational sessions and a dedicated "Career Trek" to select, high-alumni cities are all opportunities open to students. SEASnet is also a powerful tool for mentorship and networking with alumni. When you become an enrolled SEAS student you will receive login credentials to this virtual mentorship ecosystem for students and alumni to directly connect.
Q: What are some common career paths for students who have completed this program?
A: Please see Career Services Specialization Sheets
Q: What are some common career paths for students within the dual degree programs?
A: Our career services Specialization sheets do include dual degree students. It is important to note that dual degree students will also have access to any career services resources that exist in the other unit. Some dual degree students will utilize one units resources more than the other, or utilize both equally, depending on their goals
Q: What are the job opportunities like for SEAS graduates within each specialization?
A: Please see Career Services Specialization Sheets
Q: What do the job opportunities look like specifically for international graduates?
A: International students are able to pursue career opportunities in many of the same organizations as our domestic graduates (with the exception of the government sector, which will often have some hiring restrictions based on citizenship/residency). Additionally, graduates of the SEAS program are eligible for the STEM extension on their OPT application. We recommend directing questions specifically about CPT and OPT to the International Center on campus.
Q: What are the employment rates for each specialization?
A: 91% of SEAS graduates across all specializations are employed (either full time, part time, or continuing education) within 6-8 months of graduating.