Natural Resources Job Fair provides opportunities for CMU students

Tables lined with information pamphlets, free swag and animal pelts greeted students at the Natural Resource Career Fair. 

Hosted by Career Services, there were about 20 booths advertising earth science related jobs and internships to students on Feb. 7. Every single employer at the event currently employs students from Colorado Mesa University (CMU).

“Right now, 35% of our full time employees, 26 out of 74, are CMU graduates,” said Ute Water Conservancy HR Specialist Nikki Dalpiaz. 

The Ute Water Conservancy manages most of the drinking water for the Grand Valley.

A common theme within well over half of the employers was the requirement of internships or seasonal work to get a foot in the door. Many of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) technicians started working seasonally after attaining their college degrees to pursue year-round positions. Some worked as many as six seasons before moving up.

Positions like that start at around $17 an hour and do not come with any tangible benefits other than experience and building a relationship with the employer. If an intern is able to weather those seasons and full time positions are open, they’re more likely to capture those jobs.

“People are not beating the door down to become geologists, they’re just not. It’s not the flavor of the month, but the market is desperate for geologists, and people who can specialize in geology can make a lot of money,” said HR Coordinator of Field Geo Services Kerry Strauss.

Strauss’ booth was one of the few advertising immediate, year-round full-time positions for geologists with plans to expand and add more jobs. Based in Grand Junction, Field Geo Services offers remote work, unlimited overtime, full health benefits (dental and vision included), 401k matching, per diem, mileage payback and a stipend for a car.

“Our employees can live anywhere they want in the United States, they just have to mobilize and get to the job site when the job is ready,” said Strauss. 

Environmental jobs such as the ones present at the event will always require some level of field work. Students that like to work outside, with animals, plants, rocks or with their hands are prime candidates. 

There were specific degrees listed as a priority such as biology, geology, land management and environmental science. Many of the booths, however, indicated that they’re more interested in a person with passion and desire than a certain type of degree.

“I think [career fairs] are very important. They play a large part in a lot of jobs and positions that people can’t get very much. Conservation, restoration, I love all of it. I also just really love the idea of working with wildlife and trying to preserve their habitats. Specifically I spoke to CPW and the US Forest Service just because I would like to work for one of them and get an internship or seasonal position there” said environmental science junior Sarah Rodenbucher.  

Job fairs such as this one are just one of many ways that CMU’s Career Services works to support and help guide students. 

“If you’re attending these things and you’re getting the connections especially for some of these fields, if you get the internship in the summer and you build the connection and get your foot in the door it helps a lot,” said Assistant Director of Career Services Jennifer Pacheco.