Geologist 

How did you get your current job?
Campus recruitment event

What was the application process?
Submitted a resume online as well as with the recruiter at the job event and then got a call for an interview.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
Yes. I met with my current supervisor and another senior member of our office and they asked me questions based on my resume. I requested to speak with current employees to get a feel for the work environment and the people who worked there.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
What were your responsibilities as an intern at the EPA? What did you do as a geologist for GZA GeoEnvironmental? What was your masters thesis on? How do you feel about traveling outside of the office? What about our agency interested you to apply for this job?

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
No. As I explained before, there is no official training program implemented by the agency. You learn through your mistakes, unfortunately. Had there been a better training program, a lot of stressful days could have been avoided.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
I was hired under exceptional appointment, meaning that I need to complete a 2-year training period. So, when I first started, I developed a 2-year career development plan that identified what types of training activities I would need to take part in. Most of the training programs are classes or on-site training.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Not for the technical skills required for the job, but in terms of organizational skills, and written and verbal skills, yes, I do believe my educational background prepared me for my job.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
Yes, my internship was the first look at the federal government system and I thought it was an excellent introduction to working for the federal government.

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Experience is key to any career field you choose. That is the first thing any recruiter looks at, so the earlier you know what you want to do as a career, the sooner you can start gaining experience. I am a huge proponent of internships; they allow you to ‘test the waters’ of a given career path and you can decide early on whether it’s something you should or should not pursue. For a career in the federal government, at minimum, you need a graduate degree.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
You need social skills because we interacts with members of the public, local and state government agencies, and the gas companies themselves. Our work products are also a huge team effort, so social skills are very important. You need organization skills because you would be expected to juggle several projects at once–not just as a team member, but also as a project manager (team leader). All projects are on a timeline, so you have to stay on top of the bench marks and final due dates. Writing and verbal skills are also a must, as much of the work is producing federal environmental documents (each application is written up as an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement) and when the project is up for review before the agency commission, you are expected to be present to answer any questions they may have to make a decision on approving or rejecting the application. Presentations are also made at public meetings. You are also expected to be knowledgeable in your field, as a biologist, geologist, civil engineer, etc., to review the environmental issues properly and to make appropriate recommendations.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Ask a lot of questions because that’s the only way to get information and to learn around here. The work mentality in our office is ‘sink or swim’–they throw you into the water to see if you’ll be able to sink or swim.