So, graduation is 47 days away. As a graduating senior, the heat is on to find that first real-world job. I want to obtain a career in the environmental services industry, but where would one even begin to look? Since Christmas I have been online job hunting and I can already tell you that even with a ton of experience, its still hard to land that first job. I know I am not the only senior out there doing the same thing this time of year, so I’ve compiled a list of websites and tips that I have had more success with.

• Topjobs- This is the job search engine that WKU Career Services offer. After posting my resume on it, I have had an employer contact me regarding community organizing. Although, its not what I am looking for at the moment, someone DID contact me because of my environmental leadership experience so employers DO look at it!
• www.jobsinsustainability.com- Christian Ryan-Downing pointed me to this website, it takes the environmental/sustainable jobs posted from Monster and Simply Hired and condenses them onto this website. **Go to the homepage, you may recognize someone from WKU on it!!**
•  www.usajobs.gov- If you are willing to relocate and survive the long application process, there are LOTS of government and civilian job pertaining to the environment. From what I’ve learned, if you can obtain any entry-level government job, you have a better chance of transferring into another government job that may be more up your ally
• http://planning.org/jobs/search/- I have not personally applied for any positions on this site (I haven’t seen many that are entry-level), but if you are into planning you can not get a better site. 

Other Tips

• Become subscribed to a society or national group pertaining to your field. For example, I became a member of the Association of American Geographers and once I did I got access to job posting for geographers. Many groups may have free RSS job feeds. 
• You can also google what position you are looking for and have google send you an alert every time one pops up
• I have had ZERO success with Monster and the other mainstream job hiring sites. You could not be a tinier fish in a larger pond. Another con is the SPAM! Many of the online applications I have filled out through there have led me to a lot of spam in my inbox and phone calls from scamming insurance companies. No Bueno
• I follow on Twitter and Facebook a Career Advice for young adults Guru, Lindsay Pollack, I saw her speak at a conference and she blogs and posts the best advice. Follow her too or find your own career guru to follow.

Well, those are my tips.Best of luck on your eco-career hunt!

Sara Ferguson, Office of Sustainability Intern