R|Intern: 2006 Qualifications

Interested in an internship with us? Below are 9 qualifications we list in our position description.

1. Highly effective communication skills – written, verbal. Negotiation skills a plus. Up to two writing samples should be submitted for review.
2. High level of self-motivation and enthusiasm; demonstrated organization skills; capable of prioritizing; particular about attention to details.
3. Comfortable being involved in a range of activities including “deadline-driven” tasks, thorough document review and comprehension, changing priorities, and open communications.
4. Access to computer with internet access for the conduct of work outside of office setting.
5. Currently pursuing (or recently completed) a degree in engineering, science, environmental, business or related field of interest.
6. Experience working with the public or project teams, or both.
7. Computer skills – PC or Mac environment using MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
8. MS Access a plus.
9. Comfortable with general engineering calculations and review of technical information.

Just ask ... Still interested and only fulfill some but not all of the qualifications? Well, one thing to keep in mind - it's still o.k. to inquire about a position.

We are flexible ... Here's the deal - we are flexible, AND it turns out, other businesses also may be flexible when they have their list of qualifications. Granted, some businesses do have their lists of "non-starters", but you'll never know unless you ask. Right?

"Must haves" then the rest are up for grabs ... For us, at a VERY MINIMUM, #4 and #7 are "must haves" - you should have access to a computer aside from our guest laptop, a.k.a. "the paper weight", and you must have some level of proficiency with the listed software programs, especially Word.

After fulfilling #4 & #7, who we select depends on our current level of project activities, an applicant's background (resume & interview), and other intern candidates' capabilities (aka the competition). Uh ... I suppose we could incorporate a personality test, y'think?

Educational background - mix-n-match ... We have had interns who have been in (or graduated with) one the following majors: geology, environmental engineering, geography, electrical engineering, industrial engineering/operations research, mass communications, political science, chemical engineering, biology/genetic sciences, and environmental science.

Next several posts ... I'll list the 4 areas of responsibility - you'd have to choose 2 of the 4 areas for your internship.