Internship/Career
How can I find an internship related to weather/climate risk?
1) Sign up for career fairs!
Mostly in September/October, Purdue CCO has a big list of career fairs on campus. The Purdue College of Science Career Fair is small but growing, and includes multiple employers working in weather/climate. (Note: you may need to register ahead of time!)
Sign up for as many as you can -- it is great experience to simply practice meeting employers, finding out what jobs are out there, and talking about your interests. Just ask "Are you looking to hire people with weather/climate expertise?" -- some positions may not be advertised.
2) Make an appointment at the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities (CCO).
Their job is to help you find a job. They help with anything – resumés, interview prep, career fairs, career consulting, networking, professional clothing etc. They also have a list of alumni who may be able to provide mentoring or who can connect you to employers seeking to hire Purdue students.
In other fields (e.g. engineering), students expect they will have to spend time seeking out internships/job opportunities on their own starting in early Fall. You need to do the same. Early bird gets the worm.
3) Be persistent and positive.
Some companies are slow and disorganized. Some positions get posted but then fall through. A company may say they will not have positions available then a couple months later they do. If you are excited about a company or opportunity, keep pursuing it unless you are told a clear "no".
In the end, any opportunity is a great one -- something you think is not what you were looking for could surprise you and open up new career paths you had never realized existed before.
Are there specific companies you recommend for potential internships?
To find potential internship opportunities, you should seek out companies on your own (e.g. Google), go to Career Fairs, and meet with the CCO to find out who they can connect you with from their alumni database.
Note: when summer internship positions are posted is highly variable -- it can be any time from August to April. Keep checking, or if there is an email contact listed then ask them when a position will become available.
In this same vein, below is a list of companies that we have worked directly with in the past as part of our internship program (and many have hired at least one of our students). You should regularly check their website for employment opportunities and email the employment contact listed on the site to ask about current/future opportunities.
Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC)
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN)
Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
If you need assistance reaching contacts at any of these companies or have questions about other specific companies you are interested in, feel free to reach out to Prof Chavas by email (dchavas at purdue dot edu).
Some feedback from students on their experiences:
- "It was an awesome program and a great summer experience!"
- "Thank you SO much for putting this program together. It's definitely not easy to find internships in this field, so it was super helpful to have some options laid out."
- "The internship opened my eyes to opportunities in other sectors."
- "I really enjoyed working on a range of projects to help figure out what I like."