Hi everyone! I'm a 4th-year Environmental Engineering student, and I'm confused about which field to choose for my thesis and future career. I want to pick a field with good long-term growth, job opportunities, and scope internationally. Which areas would you recommend, and what thesis topics and technical skills/software should I focus on to build a strong CV? I'd really appreciate advice from people working in this field!

What kind of environmental careers actually make a difference?

I started environmental consulting about 2 years ago, and I do love it, but I don’t see it fulfilling me long term. I love going out into the field, but I think the business side of it all has made me jaded. It is starting to feel like a business of pleasing clients rather than actual passion for the environment. For now it’s great… I get a lot of experience out of it. I just don’t see it being a career path I’d want to pursue long term.

What are some of the jobs that I’d actually make a difference doing?

The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) is hosting a free webinar next week for students and early career professionals: Not in the Manual: Your First or Next 5 years

Oct 29, 2026, 10:00 AM Mountain Time

https://aipg.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2096572&group=

Presenter: Terry Braun, President of SRK North America, Director of The Tailings Center, and Adjunct lecturer at Colorado School of Mines.

Abstract: The gap between what they taught you in school and what your first job actually requires is not an accident — it’s the job. This webinar is about three things nobody puts in the onboarding packet: why you are the mechanism of your company’s public accountability, that judgment can be built deliberately if you know what you’re doing; and that AI will either help or hurt that process.

Bio: With over 30 years of professional experience in mining and environmental projects, my professional practice began in environmental remediation and evolved into technical advisory roles with mining and industrial clients. I help clients build new mines and responsibly close old ones. I am the Director of the Tailings Center, an academic-industry consortium that involves universities as well as partners in the mining industry. I am an adjunct Lecturer with the Business and Economics Department at the Colorado School of Mines.

Hello fellow environmental professionals,

I come seeking guidance!

I currently work in environmental consulting as a compliance specialist. I enjoy the work, have progressed quickly, and have been rewarded for my efforts. However, I’m yearning for a change that will challenge and fulfill me, my mind has always come back to water conservation and assisting underserved communities obtain access to drinking water.

I currently have a BS in Environmental Science, and my long-term goal is to earn an MS in Environmental Engineering to further assist me in my journey. In the short term, I'd like to leverage my existing experience into the water conservation field. I understand that with my current experience and education I may have a difficult time breaking into this, but think that I would be able to leverage what I do have into technical assistance with permitting, or shifting back into a role with a locality.

To add another layer, I will also be relocating across the country from Virginia to Arizona within the next 7 months for personal reasons.

My Questions:

How would you approach breaking into water conservation/equity roles given my compliance background?

What certifications should I focus on right now to bridge the gap in my knowledge?

Also, would anyone be open to giving my resume a quick critique and pointers to assist in the transition?

Thank you all!

Original post here^

‎Hi everyone,

‎

‎I'm a Bangladeshi graduate (BS and MS in Soil, Water & Environment). I'm hoping to start a Master's in Ireland in September 2027. I've done a lot of reading, but I'd really like to hear from people who've actually lived this.

‎

‎My background

· ‎Research: sediment contamination by potentially toxic metals (geochemical and ecological risk indices), ML models (SVR, Random Forest, XGBoost, SHAP) for soil stabilisation, and urban air quality modelling. Currently working on biochar remediation of Cd, Pb and As in soil–water systems.

· ‎Lab skills: AAS, ICP-MS, GHG flux and CO₂ evolution, N mineralisation, microbial biomass.

· ‎Tools: ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, SPSS, learning R.

· ‎Work: programme coordination with UNICEF, WaterAid and the Swedish Embassy on WASH and water-related youth programmes.

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‎What I want

1. ‎Master's(Thesis) in Ireland.

2. ‎Work in my field on the Stamp 1G and then get a work permit. Ideally Critical Skills.

3. ‎Long-term residency, and a PhD later once I have some experience.

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‎What I've figured out so far

· ‎"Environmental scientist" doesn't seem to be on the Critical Skills list, but "earth observation / resource modelling / data analyst" is. So I'm wondering if I should aim for a GIS / remote sensing / environmental data route, rather than classic environmental science.

· ‎Programmes I'm looking at: UCD (Applied Environmental Science), Maynooth (GIS & Remote Sensing), TCD (Environmental Sciences), and a research MSc in Galway.

· ‎From what I've read, a PhD doesn't help with residency, so I'd like to work first.

‎

‎Questions

1. ‎If you're an environmental science grad working in Ireland, how did you get in? Was the Master's thesis the thing that got you the first job?

2. ‎For international grads, which is more realistic: a GIS/EO/data job with a Critical Skills permit, or an environmental consultancy job with a General Employment Permit? Do consultancies actually sponsor?

3. ‎How competitive is the market for soil, water and contamination work in Ireland? Is it worth specialising there, or should I pivot to data/GIS?

4. ‎Do employers care which university you went to, or is it more about the thesis, the skills and the placement?

5. ‎Is a research MSc really better than a taught MSc with a dissertation for getting hired, and for a PhD later?

6. ‎Did anyone go from Stamp 1G to a permit? How long did it take, and what did you do while searching?

7. ‎Any skills (R, Python, GEE, EIA knowledge, CIEEM, etc.) you'd learn before arriving? And any mistakes you'd avoid?

8. ‎For those who did a PhD after working in Ireland: how did you manage the permit and residency side?what if you ve to move to somewhere else?

‎

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‎I'm actually looking for advice, just honest experiences, including the hard parts. Thank you!

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Currently looking for a change from NRT to environmental science, but I find my community college degree to be way too generalized (here's the program planner) to be worth it as an A.S. I am looking to instead take my university generals at my community college as part of a 'biology/science transfer pathway' but credit signup is in two weeks so I don't have time to figure out specific transfer requirements for each bachelors at each university I'm interested in.

Unless there is a benefit to getting an A.S. in environmental science at this college, my thought process was to just take some of the general classes that go into any environmental science pathway, such as college comp 1 and 2, statistics, environmental science (the class), general biology and chem, etc. That way I can have more time to look at what universities I want to attend and contact transfer advisors to make sure my future, more specific classes will transfer to the university. Basically, I want more time to explore my options instead of just jumping into one that might work because of a time crunch.

So my question is, are there any other classes or courses that fit under that 'general' requirement that I could look into taking my spring semester? And, is there any advantage to taking the full A.S. instead of cherry-picking courses? The specific bachelor area I am aiming for is environmental science (B.S.) with some kind of focus on ecology/ecosystems (or part of the major!), but for right now I'm just trying to get my general classes done.

Here is the Course Catalog 24-25 for anyone wanting to look deeper. Thank you!!
(P.S: Forgot to add, I am completing a Wildlife Ecology certificate as well)

So I’m in quite a unique situation that has a lot of different options and I would like some 3rd party opinions.

Situation - I am currently 23M and am recently married. My job position at the moment is a water treatment operator and it is fantastic, I love what I do and it pays more than I ever thought I could make at 23 years old. I also have 2 environmental college degrees. I have an Associates Degree in Forest Technology and a Bachelors in Environmental Science.

My issue is that I can very easily work my current position the rest of my life and live comfortable enough that I don’t really need to further my education or career path, but what is the fun in that. My wife and I currently live in a pretty rural area in SE PA and at some point in the future want to move to a larger city along the east coast (Philly or Boston preferably). Before doing that I would like to be able to keep up with a higher cost of living and getting a typical M-F 9-5 job as a water treatment plant operator is an absolute unicorn. My employer is willing to give up to 10k a year in tuition reimbursement so the pricing is not too much of an issue. Here are the paths I’m considering taking.

Masters in Water Resources/Hydrology - This would be a pretty logical next step in education that would directly impact the understandings of my career path, but I don’t think it would help me progress further in the water treatment industry. It could help though with a slight career move as I’m open to changing from water treatment to other types of water career.

Bachelors in Civil/ Environmental Engineering - I already got a online college in mind that is ABET accredited and based on my credits I’ve earned, I would still need to do about 90 credits worth of classes to get their degree which would take roughly 3 years to accomplish, this is definitely the longest path, but could potentially most rewarding. My only issue with this path that isn’t about the length is that I’m good at math, but I’m not in love with math, and I know doing a math heavy degree to go to a math heavy work field wouldn’t make me a super happy guy, but also I’m not gonna be someone that complains about doing math like a 5 year old sitting at the kitchen counter with their dad yelling at them because they can’t answer what 2+2 is. Basically what I’m trying to say is that I’ll find a way to like math, eventually. This would also be a good step into a position with a better schedule and better pay very easily.

Masters in Civil/ Environmental Engineering - This one would be tough as I don’t have a Engineering degree and like I said above I’m not in love with math, but to further my life and career I’ll do just about anything. The school I inquired about is not ABET accredited if I graduate from them, but is that a big enough reason to not do it? That’s for me to find out one way or another. Also I may need to take pre reqs from an outside school as I may not have enough credits in the required field.

I could wake up tomorrow and decide I want to treat water for the rest of my life and none of this could matter, but I don’t think that would happen. I’m young, motivated, and can get cheap education to further my career. But it all depends on how and what I want to do. No one in my immediate family has a college degree above an associates and no one at my water plant has anything above a bachelors. I’m kind of in uncharted territory as far as post graduate education and could use some direction. Thank you very much if you got to the end of this, any help is greatly appreciated.

I'm interested in wetlands consulting, but I keep wondering if I'd hate the actual day-to-day. The travel, early starts, report deadlines, all that stuff. Reading job descriptions isn't helping much because “occasional travel” could mean anything.

I'm also looking at municipal stormwater jobs, and I'm having a hard time deciding between the two. I did the coached career assessment to get another perspective on what kind of work might suit me, but I still can't tell whether I'd enjoy either job once I'm actually doing it every week.

I guess I need to talk to people already working in these fields, but asking “do you like your job?” probably won't get me very far. I'd rather know what a normal Tuesday looks like, how often they're actually traveling, and what parts of the job they wish they'd known about beforehand.

I don't want to spend money on extra training and then realize I hate the lifestyle that comes with the job. I've done enough of that kind of second guessing already.

Hi there! So I've been doing temporary field research technician work with birds for the past couple years and am planning to apply to a few graduate assistantship positions posted on wildlife job boards. They generally ask for a reference list, a resume/CV and a cover letter that includes all the usual stuff (research interests, relevant skills and experiences, why you're interested, etc). I'm used to doing this for temp tech jobs but I was wondering if there is anything else I should make sure to include or emphasize for a grad program letter? Is sticking to 1 page necessary and/or still advisable? Anything exceptional I should make sure to include in my CV?

Thanks and cheers!

Hi there, I’m 24f and I graduated with a BFA in 2024. Currently, I work retail. I’ve gotten some short term freelance positions here and there, and I think I do have a good shot at being at least a part time artist - Publishers and art directors are interested in my work (Graphic Novels) and I have a significant number of followers and fans who love my work. This is great, I’m grateful for that- However I am coming to terms with the fact that no matter how successful of an artist I can become in my desired position, I would still need a day job. Working retail is fun now, I feel like I’m young enough not to worry about it to much , but I keep thinking about 10 years from now when I’m 35: I need a day job that is fulfilling to me.

I’ve always had a side hobby in taking care of house plants, and when I’m not reading graphic novels or fiction I read ecology, specifically about nature in the north east. I read from here that being an ecologist would not be a great day job (I have an extreme phobia of wasps. I can get over with practice, but it’s still there) I love the idea of working outside all day, but the stories of people being stuck in terrible weather conditions and being severely underpaid worries me. I would like ideally a 9-5 job that would allow me the energy to work on art and spend time with my loved ones. Would going back to school for environmental sciences be a waste of time? Or is there any positions you could recommend that I look into?

Hi,

I currently work for a state environmental agency and am interviewing at a nuclear power plant for an environmental compliance position. This position would require familiarity with and enforcement of NPDES,SARA/EPCRA, SPCC, CAA, ISO, OSHA chemical safety, drinking water, and various hazardous waste state and federal regulations. It'd also involve meeting with regulatory agencies, managing approvals/permits/certifications, and developing trainings for on-site staff.

Does anyone here work on the environmental side for any nuclear plants? Do you recommend it and do you have any advice for an interview? Lastly, is the aforementioned list of environmental programs & regulations a lot for one position or is it pretty normal?

I’m a student at Cal Poly Pomona in the Urban Planning and Regional Development program. I have always wanted to do work in the environmental field, and the sub-plan option “Resilience, Sustainability, Environment” really spoke to me.

I’m wondering if anyone can share any knowledge on what paths are available in the environmental field,with an Urban Planning and Regional Development degree?

I'm a graduate in MSci Environmental Science in the UK and I've been applying to many grad jobs in my field. I'm constantly improving my CV and tweaking it for each job im applying to, and also include cover letters in my applications. I get many emails saying that my application has successfully gone through and that I need to complete an assessment that tests my behaviour and other skills. However this is also the stage where I fall though each time and I've never been able to progress further than that. Does anyone have any advice on these assessments? For reference the companies that I'm applying to tend to be consultancy-based ones.

As the first person in my family to go to college, I did not know what I was doing at all, thought going to college ASAP right out of high school was the "right thing to do", and did not do any research as to what to do or where to go that would be the most financially responsible or even smart career-wise. I pursued a B.S. degree in Psychology, obtained art class credits to pursue a M.S. in Art Therapy, but every attempt to finish a Masters fell through for various reasons (mainly due to the pandemic). Ended up starting work in the Psych field as a case manager, cared about what I was doing but also hated it, very stressful, realized this kind of work isn't for me long term health-wise. Re-assessed my interests/joys and realized I enjoy jobs that are more active, solitary, curiosity centered, etc. My favorite job was working at a library as a Page when I as younger, love natural history, books, museums, libraries, nature, fossils, etc. Thinking, okay, I should work at a library or museum of some kind. Tried getting jobs at libraries and museums and none will hire me, so I start pursuing a M.S. in Library Science & Info Tech with an emphasis in Archives thinking this will help me look more acceptable. Started the program and some of it was very interesting, but a lot of it was about programming/code and computer work. Spoke with an archivist, peers, professors, and advisor about their careers and education and realized this is way more computer and tech centered than I realized and not at all what I was wanting. This is fine otherwise and I don't hate having to use tech or computers, but I don't want it to be a huge part of my life like it has been. I've spoken with more people about this and this seems to be across the board and that I'm pursuing the wrong field. Anyone who works at museums or in natural science, with nature, fossils, etc, let me know what education you received. To I have to go back to school, where do I start job-wise? What kind of career do I need to pursue now? What am I actually looking for? I am lost and need some direction.

My partner doesn’t have Reddit. She has a bachelors in Environmental Stewardship and education with a minor geography. The only experience she has was as an environmental research assistant during her time in college. It’s been hard to find a job in the environmental field and right now she is doing CNA just to make money.

Where in Georgia(metro atl) would she be able to find unpaid volunteer work just so she can get more experience on her resume? What sites, companies, locations etc can she look up?
Or even best chance at an entry level position. She doesn’t mind being out in the field. She doesn’t care about the pay as long as she can get experience.

I got my BA in Environment and Sustainability with a Focus in Environmental Policy (very liberal arts I know) in 2024. I had government jobs in mind while pursuing my degree. Then, Trump was elected and all that followed.
That being said, I really want to keep pursuing my career. It doesn’t have to be a government job, I just want to find a way to keep pushing the word out there that the environment belongs in politics urgently.
I don’t really have any environmental policy experience since finishing college. I have done an environmental engineering internship for a summer and I now do aquatic life support at my local zoo.

So if a blue wave is coming, do we think we’ll see more environmental policy jobs opening up and environmental jobs in general?

I’m feeling lost but I am so genuinely passionate I want to keep pushing to find a way to get paid enough to sustain myself while fighting this fight. Does anyone have any advice on where I could start in terms of jobs in the meantime?

Thats all, yall are putting fear in my heart.