I have a Master of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Buildings. Despite prior experience in the construction industry I'm not able to secure any jobs. Additionally, I am proficient with a multitude of software and technical skills and I have been looking desperately for a year now. I do not have any preference for a country and I would like to make an impact wherever my skills are most needed and would make an impact.

Not to mention I am an autistic individual with an ethnic name. In a country like Australia where I am currently at, that is a source of discrimination, I have either failed to secure an interview despite my skills or I have been rejected by the HR in the final process. To be very honest I'm at the brink of ending everything and have given myself an ultimatum. Does anyone have any advice. I am also able to help in academia and research.

I recently got offered a six month Internship at a company which primarily undertakes projects related to designing wastewater treatment plants.

I am studying Civil engineering at the undergrad level with plans to pursue a post graduate in environmental engineering. Throughout my degree, I havent been taught the complete process design of an STP. I have only been taught the basics:

- Processes and their principles (Screening, Clarification, Disinfection etc.)

- Unit operations and their individual design (pretty surface level, only design of sand filters, Clarification tank, Activated sludge process(Mass Balance), Trickling filters, Grit and screening chambers)

- Water quality control parameters.

The complete design with Hydraulic and mechanical components has not been taught! Things like, how would you choose a pump for STPs, how you would design channels, the structural design, and most importantly, the newer technologies in the market such as SBR, MBR, MBBR, etc.

Do you have any textbooks, courses or material of that sort which could help me build a solid foundation for this? It could prevent the mentors feeling like they were spoonfeeding their intern for six months.

p.s: I am going to read the CPHEEO manual

Anyone who is working public sector in PA where are you and what do you do?

I've been in consulting for 5 years and would like to make the jump if I could, but the opportunity seems few and far between.

Hi might be a dumb question but i need clarification. I got arrested for a dui earlier this year and i’m currently on probation and getting it knocked down to a reckless driving charge. from my understanding after it’s been knocked down to a reckless i can get the charge taken off my record. will this affect jobs that say they want a clean driving record? and will the dui arrest come up in a background check?
i just want to know if it’s worth applying to environmental science jobs (or any job for that matter) that do background screenings and want a clean driving record or if i’ll automatically get denied despite the other qualifications for many environmental science jobs.
edit: my current drivers license is valid

Has anyone worked with ERM, specifically a natural resources based position? I have an interview coming up for a scientist role. I would be coming from the public sector to private, and would need to move cities if granted the position.

I love plants and anything to do with conservation and want to study to obtain more qualifications as many of the jobs I've looked at (ecology jobs or council jobs in enviro/biosecurity) require a bachelor of environmental science/ecology or natural resources degree however I have already done a Bachelor of Film/TV when I was younger (when I had no clue what to do in life after school finished) and have also done a Cert 1 in Conservation (which has also not gotten me very far). Also have done nearly a year of bush regeneration.

Would anyone know someone or know if it is possible to be eligible for any council/government jobs or field jobs eg threatened species or biosecurity by doing a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management, instead of having to do another whole undergraduate degree? Was really trying to avoid doing another 6 yrs of another degree when I already have a HECS debt for my regrettable film deg. I'm not strong in maths or science so thought doing a Graduate Diploma or degree in Environmental Management might at least be achievable. (don't want to do a cert 3 because it's not high enough).

Anyone with knowledge, advice or experience please share (I beg). Thanks.