Careers

Overview
Smith Net Impact seeks to provide students interested in integrating their career aspirations to "do good while doing well" with information, tools, and contacts necessary to achieve their career goals. The club provides resources for students by recruiting speakers for career events, sharing information and leads, distributing a resume book, working with the career services office, and cooperating with affiliated organizations, such as the national Net Impact organization, the Net Impact DC Professional Chapter, consortium school Net Impact chapters, and the DC Sustainable Business Network.

Smith Net Impact Internships Fund Program
You may not realize that last year some of your classmates had to turn down their top internship choices. They were offered challenging, resume-building experiences in organizations with social value. Even though they wanted the positions, they chose other offers because they couldn't afford to take the socially responsible but lower-paying jobs. We can make sure that doesn't happen again. Through Net Impact, our class has a unique opportunity to start a fund and leave a powerful legacy behind.

Please contact Aimee Newell for details.

Click here to read national Net Impact intern success stories

Career Resources for Smith Students, Alumni, and Recruiters

Office of Career Management
If your company or organization has an opening-for either a summer intern or permanent hire-in a sustainable enterprise-related field or role, we would be happy to connect you with interested students and facilitate recruiting. Please email job announcements to Janet Richert, Managing Director, Office of Career Management, at jrichert@rhsmith.umd.edu. To discuss on-campus recruiting opportunities, please call Janet at (301) 405-5910.

Smith Net Impact Resume Book
Every year, the Smith Net Impact Chapter produces a resume book specifically focused on students who are interested in integrating their interests in corporate responsibility and sustainable business practices with their careers. This resume book is available to any interested company or organization. Email net-impact@rhsmith.umd.edu to receive a copy.

Smith Net Impact Career Resource Guide
Smith Net Impact has compiled an updated career resource guide for CSR-minded business leaders. Please click here to view the document (in PDF).

External Career Guidance

Experience and qualifications come first. While we encourage people who feel passionately about sustainable development to get involved in these issues, passion on its own is, unfortunately, not enough. You will need qualifications or experience to back up your commitments.

Understand business. If you are looking for work in the ‘business and sustainable development’ field, experience in a business environment and knowledge of how corporate companies operate is key.

Know the work involved. There are many different areas within this field – corporate reporting, scenario planning, business development and facilitating stakeholder dialogue to name a few. Get an understanding of the range of approaches and decide which ones are of interest to you.

Know the major players. Spend time researching who does what in the field before approaching prospective employers.

Keep up to date. There are many specialist magazines and websites that cover sustainable development issues. It is important to be aware of new developments.

Networking works. There are many conferences and meetings taking place all over the world where people get together and discuss sustainable development issues – not all are expensive to attend and some may offer discount rates if you are an enthusiastic student.

Don’t forget the fundamentals. As with many other jobs, computer skills, writing ability, foreign languages, good communication skills and level-headed thinking are always desirable, if not essential.

Job Search Portals

Business for Social Responsibility CSR jobs
CSR Europe Jobs
Ethical Corporation/Lifeworth CSR Jobs
Idealist
Net Impact (membership required)
Sustainable Business.com Green Dream Jobs

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