/biz/ - Business & Finance

Here's my story, hope it helps one person. Fair warning, I'm not a programmer or accountant, or really anything related to tech or computers. Most people in my career are geologists, hydrologists, environmental scientists, civil engineers, etc...

>Be in grad school during prime 2008 recession
>One of my professors gets the class the opportunity to get an actual field certification (HAZWOPER). Mind you this is industry standard, damned useful, and expensive for companies since it's a 40hr class
>Get the cert, only a handful in the class actually do it
>Apply for an internship, get it. According to boss, of ~120 applicants, only 4 of us had HAZWOPER, which while not necessary to have to be considered, was very useful because it showed we were interested in the field AND the company doesn't have to pay for it. My boss also liked that I was an eagle scout.
>Work at the internship for two years, try to get a fulltime job with the company, but no luck. They werent hiring fulltime since the recession was still going on.
>Take a look at similar jobs online, start editing my resume to be more frank and project-detailed. I made sure to put front and center my certs.
>Interview a few times, learn how to not just be a robot talking about my field interests and goals like some daft schoolgirl. I specifically tell interviewers that if they're looking to hire me for fieldwork or whatever, I have experience working 10-12hrs in 100+F temperatures and I understand safety. I'll get the job done even if i have to make a bunch of phone calls from the field and if the sun starts going down.
>Also mention that I always practice standard decon procedures and i don't wreck equipment or leave it dirty.
>eventually get a fulltime job. a couple years down the line, get a couple more field-relevant certs.

My current job was offered to me out of the blue, solely because they were looking for a few specific certs and someone who can operate more or less independently.