In this episode of the Career Cafe, the hosts sit down with Sierra, a former outdoor recreation major who turned her passion for the outdoors into a fulfilling career. Sierra shares her journey of leveraging seasonal jobs with the National Park Service and other agencies to build a unique and rewarding career path. From working in remote locations to navigating the federal application process, Sierra's story is a testament to how temporary, seasonal work can be a powerful stepping stone to finding your dream job.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Meet the Guest: An introduction to Sierra, who shares her academic background in outdoor recreation.
• The Power of Seasonal Work: How taking a summer job with the National Parks after her freshman year changed Sierra's career perspective and helped her merge her studies with her passion.
• A Non-Linear Path: Sierra discusses her career journey, which has included roles in interpretation (education), trail work, and her current position as an Outdoor Recreation Planner.
• Beyond Park Ranger: The conversation highlights the vast diversity of jobs available within agencies like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Forest Service, including roles in HR, IT, and trades like being an electrician or plumber.
• Building Your Network: Sierra emphasizes the importance of networking within seasonal positions, which often leads to future job opportunities through word-of-mouth and personal connections.
• Navigating USAJOBS: Tips for applying for federal positions through the USAJOBS website, including the importance of creating a detailed federal resume and setting up saved searches. Sierra notes that a federal resume can be much longer than a traditional one, sometimes up to 10 pages.
• State vs. Federal: The benefits of looking for jobs at the state level, as the application process can sometimes be simpler than the federal one.
• Embracing the Unknown: Sierra's advice to students is to be open to trying new things and exploring different locations. She encourages listeners not to be afraid of moving for a job, as it can lead to amazing experiences and personal growth.
• Key Takeaway: Seasonal work provides invaluable hands-on experience, allows you to "try on" different careers, and builds a professional network that can help you long-term.

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SUU Career Center website

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Southern Utah University

Cedar City, Utah