This event will run online from June 15 - August 15. Registration for candidates is open NOW and until August 15. The event is free for alumni job seekers from SHIP. Register for the event at: http://www.cumberlandvalleyconsortium.com/. Contact [email protected] for additional information.

These companies are looking to hire SHIP alumni. You can find out more about these opportunities as well as other opportunities on College Central at www.collegecentral.com/ship. If you are a Ship alum and looking to hire other Ship alums or students, please contact us to highlight your job and post it on College Central. 

Investment Operations Analyst, Exton 

The five years since I left Shippensburg University have been quite a journey, full of excitement, frustration, challenges, rewards, and everything in between. After receiving my Masters of Science in Geo-environmental Studies in May 2008, I was excited and ready to take on the world. Little did I know that the world wasn't quite ready for me and the economy wasn't going to cooperate, either. My first job offer was very tempting. However, it was located in D.C. and, after much internal struggle, my family and I decided that we didn't want to move to the D.C. area. Instead, we decided to move to the beautiful state of Colorado, where we knew we would enjoy living, and hope that an equally lucrative job offer would follow. And then the economy crashed. I couldn't find a job to save my life. 

After a few months, I finally got a job as Geek Squad Admin at the local Best Buy. And a few months later, I found a job in my field from a craigslist posting. I became a laboratory technician, performing Whole Effluent Toxicity tests. These are basically tests that subject water fleas and fish to an effluent water to learn whether the water is toxic or not. I learned a lot in my new job and quickly advanced to Lead Laboratory Technician and then to QA/QC Officer. Within two years, I was managing all aspects of the laboratory as the Quality Assurance Manager. While I was learning a lot and grateful to be working in my field, I knew that I was destined for a little more.

In November 2012, I was offered the position of Water Quality Analyst for the City of Boulder and I was thrilled to accept this position. Because I had suspected the City of Boulder would be a fantastic employer, I had been keeping my eye on the City's website for job openings. I've been with the City for about six months now and I couldn't be happier. I feel like my education and background were all in preparation for this position. I conduct a wide array of analyses in the laboratory everyday (ammonia, TKN, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, BOD, COD, TSS, metals by ICP-MS, etc.). I also attend a lot of meetings on varying topics, from a regulatory focus to contaminants of emerging concern. Additionally, I head out into the beautiful sunshine once a month to collect water samples along Boulder Creek, ensuring that we are keeping the water here in this headwater state as pristine as possible. 

I'm so grateful to be a scientist for the City of Boulder. I am given the tools to excel and feel like the work I do and the data I produce is very important. It's an incredible feeling to be working in the field that is my passion and to be contributing valuable data. I'm also extremely thankful for the skills I gained during my education at Shippensburg University. I was given an extremely solid foundation in the environmental field and the skills necessary to excel in my career path. My experiences at Shippensburg also gave me the confidence in my abilities to adapt to new situations and circumstances and the confidence that I can do anything, if I put my mind to it.

If I could share any wisdom with current Ship students or recent alumni, it would be to enjoy the entire journey. It's going to be full of challenges and victories, frustrations and rewards. But, attitude is everything. With the skills developed at Ship, the confidence that builds over time, the right attitude, and some patience you can achieve all your dreams.  

Let us know if we can assist you with a resume critique, cover letter review or networking, interviewing or job searching tips. We are here to help you in your career development. Contact Lorie Davis at [email protected]  for 717-477-1218.