It is that time again for me to review and interview the next rotation of interns. The deadline for resumes and cover letters was April 15th. Most candidates are graduating in May and planning their future endeavors. The Fall 2011 internship begins August 15th. We received 126 applicants for the 12 offered intern positions. We are very fortunate to have such a large number of qualified candidates apply. Our program has become extremely competitive in the last 10 years. We post our opportunities at 1300 colleges nationwide. The refuge is also an institutional member of the American Association of Zookeepers, where we are able to post our program.
My first step is reading thoroughly each applicant's credentials and letters. I then narrow it down for the interviewing process. In the last week, I completed 31 phone interviews. This can be an exhausting process. I am now at the stage of choosing the top 12 interviewed, and I will begin the reference calling starting today. This can be time consuming due to playing phone tag. Everyone is in their offices at different times throughout the day. After their references check out, then I make the decision to hire.
The process is difficult, and unlike any other job interview. I really need to get an impression for who they are as a person, not just what it says on paper. Due to our interns living in the housing together, I need to hire people who can be compatible and work hard. Difficult decisions, but end results have been phenomenal! It is a rewarding experience for me to bring them all here, watch them grow, and succeed after they depart. Good luck to all the applicants, and welcome aboard to our next crew!
Emily McCormack
Staff Zoologist/Volunteer Coordinator
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
This is the current group of interns. They will be here most of the summer. Make sure to say Hi to them during your next visit.
