Employment Opportunities While Attending College

STUDENT TRAINEE positions under the Student Career Experience Program are available in a variety of job areas. A trainee position acquaints the student with field application of conservation practices learned in the classroom. The program provides for periods of study mixed with periods of study-related employment. Work is under the guidance of a trained NRCS employee in the speciality.

These positions can lead to careers requiring a college degree, usually with a major in natural resources, agronomy, or other agriculture areas. Some are:

Soil Conservationist

Provides technical advice on installing conservation practices such as terraces, dams and planting of grass, trees or wildlife cover. Provides advice to landowners and government agencies in the development of the natural resources.

Civil or Ag Engineer

Assists in engineering design of dams, road structure and terrace systems. Makes on-site inspections, computes quantity and most of materials, and gathers basic planning data for these structures.

Soil Scientist

Makes sample drillings in the field to identify and classify soils, gathers information for soil surveys such as land use and crop data, and is generally responsible for soil surveys.

Range Conservationist

Help ranchers develop good grazing systems by developing a conservation plan, gives advice on the best grasses to grow and ways to improve and protect rangeland.

How the Student Career Experience Program Works

Under a working agreement between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and an educational institution, the student must work a minimum of 640 study-related work hours before completion of the education requirements for graduation. The student may work full-time during the summer and vacation periods or part-time while attending classes. Students are hired on a temporary basis (usually at the GS-3 or GS-4 level) subject to all the conditions of a career-conditional appointment. They are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a career-conditional appointment upon completion of the educational requirements and the minimum work hours.

For more information about job opportunities in Nebraska, contact the Human Resources Section, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Room 152, Federal Building, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508-3866, or call 402/437-4057 or 4058.

For information about job opportunities outside of Nebraska, check the U.S. Government listings in the local phone book, under the Department of Agriculture.