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Environmental Technicians

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Students should obtain as much experience in the field as possible by participating in summer internships and co-ops. These programs provide great practical experience, and they will also give students a chance to explore potential career paths and make networking contacts that might translate into a job offer once they graduate.

Environmental technicians should be curious, patient, detail-oriented, and capable of following instructions. Basic manual skills are a must for collecting samples and performing similar tasks. Complex environmental regulations drive technicians' jobs; therefore, it's crucial that they are able to read and understand technical materials and to carefully follow any written guidelines for sampling or other procedures. Computer skills and the ability to read and interpret maps, charts, and diagrams are also necessary.

Technicians must make accurate and objective observations, maintain clear and complete records, and be exact in their computations. In addition, good physical conditioning is a requirement for some activities, for example, climbing up smokestacks to take emission samples. The ability to work well with others and on your own, when necessary, is also important.

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