Frequently Asked Questions
What is the application deadline?
How will I know if my application is complete?
How can I make my application stand out?
How are interns selected?
When do phone interviews take place?
How can I best prepare for an interview?
What is the start date for an internship?
Are internships extended beyond five months?
What kinds of projects will I assist with as an intern?
Where will my internship be located?
Can I choose the location?
What are the housing options for interns?
What is the intended use of the stipend?
What do interns gain from the CLM Training Workshop?
How can an undergraduate student prepare to be competitive for a CLM Internship after graduation?
Can I apply if I am not a US citizen?
Can I apply for an internship if I am a former intern?
If I applied in a previous year, do I have to resubmit all documents to be considered for an internship this year?
How is the program’s success measured?
What is the application deadline?
We accept applications on a rolling basis until all positions are filled (typically April 1st). Only complete applications will be reviewed. Your application is complete after we receive your submitted application, 3 letters of recommendation and your official college/university transcript. Please log into your CLM account to determine if your application is complete.
How will I know if my application is complete?
Your application is complete after we receive your submitted application, 3 letters of recommendation and your official college/university transcript.
You will be able to view the progress of your application by logging into your CLM account. Once you submit your application, we will have received your application form, cover letter and resume. When your letters are submitted by those providing recommendations, you will be sent an confirmation email and your account will be updated. Your transcript will be scanned and added to your files and your CLM account will be updated to show that we’ve received your transcript.
How can I make my application stand out?
Be sure that you've got relevant coursework/species knowledge. Applicants that have taken courses that include species identification (e.g. Plant Systematics/Taxonomy, Entomology, Ichthyology, Ornithology, Vertebrate Biology, Mammalogy, Herpetology, Invertebrate Biology, etc.) head to the top of the list! Because there is a shortage of botanists trained in basic plant identification, and plant and community ecology, and because many of our internships are plant-focused, we strongly encourage applicants with coursework in botany, especially plant identification.
Make a good first impression! Make sure there are no obvious misspellings or other mistakes on your application materials. Mistakes can detract from your application, since they may indicate that you don't care enough or aren't attentive enough to proof-read your application. Forgoing basic English composition and grammar may be fine for text-messages, but not for your cover letter and professional emails! Not using proper grammar, capitalization and punctuation definitely gives a bad first-impression. Always be professional!
How are interns selected?
Applications are matched to job descriptions provided by our partnering agencies. Selection is based upon education, skills, interest in conservation practices, experience, and enthusiasm. Applicants with the relevant education and experience will be selected to move forward to the next phase, interviews.
A short list of applicants for each position is chosen and applicants are interviewed via two separate telephone interviews. The first interview is conducted by CLM staff at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The applications for 3 selected applicants are then sent to the mentor for review. If your file is sent out for review, you will receive an email giving you the name of the mentor, location and a brief project description to help you prepare for the interview with the mentor. The mentor will contact qualified applicants for a second phone interview. The mentor then offers the position to their preferred candidate.
If you are not offered or choose not to accept the first position you are considered for, your application will remain active in the applicant pool and you will be considered for other positions for which you are qualified. Applications remain active unless the applicant notifies the CLM Program that they are no longer interested in being considered for an internship or until all positions are filled (typically around April 1st).
When do phone interviews take place?
Applicants who are available to start in January - March will be contacted between December and February to schedule the initial phone interview with CLM Staff. Applicants available to start between March and June will be contacted in beginning in February to schedule a phone interview. Interviews continue in March and April until all positions are filled.
Within 1-2 weeks of your initial phone interview, your files will be sent to a mentor to consider for their internship position. Each mentor receives 3 applicant files for each position for which they are hiring and applicants are sent an email to notify them that their files have been sent to a mentor for review. The mentor will contact their top applicant(s) for a second interview. This interview will provide you with more specific information on what the internship entails and is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have – regarding the internship position, your responsibilities, projects you may work on and also questions about housing, the town you will be living in, etc.
How can I best prepare for CLM interviews?
The initial interview with CLM Staff is informal and serves to get a better understanding of your interests and to acquaint you with the next steps in the application process. To prepare for your second interview (interview with a mentor), you will be sent an email that will contain the name of the agency, location (city and state), name of the mentor and a brief description of the internship. It may also be helpful to gain an understanding of the type of work that the agencies are conducting in your field. For example, browse the BLM, NPS, USFS, USGS or FWS websites.
What is the start date for an internship?
Most internships begin mid-May or early June. However, we have a small number of internships that start earlier, anywhere from January to April. There are typically a few positions that start in the fall, between August and October. Be sure to state the month you are available to start on your on-line application form!
Are internships extended beyond five months?
Yes, some internships are extended for up to five additional months, dependent upon the performance of the intern during the first five months and funding availability. The mentor you interview with could provide more information on whether their internship has the potential to be extended beyond the first 5 months.
What kinds of projects will I assist with as an intern?
Projects vary and may include the following:
• Conducting inventories of and monitoring Special Status species – plants and/or wildlife
• Collecting important data on reintroduction and management experiments conducted on Special Status species
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping
• Conducting literature searches for Endangered Species Act consultations
• Developing Special Status handbooks
• Reintroducing Special Status species
• Conducting surveys and eradicating invasive species
• Writing environmental assessments and components of land-use plans, updating endangered species lists, and creating web sites
Where will my internship be located?
Internship locations change each year. The vast majority are based with the Bureau of Land Management and are located throughout the western United States. Limited positions may be available in the midwestern and eastern United States but this tends to vary each year.
Can I choose the location?
Applicants who are flexible with location preferences are most likely to be placed. Applicants are encouraged to indicate any preferences in their online application form. We will do our best to accommodate those requests. Applicants should also indicate if their preferences are flexible by selecting the 'none' option from the menu.
What are the housing options for interns?
Your mentor can provide you with information on specific housing options that may be available to you. Most interns rent an apartment or a room in a home. A few field offices have seasonal housing options (cabin or trailer) that is typically offered at a lower cost.
What is the intended use of the stipend?
Your stipend is intended to cover living expenses, including rent, groceries, laundry, gas, etc.
What do interns gain from the CLM Training Workshop?
• Networking, bonding, knowledge, and a support group
• New skills and preparation for the internship
• Readiness to step into the role of a practical conservation field worker
• Valuable experience working for a government agency
• Familiarity with planning, organizing, and completing work projects
• Familiarity with the roles of the government agencies
• Ability to prepare biological assessments and reports
How can an undergraduate student prepare to be competitive for a CLM Internship after graduation?
Please go to our "Information for Undergraduates" page to read how you can best prepare to be competitive for a CLM Internship.
Can I apply if I am not a US citizen?
Unfortunately, CLM Internships are available for US citizens or applicants with a current, valid green card (permanent alien resident) only.
Can I apply for an internship if I am a former intern?
Yes, we accept applications from former interns! For those who were interns previously, you will need to complete a new online application, which will require you to provide an updated cover letter and resume. Any letters of recommendation and transcripts received with your previous application are still on file and will be added to your new application. If you have acquired recent experience related to your application, please ask that a person familiar with your work submit an additional letter on your behalf as well.
If I applied in a previous year, do I have to resubmit all documents to be considered for an internship this year?
For those who are re-applying, you will need to complete a new online application, which will require you to provide an updated cover letter and resume. Any letters of recommendation and transcripts received with your previous application are still on file and will be added to your new application. If you have acquired recent experience related to your application, please ask that a person familiar with your work submit an additional letter on your behalf as well.
How is the program’s success measured?
Interns and mentors complete questionnaires to provide valuable feedback. This feedback is used to fine-tune and improve the program each year.
Other success measures include:
• Many interns have their internship extended and some are hired in a permanent capacity by the agency. Following their internship, most interns find employment with a local, state or federal agency, a non-profit or research institution in the field of biology, conservation or land management. Approximately 20% of interns return to graduate school to pursue a Masters or Ph.D. Degree.
• The program continues to grow with additional internship requests each year.