Cathleen Kittle is the Director for the Bureau of Publications and Internet at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  As as Geneseo graduate, she emphasies the importance of networking, communication skills, and the ability to work with others as key to success for finding and keeping a job you enjoy.

Preparing for a Profession

Recieving her undergraduate degree in Boilogy with a minor in Chemistry.  Her focus was environmental studies and plant science.  Cathleen has always had an interest in working with people and helping them understand complex issues.

Advice on Breaking into the Field

You need to practice doing interviews.  I personally practiced interview answers with friends and family just to get used to what type of thing to expect.  Take initiative to learn everything you can about the employer you are interviewing for. Cathleen also explains the skills that the basic, but most important skills needed for her profession include excellent communication skills; the ability to collaborate with others in a way that creates positive outcomes; organization and project management skills; and an interest/ passion in the environment certainly helps.

Internships are very important to increase your total network and ability to find a job.  They can help launch you into something you love, or steer you away from something you do not. 

Working for the Government

If you want to work for any level of the Government, be sure to take whatever civil service exam you qualify for.  It is important to be on a lot of different lists because they stay active for a while and you never know what direction your life may take.

The Politics

The politics are the worst part about my job.  Sometimes you dont get to hire the person you want because they aren't on a civil service list.  Sometimes you need to follow the direction of the Governor or agency commissioner even if you dont support their position.  If you are the type of person who wont do some things they may not necessarily believe in, this jobmay not be for you 

The People

Three teams create my bureau:  one is the graphic artists- very crative people, the second is the editorial team- they review all official brochures, reports and display materials for the agency; the third is the web team.