College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Services and the N.C. State Department of Biology are encouraging sophomores and juniors to apply for Career Fellows, which provides undergraduate students with a professional opportunity.

Career Fellows is a program that allows students to shadow a successful member of the workforce in a field they are considering entering after graduation, said Melissa Kahn, assistant director for CALS Career Services.

“The Career Fellows program is a two-day job shadowing experience over spring break. The students who are selected will be matched with a mentor who has a job that matches the student’s career interests,” Kahn said. “This is a chance for students to find out what a career path is really like, get a sense for one type of work environment, make connections in their field of interest, and to get firsthand information about their own career goals.”

Kahn said prospective applicants must be sophomores or juniors and must first be nominated by their faculty advisor or another staff member. Applications for the 2011 selection process are due by 5 p.m. on Dec. 7. Students can turn in applications to 107 Patterson Hall, and they must also complete an interview to be considered.

According to Kahn, the process is limited to sophomores and juniors because these students have had the chance to consider their career goals while still having enough time for any modifications.

“A student’s second or third year is a great time to get involved in this program,” Kahn said. “They have had some time to reflect on their career goals and figure out what they are looking for, but they also still have some time before graduation to apply the information that they gain from the program.”

Rita Beard, a junior in criminology, said this opportunity came at a great time in her college career.

“The idea that you get to shadow a mentor in your field is a really good way to see a day in the life of someone in your area. As a student, we may not know what we really want to do or see what we are doing on a day to day basis, and this allows that,” said Beard. “I originally was only focused on forensics, but after being placed with the NorthCarolina Juvenile Delinquency Department, my eyes were opened to other areas.”

According to Kahn, economic problems in North Carolina have resulted in a limited number of student internships available, but the Career Fellows program continues to open doors for students looking for internships in those fields.

“With the job market still the way that it is, many companies have cut back on the number of internships that they have available,” said Kahn. “This program offers students a chance to get involved with an organization without a full internship, and the connections that they make while shadowing could give them an advantage when applying for jobs or internships.”

Unfortunately, criminology is no longer included in CALS, so incoming criminology majors are not eligible to participate in CALS Career Fellows.

Beard said the experience helped her exponentially nevertheless.

“This program actually led to two other internships and allowed me to figure out what I want to do, and I just heard back from another internship in the spring with the General Assembly,” said Beard. “Just from the initial contact through the career fellows program, I am continuing to make connections.”

Kahn said all CALS students interested in this opportunity should apply, as experience gained from participation in Career Fellows is very valuable.

“It is difficult for students to really know if their chosen career path is right for them without finding a way to try it out, either through internships or job shadowing,” Kahn said. “I think it is easy for students to make a decision based on what they think a career is really like without testing the waters, and this is an opportunity to do so. We give these students the start they need, and then it is up to them to make the most of this great experience.”