According to the American Geosciences Institutes Geoscience Student Exit Survey, internship participation rates over the past four years have been low, particularly among bachelors and doctoral graduates. In 2016, 65% of bachelors graduates, 44% of masters graduates, and 57% of doctoral graduates did not participate in an internship while working on their degree. When asked if they submitted applications for internship opportunities, 42% of bachelors graduates, 23% of masters graduates, and 46% of doctoral graduates claimed to not submit any applications.

Professional development experiences, such as internships, research presentations and professional network building, are becoming increasingly important to enhance students’ employability post-graduation. The practical, non-technical skills that are important for succeeding during these professional development experiences, such as public speaking, project management, ethical practices and writing, transition well and are imperative to the workplace. Thereby, graduates who have honed these skills are more competitive candidates for geoscience employment.