WHAT IS BLM?

 

He serves as a management analyst.

She as a business specialist.

And he in information technology.

 

Diverse people, working diverse jobs.

 

What they share in common is they all work for a Federal agency they’d never heard of when they first entered college.

 

The Bureau of Land Management.

 

So what exactly is the Bureau of Land Management? Why is it important? And why would you want to consider exploring a career with us?

 

Our multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. We manage the land for energy production, for public recreation, for grazing and timber. We manage the land to protect threatened and endangered species.

 

[Interview Clip of Andrew Goldsmith, Management Analyst, Former SCEP Student] “You have exposure to a wide variety of projects that you can work on.”

 

[Interview Clip of Leon Thomas, Training Coordinator, Former SCEP Student] “It’s a growing organization. We have a lot of our baby boomers leaving soon, so it opens up a lot of opportunity for young people.”

 

Each year, we invite students from coast to coast to discover all the Bureau has to offer through a unique education opportunity know as the Student Career Experience Program, S.C.E.P.

 

[Interview Clip of Michael Thomas, Historian, Former SCEP Student] “I first heard of the Bureau when I was an undergraduate student at Coppin State University in Baltimore. I got involved with a project with one of my professors where she was categorizing the archival holdings there. And I got involved with that. I like archival research, so I got interested, I guess, from that aspect.”

 

[Interview Clip of Elena Daly, Retired Director, National Landscape Conservation System, Former SCEP Student] “I was in law school, and the State Director for Eastern States was also a law student. He designed a coop program, what was then known as a coop ed program, for law students.”

 

[Interview Clip of Amanda James, Natural Resources Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “I first head about the Bureau of Land Management when I was attending school at Haskell, an all Indian college in Kansas.”

 

[Interview Clip of Tiya Samuels, Business Management Specialist, Former SCEP Student} “My major was agricultural communication, so it tied directly with my major.”

 

[Interview Clip of Leon Thomas, Training Coordinator, Former SCEP Student] “You get to align what you are doing in school with true career experience.”

 

Selection to the program comes with an impressive list of experiences and benefits. You’ll be placed in a paid, career-track program that closely matches your academic major and career goals. You may also receive the benefits of a full-time Federal employee, including health and life insurance, accrued leave, and holidays. Depending upon where you work, there may be tuition and travel assistance too. And chances are, you’ll visit areas of the country you’ve never seen before.

 

All this plus real world experiences accomplishing real-world tasks.

 

[Interview Clip of Kelly Coleman, Administrative Management Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “I saw the SCEP program, and I was in college. And it seemed like a really good opportunity to get your foot in the door and to start a career that you could find rewarding and enjoyable.”

 

[Interview Clip of Michael Thomas, Historian, Former SCEP Student] “Anything that was school-related, my immediate supervisor always accommodated me.”

 

[Interview Clip of Arturo Lopez, Realty Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “I was able to complete my courses and take as many hours off in order to complete my Bachelor’s.”

 

[Interview Clip of Al’Tariq Samuels, Information Technology Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “I came in. I gained experience. So, when I graduated, I walked across that stage a determined man.”

 

Then, there are the numerous intangible benefits too.

 

[Interview Clip of Tiya Samuels, Business Management Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “I was a small town, country girl coming up from the South, so coming to DC to work for BLM was a major experience. It was a major change.”

 

[Interview Clip of Elena Daly, Retired Director, National Landscape Conservation System, Former SCEP Student] “I met people from the West with BLM and visited some of the field offices. And I was thrilled with the work that they were doing. There was such a sense of accomplishment and commitment to their mission.”

 

[Interview Clip of Andrew Goldsmith, Management Analyst, Former SCEP Student] “So now I have seen a whole lot of the country that I never would have seen before. And I’ve met a lot of people and different personality types from what I grew up with, so that’s been really interesting. The people have been really great.”

 

[Interview Clip of Al’Tariq Samuels, Information Technology Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “I met my wife here. She is also a SCEP, came in the SCEP program. And with that said, the Bureau of Land Management has changed my life, and made it happier from here on out.”

 

But perhaps the most important benefit is this. If you successfully complete the program, you become eligible for non-competitive conversion to become a full-time employee with the Bureau upon graduation.

 

[Interview Clip of Andrew Goldsmith, Management Analyst, Former SCEP Student] “I could try out the agency, and they could try me out. And then if we liked each other, I could be hired non-competitively. I could stay if I like it and go if I didn’t.”

 

[Interview Clip of Tiya Samuels, Business Management Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “I had a change to grow in the SCEP program before I actually took on the position as Business Management Specialist in Property.”

 

[Interview Clip of Elena Daly, Retired Director, National Landscape Conservation System, Former SCEP Student] “It gave me a chance to evaluate what I wanted to do. I never saw myself staying in government. Never saw myself in anything but practicing law, until I was exposed to some of the other opportunities. So, it opened my eyes. It broadened my world.”

 

So, what’s it like to work for a small organization with a lot of ground to cover? What are the challenges? The learning opportunities? The rewards?

 

[Interview Clip of Leon Thomas, Training Coordinator, Former SCEP Student] “It’s a wonderful opportunity. It’s opened doors for me. It has opened doors for many of my friends.”

 

[Interview Clip of Alma Lively, Audio Video Production Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “For me, the BLM has been a great, great opportunity and a huge, huge blessing in my life. To be able to have a wonderful job, learn so much about myself, challenge myself, and to have the opportunity to really grow and be successful.”

 

[Interview Clip of Michael Thomas, Historian, Former SCEP Student] “The benefit of coming in and advancing to different GS levels than you normally would. All of those things are very strong selling points. I would definitely encourage anybody, who is qualified for the SCEP program, to at least consider it.”

 

[Interview Clip of Amanda James, Natural Resources Specialist, Former SCEP Student] “What I like most about my job is doing field work and being able to hike in the mountains and go to new places, beautiful places, and get paid for it.”

 

Is the Bureau the right career for everyone? No. But, for those who care about quality of life issues, or protecting our environment and natural resources, for those who wish to preserve what previous generations have enjoyed for generations to come, we may just be your best career choice.

 

[Interview Clip of Elena Daly, Retired Director, National Landscape Conservation System, Former SCEP Student] “You never know what’s going to happen next, and that’s pretty exciting. You can be dealing with something different every few hours. And that keeps you intellectually sharp and excited about your job.”

 

The Bureau of Land Management. Where we invite you to explore the land, and discover your career.