b'nadine souto rodrguezconsultantunited nations environment ProgrammeI moved to Ireland in 2016 to pursue the Masters going according to plan (it took me severalin Development Practice (MDP) at Trinity, a two- months to even get an interview!) The internshipyear multidisciplinary programme in itself was a very positive experience: I honedinternational sustainable development. As the important skills in project management and gotname suggests, the programme places great to see how a multilateral organization worksemphasis on hands-on practical experience and from the inside. When oered the chance to stayincludes three work-based placements as well as on after the internship as a consultant, I did nota dissertation. While I really enjoyed the diversity think twice.of courses and trainings oered, it was throughthe placements that I really got to zero in on my Through the MDP placements, I had themain area of interest: the environmental and opportunity to explore dierent types of worknatural resource implications of sustainable and work environments and bulk up my CV withdevelopment. experiences highly relevant to my professionalaspirations. I was also fortunate to meet someThe first two placements were facilitated by the great mentors, both within the MDP programmeMDPI worked with Oxfam Ireland on climate and in the host organizations. My advice tochange resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa for my current students is to make the most of thefirst internship and later spent 10 weeks in resources Trinity puts at your disposal: talk toUganda doing primary research in wetland your Careers Consultants, reach out to alumni,management and policy. ask your lecturers to write recommendationsand exchange cover letters with your classmates.For my last placement, which I had to find on my Their advice might just land you your dream job. own, I spent six months as an intern at theUnited Nations Environment Programme timeline:headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. I never thought 2017Oxfam Ireland placement Id work for the UN, and it might never have 2017Field research in Ugandahappened if not for the support provided by the 2018Intern at UN Environment MDP: logistical and financial backing, 2019Contractor with UN Environmentsubstantive career advice as well as much-needed encouragement when things werent70'