[rhb]

Hi,

First post, although I have passed through as a lurker from time to time before registering. Very nice site and useful forum.

Am after some advice on getting to work in the Environment sector - and info on any resources (online / phone / book) folks can point me towards. Some general points and a few specific questions I have for starters. If you're reading this in one sitting, you might want to get a drink now - this could be quite a long post!

Background:

Studied Env Sci at uni, got a 2:2 graduated in 1998 but being young chap back then I was more there for the Beer and social, with a passing interest in the subject. I turned down the option to do a vocational year at the time, and this - on reflection - was a big mistake as I left uni with very little money and little prospect of getting into an Env based job without spending time getting practical experience on a voluntary basis - something I simply couldn't afford to do.

So after a couple of years of McJobs, I got a job in a Bank call centre, displayed aptitude and got good references, got another similar job in an emerging e-bank centre in 2000 and was quickly promoted to a supporting role, which 7 years on has led me into a job doing large scale IT & Operations project work for one of the bigger banks earning a good enough wage to survive on. I live alone, so have no other dependents (Cat doesn't count really!).

Throughout this time I've always had my doubts about the work I do - I dislike working for the purpose of screwing customers / colleagues over to increase "shareholder value" (as that's ultimatley what the banking industry is about) but never been prepared to do anything about it - as it was easier to go with the flow.

Situation:

Recent job changes have made my position at work untenable. I've always had to do a little travel to other sites - 50 miles each way, a one or two days a week. I've recently been notified that I now have to make the journey daily (clause in contract allows them to do this) and the impact of this on my week, plus my reluctance to embrace the commuting culture means I am left with little choice but to move on.

This realisation is a relief, and I'm finally giving more thought to what I could do instead - I don't want to simply hop into a similar role closer to home, as I realise now how unfulfilled my current job leaves me.

I'm slightly regretting I've left it this long as I've "lost" all my degree knowledge, and anticipate having a real struggle to find a job in the Environmental sector.

Way forward:

I understand any move into Environmental work will probably be at a lower wage on a like for like job. This is not a big problem for me, as I will cut my cloth accordingly. My mortgage is low (<2x current salary) and it's just the extras in life that I'd have to trim down on, I could also take in a lodger and get extra income that way.

I appreciate (from a bit of common sense, and having looked at job ad's in the sector) that I'm going to be successful in applying for jobs that are about - most or all require some specific practical (and recent) experience of working in the sector - specific to the job.

I'm IT (application discovery and use, not development) and project proficient - so have thought about revisiting the GIS module I did at Uni (in 1997 - I'd guess it's moved on a bit since then!) to study this in more depth. Other options could be as part of a project team, or refreshing my analytical skills to look to get a field monitoring officer job for starters.

I'm 30, motivated to make the change, and willing to go through some discomfort to get there. I don't believe the job I'll get will be a utopian solution to all my current career doubts - there'll always be office politics, required travel, and other constraints that mean things will niggle in the job - it's what I'm working towards (i.e. anything but shareholder value!!!) that is most important though.

Questions:

I have savings/shares which I could live off for upto 6 months to do a full time voluntary post. I could also look for temp work part time, and volunteer part time for a longer term - although logistically this is probably more difficult to balance. Would this be enough time to get enough experience that could then help me find work? I.e. would a prospective employer look at 6mths FT voluntary as less than 12mths Part time?

What - if any - "refresher training" opportunites are out there? Is there any funding available to support this?

Where can I find the best reading on getting into work in the Environmental sector?

Are there any resources / forums / sites I should be dropping into to ask similar questions to a different audience?

Even if you can't / don't want to post a reply - thanks for reading this far. I hope for some replies to help me start my journey to a more rewarding career.

Cheers,
Andy