Next step.....

[Jacksnipe5000]

Hello all and thanks for reading - i'll keep this as simple as possible!
I'm a 25f, fine art degree, years of administrative experience in various industries (sounds like a dating profile!). I might have a way to go in terms of calling myself a naturalist but i spend most waking moments in excitement about the spoils of the current season and the birds, beasts and fungi (all aspects of the natural world but these foremost) that i can view and investigate. I've worked for the National trust for nearly two years in an office based post but the projects i've been able to get involved with and the flora and fauna i've followed through the seasons has been incredible! I really enjoy my administrative role but looking to 12 months time or 2012, i really want to make the right next move. My bird i.d skills are at a reasonable level (i think they're quite good actually but there's still so much more!) and i wonder if going back to study would be a sensible next move. My knowledge of wildlife conservation is something i would really like to expand on as well as going further then just i.d's for species and knowing the basics about them.
Basically, if you have any advice whether its through personal experience or opinion, i'd be very grateful of your views.

Thanks in advance!

[thebeard]

perhaps volunteering a day or so a week would be beneficial, you could get practical experience of conservation management and surveying. or on the other hand you could study it, i know a lot of people who have spent years doing a job and then realised that they want to study something to do with wildlife/countryside and have done it. it'll certainly be a step in the right direction if you feel you need to go down this route.

edit - by the way i'm 23 and finished a wildlife conservation degree this year - now getting neccessary experience by volunteering for the wildlife trust!

[RoyW]

I would think that it largely depends on exactly where you want your career to go (and how good the experience you already have appears on paper, and at interviews).
It would definitely be useful to have relevant qualifications in associated fields if you wish to pursue a career in conservation because the majority of applicants will have first degrees, and often masters degrees, in subjects like conservation and biology.
Developing identification skills, if you want to work as a field ecologist or similar, is probably slightly different. There are courses that you can take that will provide qualifications to show that you have learnt the basic techniques, but good identification skills can only come from experience. IMO, if you want to learn the identification of different fauna/flora, there is no better way of doing it than to spend time in the field with those who already have the experience. The best way to do this is probably to find an active natural history group/society in your area and to start regularly attending field meetings + get to know the members (and recorders) who are interested in the wildlife that you want to learn more about - if you show that you are keen to learn, some of these may be happy to have you accompany them at other times, or mentor you in other ways (and don't forget that sites like WAB means that advice on identifcation queries etc is always available!).

I know that some of those who post on WAB are actually involved with the recruitment of ecologists/rangers/etc, so they may be able to give you better advice on relevant courses if you give more indication of the type of job you would like to progress to.

Best of luck with career progression to both you and 'thebeard'!