countryside management diploma?

[Lance Morgan]

Originally Posted by NatureTrainee

Hi there
I gave up my job to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, I have two degrees and I did a traineeship with a local wildlife trust (full-time volunteering for one year) and at the end of it no hope of getting a job. It is so competative out there that there is always someone with more experience than you - but voluntary experience is invaluable - HOWEVER don't give up, my experience is that you will work with a lovely bunch of people and if you can only afford to work in the sector for a few years then what a great few years you will have! Many people then go into consultancy so you can use skills for much better money. I myself have gone over to the naturalist side of things so rather than managing wildlife I am studying it - pay is a bit better and chances of getting a job higher!
Good luck!

Good for you. I am very envious. I have been in the same job for 35 years and am so fed up. I wish i was young and brave enough to do what you have done. Good Luck

[enaj]

Naturetrainee, you say you have two degrees and a traineeship and still had no hope of getting a job? my god, it's harder to get into than trying to get a break as a famous musician/world class footballer!! Thanks for the information though, it seems that persistence does pay off eventually.

Lance, I feel that I should have got into it years ago too, as I'm in my early thirties it's not quite too late (hopefully!), but someone that has been doing it since the age of 20 odd would have a WHOLE load more experience by the time they get to my age! I'm trying to talk myself into going to college this September despite the financial climate horror stories everywhere on the news at the moment. Secretarial skills are always something I can fall back on again if need be!

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by enaj

Naturetrainee, you say you have two degrees and a traineeship and still had no hope of getting a job? my god, it's harder to get into than trying to get a break as a famous musician/world class footballer!! Thanks for the information though, it seems that persistence does pay off eventually.

Lance, I feel that I should have got into it years ago too, as I'm in my early thirties it's not quite too late (hopefully!), but someone that has been doing it since the age of 20 odd would have a WHOLE load more experience by the time they get to my age! I'm trying to talk myself into going to college this September despite the financial climate horror stories everywhere on the news at the moment. Secretarial skills are always something I can fall back on again if need be!

Well im 34 and on yr 2 of my countryside degree!

I hear you, with the ones who have been doing it since they were twenty....but...ten years ago from now it really wasnt such a popular thing...its only recently that environment/countryside/conservation has really picked up as a chosen career path so there shouldnt be too many that were 20 ten years ago getting into it...competing with us 30 year olds right now...infact on my course im the second YOUNGEST !!! and i dont have ten years experience in the industry but i have 34 years experience of being a boy obsessed with nature...so i have at least ten years more of that than some young whipper snapper will now !

[enaj]

34 too, snap! a fellow old codger then! I'm shocked that you're the second youngest, although you're doing the degree at hadlow aren't you, if I was looking at a national diploma type 2 year course then I still have visions of most of the others being younger than me - still as you say, we have more experience and were out there with nature whilst they were in their nappies watching teletubbies!

[MrKeeper]

Originally Posted by enaj

Hi everybody, I'm not sure if this is the right section to post this under but I am considering changing my current secretarial career and enrolling for a Countryside Management Diploma (2 yr course). Does anyone have any experience of this or similar courses? I would like to know how easy it is to get a job once I've finished the course and whether said job would be paying more than about 10k a year for all that time and effort!!! I guess I should speak to people at the college about it but if anyone here can help with their experiences that would be great!

Anyways, I am doing a countryside management (Nat Dip) course, though in the collage It is broken into two main topics either conservation and gamekeeping (with me doing the latter).

Anyways, the basis of each course is very similar, and I know the opinions of some people doing the other courses and I'd recommend it, though it's only going to be as good as the collage that does it, so if your serious about it make sure it's one of the better collages running the course.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by MrKeeper

Anyways, I am doing a countryside management (Nat Dip) course, though in the collage It is broken into two main topics either conservation and gamekeeping (with me doing the latter).

Anyways, the basis of each course is very similar, and I know the opinions of some people doing the other courses and I'd recommend it, though it's only going to be as good as the collage that does it, so if your serious about it make sure it's one of the better collages running the course.

Wow ! what an 'Arty' college you go to that runs their courses in a 'collage' style !


Anyways.......

[Purplepixii]

How spooky - I'm the same age as Dan & Enaj this year and currently considering dropping the 9-5 job for a Wildlife course!

I reckon you're never too old, besides why waste your life not doing what you want to do, only to retire at the end and think "if only". Sure, it's a scary move but I think I'd rather say "I tried" than "I wish I'd tried"

[enaj]

coooo, 34 must be a popular age to have a mid-life crisis!! wise words though PPixii, better to have tried it than regret it for evermore, besides I think I may end up slashing my wrists if I have to slog away at an office job for much longer!!

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by enaj

coooo, 34 must be a popular age to have a mid-life crisis!! wise words though PPixii, better to have tried it than regret it for evermore, besides I think I may end up slashing my wrists if I have to slog away at an office job for much longer!!

I agree....personally i think it must take at least 34 years to realise what you want to do with your life....when they asked me at 15 at school carrers office i had no idea other than " I want to be a rockstar or work with kids"

Both got laughed off....although i very nearly proved him wrong on the rock star front...but im shocked ..and was shocked that back in....hmmm...1989 or whatever it was, the thought of a MAN working with kids was utterly ludicrous ! ...im hoping that has changed in this day and age?

[enaj]

I can believe that about the working with kids thing. Even though it wasn't that long ago when we were young(!) I think the boys were still pushed in the direction of more traditional male jobs like building/engineering and the girls in more of an admin direction if they weren't interested in going to Uni. There was a truly awful lack of information as well due to it being pre-internet days, just a few dusty old career idea books on a shelf at our school for us to make v. important life changing decisions from!

Are you still a muso/in a band? my other half is in a local band and plays the pubs round Kent virtually every weekend, I may have watched you play somewhere!

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by enaj

I can believe that about the working with kids thing. Even though it wasn't that long ago when we were young(!) I think the boys were still pushed in the direction of more traditional male jobs like building/engineering and the girls in more of an admin direction if they weren't interested in going to Uni. There was a truly awful lack of information as well due to it being pre-internet days, just a few dusty old career idea books on a shelf at our school for us to make v. important life changing decisions from!

Are you still a muso/in a band? my other half is in a local band and plays the pubs round Kent virtually every weekend, I may have watched you play somewhere!

My love of nature and my degree has put pay to being in any bands for a long time....plus the fact i grew up and all my muso mates settled down and had babies and got wives etc
I am still in touch very much with a lot of local musos and bands and my long term drummer plays with a lot of local bands.
Who is your other half/band?
Dan
p.s...my old school 'Rock' band...way back in the day was called Uncle Salty??

and then i did an 'original' material brit pop type band during the Oasis/ blur period called the 'Sweet Leaves' which i had most success with? ring any bells?

[enaj]

Dan - have sent you a pm!