MSc or not???

[hlperry]

Hi my names Helena Perry and I need some advice! I graduated last year in BSc (Hons) Animal Science and have had no look finding a job as I have no practical experience. I have been volunteering abroad in an animal rescue centre but now want to pursue my career in conservation. I am starting to volunteer in the conservation field, however I am also looking into doing an MSc in Conservation Biology this September. As this is very expensive, I dont want to do it if it still isnt going to help me find a job. I am thinking of doing the MSc along with 2 days a week volunteering. Is this the best way to go or is it best to simply volunteer? I only have a few weeks to get my application forms in for the MSc, please help!!!

[almostnormal]

hi helena. its entirely up to you what you do, as both have merits. i don't have an MSc, but i did do a lot of volunteering before i got my job! the one thing i would say, however, is that its mostly research posts that look for MSC/PhD qualifications, so if you're looking to go into research i'd go with the MSc. other than that most employers are looking for enthusiasm and experience (ie volunteer work) and HND/BSc qualifications. hope this is helpful?

sarah

[eeyore]

i would say that the volunteering will be more useful than an MSc if you have to choose , but ideally both would be the best option

one thing to bear in mind tho is that if you can get a job without the msc many employers will fund or part fund the msc at a later date

[Interpreter]

I don't know whether things have changed since the mid-70s, but as I remember it, conservation work didn't pay very well. It was a calling rather than a career. A friend of mine left conservation and joined the prison service because he needed to feed his family. This was someone who was passionate about nature conservancy.

[wellies101]

helena, I had the same quandry around a year ago. I graduated 2004 with a degree in ecology, tried to get a job with just that piece of paper for 9 months and got nowhere. Went into recruitment to get some money, did that for 18 months and hated so rang around all sorts of groups in the environmental field; consultancies, NGO's, councils, etc. to see what they would look for when recruiting.

General concensus was 2 things: experience (with allied qualifications) and post grad qualifications.

I am one year into a 3 year part-time distance learning MSc in countryside management from man met uni which is excellent. Since october last year i have volunteered with surrey wildlife trust, both in groups and shadowing ranger on a one-to-one basis, totallying around 40 days now.

Finally in April 2007, I got a PAID position as a seasonal ranger at bedfont lakes country park, its not exactly what I had in mind but I thoroughly enjoy it and is improving my range of estate and ecological skills no end.

My advice is this, check with the uni if you can gain a post grad certificate/diploma if you don't complete the full course so if you decide to start it, but then get work and can' t finish it, you still come out with some form of post grad qualification (man met do this).

Secondly, definately volunteer, especially in the winter. This gives you a snapshot of the work, its physically very tough at times, very cold, long, unsociable hours and often for little money, BUT I wouldn't swap it for the world! This does make you ask yourself the question "could I be out in this 5 days a week for 4/5 months?"

I would also suggest gaining land skills like a chainsaw qualification, brushcutter, tractor, first aid at work (useful and recognised in any industry as well as general life), etc. These are examined by a groups called NPTC or Lantra. I would suggest doing the bruscutter via Lantra (because its cheaper than NPTC, but still £200), but do the rest with NPTC. If you are lucky, you may get an organisation to pay for a sourse or two if you committ to 2-4 days a week volunteering with them. I had to fund the brush cutter and first aid myself and cost me just short of £400. The chainsaw is the most expensive at around £550-650 on its own.

I hope this helps, lots of info I know, but if I'd known all this when I started hunting for work it would have really helped me make decisions.

Any other questions drop me a message.

James

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by wellies101

I would also suggest gaining land skills like a chainsaw qualification, brushcutter, tractor, first aid at work (useful and recognised in any industry as well as general life), etc. These are examined by a groups called NPTC or Lantra. I would suggest doing the bruscutter via Lantra (because its cheaper than NPTC, but still £200), but do the rest with NPTC. If you are lucky, you may get an organisation to pay for a sourse or two if you committ to 2-4 days a week volunteering with them. I had to fund the brush cutter and first aid myself and cost me just short of £400. The chainsaw is the most expensive at around £550-650 on its own.

I'd second that except i'd suggest that you do all nptc - the lantra integrated assesment and training courses are not so well regarded by employers. Although saying that you dont absolutely have to have a brushcutter certificate to use one anyway , so long as you get adequate on the job instruction.

its worth looking arround at what the different volunteer opportunities offer - back in the day i got my whole set of land skills paid for by the national trust.

I'm currently a volunteer scheme coordinator and we offer our volunteers a fairly wide range of training and experience including powered scythe mowers, brushcutters , polesaws, and in some cases chainsaw.

at the end of the day while all certificates are helpful the only ones employers tend to insist on are generally NPTC chainsaw CS30, and 31 and sometimes herbicide PA1 and PA6a. A first aid course is also handy , though you can probably get away with doing only the 1 day emergency first aid as the average employer will pay for you to do the 4day first aid in the workplace anyway.

for everything else employers are morelikely to be impressed by experience than bits of paper.

When you do get a paid job its worth increasing your portfolio of vocational certificates at your employers expense - how much they will pay for will vary from place to place but it is reasonable to expect 1 or 2 a year once you are beyond the seasonal level.

[hlperry]

Thats fantastic advice, thanks very much. If I choose to do the MSc I will be going to man met as I live in the area and will save me a lot of money, though it will only be a year!
I will definately look into doing extra qualifications, like the chainsawing. I start volunteering with a local group designing a new nature reserve so hopefully that will help and give me great experience.

Thanks very much
Helena

Originally Posted by wellies101

helena, I had the same quandry around a year ago. I graduated 2004 with a degree in ecology, tried to get a job with just that piece of paper for 9 months and got nowhere. Went into recruitment to get some money, did that for 18 months and hated so rang around all sorts of groups in the environmental field; consultancies, NGO's, councils, etc. to see what they would look for when recruiting.

General concensus was 2 things: experience (with allied qualifications) and post grad qualifications.

I am one year into a 3 year part-time distance learning MSc in countryside management from man met uni which is excellent. Since october last year i have volunteered with surrey wildlife trust, both in groups and shadowing ranger on a one-to-one basis, totallying around 40 days now.

Finally in April 2007, I got a PAID position as a seasonal ranger at bedfont lakes country park, its not exactly what I had in mind but I thoroughly enjoy it and is improving my range of estate and ecological skills no end.

My advice is this, check with the uni if you can gain a post grad certificate/diploma if you don't complete the full course so if you decide to start it, but then get work and can' t finish it, you still come out with some form of post grad qualification (man met do this).

Secondly, definately volunteer, especially in the winter. This gives you a snapshot of the work, its physically very tough at times, very cold, long, unsociable hours and often for little money, BUT I wouldn't swap it for the world! This does make you ask yourself the question "could I be out in this 5 days a week for 4/5 months?"

I would also suggest gaining land skills like a chainsaw qualification, brushcutter, tractor, first aid at work (useful and recognised in any industry as well as general life), etc. These are examined by a groups called NPTC or Lantra. I would suggest doing the bruscutter via Lantra (because its cheaper than NPTC, but still £200), but do the rest with NPTC. If you are lucky, you may get an organisation to pay for a sourse or two if you committ to 2-4 days a week volunteering with them. I had to fund the brush cutter and first aid myself and cost me just short of £400. The chainsaw is the most expensive at around £550-650 on its own.

I hope this helps, lots of info I know, but if I'd known all this when I started hunting for work it would have really helped me make decisions.

Any other questions drop me a message.

James

[wellies101]

Good luck with it all, the guys at man met are excellent tutors and academics in the field, very knowledgeable. Hope all goes well, good luck!!

[sim209]

You can get the first aid at work certificate for free if you join your local st johns ambulance

[Dan Salter]

I agree with all the advice above...Im studying a Degree in Countryside Management..and have been volunteering over 2 years with the RSPB,Wildlife trusts and done work with the Woodland trust.

One thing though....when you say "Conservation" what sort are you meaning as in my opinion there are two different camps....those with ANIMAL SCIENCE based degree are usually wanting to work with animals abroad...orangutangs etc...and zoo's, animal parks, breeding programmes and genetics.

Those like myself who want to work in UK wildlife conservation...tend to go more for Landscape Management or Countryside degrees which teach you as much about the habitats and flora that the wildlife needs to survive as it does about the native wildlife itself as well as the practical skills mentioned...fencing, tree surgery, paths, etc....

It took me ages to find the right course for me as EVERYTHING was geared toward the "Working abroad with fluffly monkeys" brigade and the mention of "Wildflowers and Butterflies" to the course rep normally caused frowned expressions back at me!

So...i guess if you want to work in UK BASED wildlife conservation on nature reserves then you may do well getting the MSc in that field...but if you mean the more ANIMAL based conservation abroad then just get some more relevant voluntry work...although i think you should also get voluntry work for the uk based stuff as like you mentioned the experience in the field is priceless. (A friend of mine who has been doing a degree in ANIMAL CARE/SCIENCE recently told me they had been on a field trip to a UK bird rescue centre watching them wash oil spillage off of Guinea Fowls?????...I informed her they would have more likely been Guillemots!)..i rest my case