Advice Sought

[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

[moo]

Hi Andy

This sounds strangely familiar.

I graduated in Ecology in 1997 and have had 10 years "off" and am now half way through an MSc (doing it distance learning which is great as I run a small business I can't quite leave yet). I've being doing as much voluntary work as I can squeeze in, but I'm getting a bit demoralised (to say the least!) as I think my chances of getting a reasonable job after are quite slim - I've just failed even to get an interview for a job that I was exactly the person for if you read the spec.
I'm a bit limited as I can't move away from the area and jobs are few and far between: I don't mind a bit of competition, but there have to be jobs available to compete for! I also don't think there are very many other sectors where you are expected to have a Masters and two years voluntary experience to get a £16k job!

So, sorry - no practical advice (other than - sounds like you're going the right way about it...) but will be interested to see what those in the know think!
moo

[nightshade]

The wildlifetrusts always need good volunteers at all levels.At least it will
help expand your lungs and build up contacts

[Kymba]

Hi Andy and welcome to WAB..

Dont know where in the country you live But a good website to look at is
environmentjob.co.uk

Is there a certain area you want to work in???

[ChrisJB]

I'm debating subscribing to a a weekly jobs list provided by:

Countryside Jobs Service - welcome.

Regards, Chris

[rhb]

Thanks for the replies with advice folks.

Chris - I'll keep my eye on that site, thanks

Kymba - likewise, thanks. I live in W.Mids/Warks. I'd like to use the skills that 7 yrs in corporate hell has given me - namely project and process improvement knowledge. I'm not sure what market there is for Env process improvement, there must be a group that looks at things from that perspective? Maybe not and I've found a new employment niche! If I can't use those skills, then I'm personable enough and willing to learn new skills / refresh my old degree knowledge. The important thing is that I can continue to pay my mortgage and eat whilst this is all happening - so I will need some income from somewhere after a while.

Nightshade - understood, I'll be contacting them to discuss opportunities, as well as BTCV.

Moo - good luck with the remainder of your MSc - put it this way, you're already in a much stronger position than me as you'll have recent qualification, so I'm sure you'll find the right job - it's just a question of biding your time while it finds you You are right to be frustrated by the money side of it though... the difference between corporate salaries and this sector are huge, and not necessarily justifiable. Ho-hum - one day it may all be different.

Still interested if anyone knows of any short term refresher training courses / support through that. Gotta fess up and say I haven't dug deep into google on that yet, but 'til I do if anyone here knows anything that'd be really useful.

Thanks again
Andy

[naturelover]

hi andy and welcome ask a question and you will get an answer pretty quick on here,happy wabing.

[OneTen]

I know a lot of full time volunteers who have secured jobs within the environment sector after 6 months of volunteering.

There's a lot of funding available for training courses to achieve necessary tickets such as chainsaw, brushcutter, pesticides, tractors etc. Volunteers with conservation organisations like The National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts can claim £250 from Sustainable Careers and a further £400 from Tap Routes if the do the NVQ level 2 in Environmental Conservation through the BTCV.

Here in Devon there is £500 available from the Kingfisher fund for full time volunteers who live in Devon. My partner used this to get her chainsaw ticket. I'm sure other schemes operate throughout the country.

A friend of mine applied for funding through Countryside Ventures and recived money to pay for her chainsaw ticket and buy her PPE.

There's always the National Trust Careership, that's what I'm on, it's a three year programme training to become a warden gaining practical experience on the job, NVQ2, NVQ3 and National Certificate in Environmental Conservation. Plus all the tickets mentiones above. Adverts usually around April/May.

Hope this helps.

[rhb]

cheers 1-10, all good advice. Thanks.

Andy