Getting an Ecology or Conservation job is so difficult!

[hannahpanda]

Dont worry Martin your not alone! Im in a simialar situation, but i finish my university course in 2 weeks!!

EDIT- to do with relocation, ive been applying for jobs everywhere and anywhere, im expecting to have to relocate but no luck so far!

[Meta menardi]

With massive changes at Natural England and the Environment Agency (and probably more to come), this could be lean times for a bit, but there is likely to be an increasing need for good experienced and knowledgeable people. Hang in there! Good luck.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

With massive changes at Natural England and the Environment Agency (and probably more to come), this could be lean times for a bit, but there is likely to be an increasing need for good experienced and knowledgeable people. Hang in there! Good luck.

not to mention the govt looting the lottery funding to pay for the olypics.

as someone who has worked in conservation for the last 15 years my advice would be to think carefully about whether you really want a job in this sector.

hours are long , pay is poor ( my first job paid less than £9k and after 15 years i am only on £24k), early contracts are short, and it doesnt get appreciably easier as you move up (i'm currently looking for a move up to the newcastle area to be with my fiancee and jobs are few and far between)

if you really really want a job in this sector then keep on volunteering and sooner or later you'll get your foot in the door - but if you have doubts i'd advise cutting and running now while you are still young enough to get a propper job with propper pay.

[Noeler]

To eeyor,

what do you do for a job?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Noeler

To eeyor,

what do you do for a job?

Ive sent you a pm mate as i like to keep my wab and work lives seperate.

[Steve S]

Martin,

This is how it went for my wife…

She studied what was probably the one of the first Environmental Science degree courses available in the UK, (as you may gather, this was a while ago now). On completion she couldn’t get a job in conservation - “What, a woman working outdoors? Don’t be stupid!”

Needing some sort of employment she trained as a nurse. After eleven years the NHS was becoming an awful place to work and the call to the outdoors was as strong as ever. She began volunteering at a local, council owned nature reserve. This put her into a position of knowing when an opportunity for employment came along. She trained, she studied and she built up an enviable reputation for quality work. Because of this opportunities began to come her way and at the first chance for a career change, she took it.

Now she is part of a national team of specialists working in a field that she loves, and earning a lot less than she would have done if she had remained a nurse.

Things have moved on…

Getting a job in conservation is difficult because it is now a popular career choice. Pay remains low because of market forces (supply and demand), and the historical unwillingness to pay a decent wage to highly qualified staff for doing what is misguidedly seen as a vocation rather than a profession.

Basically, I think that you can do it if you really want to, but have to really want to.

Best endeavours.

Steve.

[maccyd82]

I would only say this is true of jobs such as reserve management, environmental education, working for wildlife trusts and other charities for example as a ranger/warden.

I initially wanted to get into this side of things but realised after a couple of years that there are few/no chances of promotion, having a career as such, half decent pay and other perks such as pensions. Call me a sell out but im much happier now in consultancy - good pay (although not when you first start), perks, career progression, working in a dynamic team on interesting and important projects such as doing all the ecological work on the creation of the largest new wetland habitat in the uk. Its great! And i can afford to go on nice holidays too! I dont have a social life though, i havnt had a day off for 3 weeks!

Also dont necessarily see doing a masters as a way of jump starting your career. When i was an assistant ecologist there were 9 others, some with masters, some without and we were all in the same boat. Ive got where i wanted fairly quickly without one and its by no means essential in my opinion.

Good luck with everything, hang in there and itll all come good!

[martin_25]

Thanks for all your suggestions people.

I've since been trying for a number of jobs without success, and can't seem to get involved in Ecological consultancy work either (despite loads of vacancies!!)

Although this career path is my ambition to get into, I just can't seem to get a foothold in anywhere although I have been doing quite a lot of voluntary work.

Money has never really been a massive factor when looking for a job, I'd much prefer job satisfaction.

Maybe i'll just keep on looking for a little longer....



Martin

[Noeler]

Martin
hopefully ive just got a place with the somerset environmental records center.
They take on survey and planning assistants. basically you work for them but dont get paid mon-fri 9-5, however they will train you up until you find a job. they take new assitants each year. i think for this year is already full but call them and see what they say. you have to relocate down here and prob get a place in taunton or live in a caravan park. 90% of people who do this go into consulting, so if thats what ure looking to do i would definatley check this out.

[martin_25]

Noeler, well done for getting into the place down south!

At the moment though, I am a little unsure about relocating at this moment in time, but thanks anyway.


Does anybody know of any consultancy firms or civil engineering companies in North Yorkshire that would be looking for Ecology graduates??
(Bit of a long shot, eh?)


Thanks,

Martin