Getting an Ecology or Conservation job is so difficult!

[coasty]

Martin

You have a PM

Andy

[zan]

I don't know how you feel about moving north of the border, but there are quite a lot of consultancy-type jobs going around Glasgow and Edinburgh. As I understand it, there's quite a lot of expansion in this area, and you might be in with a shot?

I do think that experience is your best bet, and getting to know the right people. Is there a uni \ college \ community centre near you that runs public lectures or seminars on local wildlife or environmental issues? Getting your name know to the speakers might help out; they at least might be able to offer you some advice on local opportunities and volunteer projects?

Stick at it - if you really want this it'll come together in the end, but it'll be hard work

zan

[APC]

Just a small observation, but loads of people go on about never getting as much as an interview for a conservation role, when they claim they are proper well good qualified. Problem is, they are rubbish at filling out application forms. The person specification should be cross-referenced for every demand from the emplyer, e.g....if they say "ideal candidate will have experience in livestock handling blah blah blah", don't put down "in my year out I saw an ellingphant in a poor country".

For each thing that the organisation say they want from a candidate, make sure you fill somat out for every single piece. Obviously make it as relevant as you can but if you don't have specific experience in some aspect, see if any other part of your life could be applied to it, e.g. "experience of working with volunteers" could perhaps loosely translate as working with any other groups, as a leader.

[eeyore]

speaking as a manager - i would totally endorse what apc says - cross ref every point on the person spec in your application - and also make sure your form/cv is legible , well laid out and doesnt contain any silly mistakes.

the easier you make it for the manager reviewing your application the more likely you are to get shortlisted above other equally qualified candidates - and contrary wise the harder you make his or her life the less likely they are to give you the benefit of the doubt on any gaps in your experience.

also if you dont have all or nearly all of the essential criteria it isnt worth applying - especially if its black and white like "must have a full uk driving licence"

in this case there is no point at all in writing a paragraph explaining why you dont need at driving licence to do the job " well you see i'm a keen cyclist and able to get anywhere in the county easily..." - sorry but generally such things are essential for a reason (in this case - how precicesly are you going to transport two power scythes, 3 strimmers, a chainsaw and two volunteers on your bike ??? )

ditto with supervising volunteers - if its an essential criteria , being a leader in a nother area of your life isnt going to cut it - of course if its a desirable criteria then by all means make a case for why your exp is relevant - but wishful thinking on the essential criteria just wastes the potentil employers time and yours.

[martin_25]

Well it is really something that i'm willing to work hard to get a foothold in.

I don't necessarily think that my CV is too bad, although I agree that I should try and highlight my attributes in the employees' person spec a bit better.

Just as a matter of thought, and maybe I should have started a new thread for this, but is anybody employed or involved with wildlife conservation/ecology voluntary work in North Yorkshire???

Thanks,

Martin

[wild flower]

Originally Posted by 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

Martin

Is Wetherby close to where you are living?

[martin_25]

Wetherby isn't really close....probably about an hours drive at a guess!

....just double checked, yup, about an hours drive!

Martin

[tom00_uk]

there a opening in wetherby?

[moo]

just as a minor aside: if you're trying to get into consultancy and have time to do voluntary work beforehand, join the local bat group - a bat license might take a bit of commitment to get but it makes you very employable!

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by moo

just as a minor aside: if you're trying to get into consultancy and have time to do voluntary work beforehand, join the local bat group - a bat license might take a bit of commitment to get but it makes you very employable!

I agree strongly. Newt licence, and also try to get a speciality in some aspect of ID. Become the Snake man, the Spider man, the Flower man. Lots of work, but key to get employment.