Getting an Ecology or Conservation job is so difficult!

[martin_25]

Hey everyone,

Since graduating from uni last year with an Ecology degree, I have found that despite getting involved with voluntary work and taking courses has left me feeling pretty depressed as I still cannot for the life of me get a foot-hold in this sector due to my lack of 'experience'.....Starting to feel as though the 3 years at uni was wasted now!!

Martin

[coasty]

Hi Martin

Have you tried the construction and civil engineering sectors? . There is an increasing demand for these skills and producing ecological reports within this sector. A speculative enquiry to the HR depts of the bigger civil engineering and construction companies based around York and Leeds may pay dividends... Good Luck

PS welcome to the forum . We are practically neighbours.

Andy

[martin_25]

Thankyou for your reply!
As of yet i have never really considered civil engineering companies, and its definately something that I am going to look into now!

I have recently applied for two jobs in the local area, so if nothing comes of either of those two then I can send a few speculative e-mails off to the larger companies in Yorkshire.

Many thanks again,

Martin

[coasty]

Martin

If you PM me your email I will email you some documents which will give you an idea of the sort of things that companies now have to produce. It may give you some ideas on how you can structure your CV and maybe do some additional research...

[ripplingwave]

There seems alot more jobs down south so if you are up for relocating might be worth applying down here!

It was my volunteer work that got me my job! I have volunteered the whole 3 years ive been at uni and also did plenty of courses to build up a portfolio, hang in there, im sure something will come along

[martin_25]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, i have noticed that there are often many more jobs advertised in the south than up here. I don't think relocating would be a problem for myself, but I thought that if I gained some experience nearer to home first, then if anything was to go wrong with the job then it won't be so much of a risk!

Must say the thought of moving away has often been an arguement in my head!!!

Thanks,

Martin

[Noeler]

Hi Martin, i found myself in exactly the same place as you. I graduated with a degree in zoology in 2006, after some traveling and volunteering abroad, i am now finding it hard to get employment. So i've decided to attend a masters course. While finding out about the courses i also looked at employment opportunities and ecological consultancy seems to appeal to me.
After speaking to some consultants iv'e found some information which i found helpful and may be helpful to you.
If you want to fast track your career do a MSc, ive applied for the conservation biodiversity course at Exeter
You need good ID skills mainly plants, reptiles/amphibians,
Volunteer for local trusts - It will help you network and build up your ID skills, also help take part in surveys especially bats and reptiles as they will go to help getting a protected species licence (if you feel you will need one). NAARS do a good reptile course
Also try and get some voluteer work with companies themselves, ive writeen off to quite a few ecology consultants just askiing them if they need any field assistants (though i won't be paid) so i also need to try and find some kind of income
Some consultancies also run training courses. take a look at Acorn Eology
All in all it seems that experience is the most important thing, many employers only ask for a degree in a biologically related subject.
Hope this helps mate, hang in there, i know i'm trying to

[tigger]

I noticed a lizard/snake survey being done by Mott Macdonalds the other day. They are a massive company that have their foot in construction/transport/management and environment... may be worth looking to see if they are in your area. They are a massive global company. I would write to them direct.

Also, have you subscribed to the Countryside Jobs Service Countryside Jobs Service: CJS Daily Online

They publish environmental/countryside jobs from all over the country. Might be worth a look. (although you probably already know about it....)

Don't give up!

Jane

[martin_25]

Thanks everybody for your replies.

The past two days have involved ringing up a few different organisations offering my services for voluntary work, so i'm awaiting news on those.

Recently applied for a couple of really interesting jobs that I was pretty confident about...but found out I haven't got one of them and still waiting to hear on the other!

Man, this is getting really stressful...and a bit of a nighmare actually!!!

Where I live its hard to get any reasonably decent job. I was working in sales for the past 6 months, but hated that, hence ended up doing random work on the farm! (This isn'y how i planned it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


Martin

[tigger]

Had you thought of moving?

[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

[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