Getting into ranger jobs

[cmullen]

Hi there,

Just wanted to know what kind of chances I have of getting a ranger type job in the near future!

I graduated witha 2:1 in zoology last year, I volunteered abroad (ecuador) in an animal rehabilitation centre for a month, I volunteered for 3 months in my Local Biological Records Centre mostly learning data inputting etc but with some habitat surveying and botanical skills and I'm doing a p/t distance learning Masters in Biological Recording from Birmingham uni which teaches you alot of ID skills etc.

At the moment I don't have a driving licence but I'm working on it! And I'm working as a Science Technician in a school (just so I'm doing something sciency whilst I get driving licence and masters!).

I don't have much countryside skills and because of my course I don't have much free time to volunteer unfortunately! But I am going to try to do one day a week from Mid-summer once my essays are all in.

So what kind of chance do I have with ranger jobs? Do I still need 6 months countryside experience before I'm even considered?

Any comments welcome!

Cheers

[eeyore]

you have an extremly slim chance without a driving licence as nearly every ranger job includes some manner of site patrols in a 4x4 vehicle - there are a few sites which are patrolled by bike particularly in urban areas but even here the ability to drive a vehicle (for example to move materials and tools for a working party) is normally a prerequisite.

if being a ranger is your job target i have to question your choice of masters - biological recording would be fantastic for a career in ecology but for a general ranger job you would be better doing something that improves your site management, people facing, and education skills (tho the latter might be covered by your job.)

most ranger jobs - even summer seasonal work unless very basic will require six months or so experience , some require more like two years.

overall my advice would be to suspend your studies and get volunteering as much as possible - you can always come back to your masters once you have a ranger job - and many employers have training money to put towards such things.

Btw just so you can see my credentials for giving such advice : I graduated in 94 - volunteered with btcv, wildlife trust and national trust til 96 , had a year out of field to earn some cash, worked on a golf course from 97-99 to fund my masters (Countryside conservation), worked as a seasonal warden through 99-00, became a selfemployed contactor in 2000 , went bust in 01 due to FMD and got a seasonal ranger job with severn trent water, then got a permanent ranger job in milton keynes in late 01 - three years later became a full time volunteers coordinator, then in 06 swapped to my current job as volunteers scheme coordinator (managing staff and volunteers) for a national trail.

[cmullen]

Hi there, I did mean my chances AFTER I had gotten my driving licence and had finished my masters rather than now. I know there is no chance without a driving licence .

I worked in a science centre as an explainer for 2 years so I have the education side covered.

The thing is I really can't afford to volunteer for a year right now, I have a morgage to think of...

My current job pays well so I can pay course fees/driving lessons (which are far too expensive nowadays!) and all my bills and I can save on top. So I think I'll stick at this job until I have saved enough to volunteer for about 6 months perhaps next year. I'm thinking long-term as I have to be realistic.

Your comment about suspending my studies is sensible, but I love my course! And I'm a year into it now (it's 2 years of courses one year of project). Perhaps after I have done that I can to a PGC in countryside management or something?

Thanks for your comments though! Very Welcome!

[ChrisJB]

With your educational background cm, have you thought about spreading your net into other areas in the 'conservation/wildlife/countryside' sector? In my previous life I used to be a ranger, foolishly thinking it would be my dream job. As it turned out it wasn't, so I jacked it and became a teacher (another highly questionable decision ). Traditionally rangers jobs don't pay that great (of course money isn't everything), but say if you got into the ecological consultancy field, there is a chance of plenty of brass.
Just a thought.

Regards, Chris

[cmullen]

I have thought about going into the ecology sector. Trouble is I live in North East Scotland and would rather not leave as I love being so close to so many nice habitats! There are very few consultancies around here, and the ones that are here only have a couple of ecologists! I don't care about money really, as long as I have enough to eat! I just want to work in the great outdoors and I do love the education side too, and I know teaching is an option but the call of the outdoors is so strong..haha. I'd like to try rangering first, perhaps volunteering will show me if it is my dream job or not! Thanks for the advice.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by cmullen

. Trouble is I live in North East Scotland and would rather not leave...

that may prove a major problem for getting a conservation job - once you have the expirence it isnt that difficult to get started but you do need to move arround ( for example ive worked in cornwall, norfolk, essex, dorset, derbyshire, milton keynes and am now back where i started in the chilterns) getting your first post in a specific area may be much more difficult.

you also need to recognise that the pay is poor and be prepared for that- i know you say you dont care about the money but then again you also say you have a mortgage. My first job paid less than £9k while now with over 10 years expeirince i am on only £23k. and also the job security isnt great as a lot of contracts are short term and even the permanent ones are often grant funded and subject to govt cut backs.

i'm not saying dont do it as working in conservation does have its upside but you need to go in with your eyes open

[ChrisJB]

Eeyore has highlighted some key points here for your consideration. I too wasn't prepared to move (I love my local moorland area) and straight after graduation I came back to the village where I was born and still live now. It wasn't ideal for the kind of work I was hoping to get into, but that was my choice and as yet, I haven't regretted it. But I have turned possible decent jobs down. For example, I turned a job down on the oil rigs (My first degree is in Geology) and also one in Dorset, on the 'Jurassic Coast'. When I applied for them, I thought I needed to broaden my horizons, but when it came to 'hey lads, hey', I decided I couldn't bear to be so far away from my beloved Pennines and dropped them like hot potatoes.
Whatever you decide, don't become a teacher. The only thing going for it is the 13 weeks a year hols. But, countryside education could be a good thing and an idea I have been toying with myself on and off in recent times. Perhaps when the mortgage is paid off and brass is less of an issue.

Regards, Chris

[cmullen]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I wouldn't mind moving for a year or two, but ultimately want to end up back here! There are some decent ranger jobs around here with SNH or National Trust of Scotland. One job came up not long ago for NTS and I spoke to the head ranger who said she only had four candidates for an interview, and two of them dropped out. Then the person appointed dropped out and the job had to be re-advertised! I thought that was pretty shocking and probably a freak occurance but gave me some hope that perhaps there isn't as much people up here applying for ranger jobs. Perhaps anyway haha.

I will have to think seriously about whether rangering is for me, but at the moment I would still like to try it! Things can change though!

Oh and I'm sure teaching isn't that bad Chris! Haha, teaching is my back-up incase all goes wrong, the only thing that puts me off is unwilling kids! But it gives you a good chance to brain-wash kids into caring about the environment, if they ever listen!

Cheers again
Caroline

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by cmullen

Thanks for the comments guys.

I wouldn't mind moving for a year or two, but ultimately want to end up back here! There are some decent ranger jobs around here with SNH or National Trust of Scotland. One job came up not long ago for NTS and I spoke to the head ranger who said she only had four candidates for an interview, and two of them dropped out. Then the person appointed dropped out and the job had to be re-advertised! I thought that was pretty shocking and probably a freak occurance but gave me some hope that perhaps there isn't as much people up here applying for ranger jobs. Perhaps anyway haha.

I will have to think seriously about whether rangering is for me, but at the moment I would still like to try it! Things can change though!

Oh and I'm sure teaching isn't that bad Chris! Haha, teaching is my back-up incase all goes wrong, the only thing that puts me off is unwilling kids! But it gives you a good chance to brain-wash kids into caring about the environment, if they ever listen!

Cheers again
Caroline

unless there is something wrong with that job (ie bad area, very low pay, or bad working conditions) then that is quite unusual

we recently advertised a junior position (not strictly a ranger job but similar in duties and scope) for which we had 59 expressions of interest- 28 applications and interviewed 4

some better known or desirable organisations have been known to have hundreds.

[cmullen]

Yeah I know it's usually very very competitive! It was in a nice reserve called Crathes Castle which is only a short drive from the city, and the pay was quite good, so it was very odd indeed! Crathes do a voluntary ranger position every year too, so I think I might go for that next summer!