Getting a permanent job in Ecology is so hard for a budding ecologist, please help!

[Holly Tree]

Well I didn't know such a subject would spark off such a big debate about bats and consultants! Calm down everyone!

Well I am now back to square one, my contracts as an ecology field surveyor ended and there really are no assistant level jobs out there, what with winter and the recession...I am just hoping that the jobs will come out in the spring again. I gained a lot of experience this year and should be far more employable, so I have just got to hope I can get a permanent job next year. That really is my dream. So I have set myself a goal, which is to get a permanent ecology job by next august, otherwise after 3 years of trying I will give up and become a biology teacher! I am 25 and still cannot believe I have not really started a career yet. It feels like I have had the carrot dangled in front of me for far too long now...

[Holly Tree]

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to give you all an update and share my wonderful news, and hopefully give you some inspiration!

Someone finally decided to give me a chance, so I have finally landed myself a permanent job as an Ecologist for a ecology consultancy! I still cannot believe it has finally happened, it only took me 2.5 years of applying! Now this sounds like a long time for a new graduate just starting out but believe me it will be worth it in the end. Although I got nowhere in my first year after graduation, about 1.5 years after I did get contract ecology work which enabled me to develop my commercial ecology skills along with my voluntary work. All I can say is that you just have to go for it and if you really want an environmental career don't give up no matter what. I am a very determined person and the more knock backs I got from employers the more I wanted a job! So I was very proactive and always asked companies for feedback so I could gain the skills required by them, and I targeted all my voluntary work and ecology contracts towards helping me meet the general candidate requirements requested for ecology jobs.

I am hoping now that things will finally get easier and the ecology work circuit will not be so closed off to me. It will be great that I can finally prove myself and see what I am really capable of. I also really want to thank all those of you who have already been through all this and have ecology work experience for giving me excellent and valuable advice, as it really helped me when I was struggling. Thankyou!!

Good luck to all of you still looking, you will get there in the end if you really want to get there.

[Gill Catton]

Oh congratulations! I'm thrilled for you that's fantastic news, well done!!

Only sorry I wasn't able to help you myself (though mixed blessing as the company has since laid a couple of people off)

[Holly Tree]

Thank you Gill! And thank you again for trying to help me, the company you work for seems really nice. In fact I am supposed to be helping with the harvest mouse project which your secretary emailed me about, it sounds really exciting! Its also good to know that there are really great companies out there, as I have had some bad experiences with some!

[Meta menardi]

What encouraging news, competence and persistence will win through. All the very best wishes in your career.

[The Woodman]

Well done Holly Tree. Your determination paid off and I hope you have many years of fruitful employment in the career that you love.

[Holly Tree]

Thank you both for the positive comments!!

[neldadog]

Well done Holly Tree in getting a job in consultancy it really isnt easy and you have worked very hard to get there - best of luck for the future!

You easily had enough experience to be a graduate consultant, I really think it is down to a bit of luck when you get the job. Of course a lot of hard work in the meantime does pay off!

I got into consultancy fairly easily, yes I had exprience but to be quite honest I think I was just at the right place at the right time. I have several friends who are more experienced than me and still havent got jobs.

I would issue a word of advice to any other graduates wanting to get into consultancy that has not as yet been mentioned - office and report writing duties, admin etc.

An earlier post stated this as the 'easy' bit. Such duties are very important, and to be honest, the more dominant role of a consultant. As you get more experience within the comapny you will find a good proportion of your time will be spent report writing, filling, auditing, sitting in meetings, talking to clients, preparing costings, tendering etc. This work doesnt just rest with the senior ecologists, beleive me!

The world of ecological consultancy is very commercial, you are as much a business person as an ecological surveyor. This is to be honest, why a lot of people leave the sector (as well as the long hours!). One of the main reasons employers I have worked for say they reject certain applicants is beacuase they can't see how they would be commerically viable, irrespective of field skills!

I know such office experience is next to impossible to get, but if you at least ensure you understand the business side at an interview you would probebly stand a better chance of getting the job.

Hope this in some way helps other budding ecologists!

[Holly Tree]

Thanks neldadog, I think your advice is very useful. It seems some people don't realise how business minded you have to be to work in the commercial side of ecology. As well as ecology surveys you are also a salesperson and are very client focused, aiding developers with their projects. Lots of people start off in consultancy hoping they can eventually get into conservation, so they might not be in the business mind set for it. The lack of report writing skills from a consultancy is what I thought was holding me back but I couldn't get the experience without a job. Funnily enough the job I have wasn't put off by that, so now I can get that experience.

Does anyone else have any stories about gaining employment in such a competitive environmental sector? It certainly seems to be a challenge when you're starting out!

[NicolaB]

Well done for getting that permanent post!

I had a nightmare finding anything ecology based after graduating as well. I graduated in 1997 with a slightly disappointing 2:2 in Environmental Biology from Swansea Uni, couldn't afford to do an MSc, found myself overqualified for most jobs in Swansea, so I volunteered at WWT Llanelli for the best part of a year working in the education unit, and carrying out conservation and survey work in the grounds. It paid off eventually though, as luckily I met a girl who was working for the Environment Agency through a local wind band of all places!! She listened to my sorry story, and flashed my CV around a bit at the local office.

I landed a job in the microbiology lab a couple of weeks later, analysing beach water samples, and this eventually led to my current job as a freshwater biologist (I got my first ecology job mostly on the basis of my voluntary work!). It took me 4 years to get a permanent post, but luckily the Agency is pretty good at hanging on to their temp staff, and I got to do a lot of interesting projects in the process, although the lack of security and inability to get a mortgage was a bit of a downer!

It's a tricky field to get into, but perseverance definitely pays off