Career change advice - A long term plan!

[Wileykit]

Hello,

I'm in my late 20s (eek) and am trying to change career after realising too late in life that I would rather be doing something in environmental management/conservation/ecology than working in an office!

I can't currently afford the pay cut (or risk) associated with a career in this area, (especially given some of the posts on this site from people with much more of a head start!), so for the next couple of years am going to try and get some good volunteering experience take some wildlife pics, and was also considering doing an environment/conservation related Masters. Does anyone have any views on whether the qualification would be worth the cost and time? Would experience always win out over academia? I already have a good first degree, am a qualified accountant and currently work as a management consultant.

After searching the net and forums, I'm still not sure exactly what area I would like to go into so at this stage would like to keep my options open. Sorry if this post is very vague, but any words of advice would be most welcome!

thanks!
Wiley

[ron1863]

Personally I would take experience over academic qualifications but that's just me, ideally if you study for the qualifications while doing relevant voluntary work in your spare time that should stand you in good stead.

Good Luck

[Jason Green]

I agree, in my experience it's my work history that seems to gain more work. Afterall, what do you do at work? You work. Therefor IMO voluntary/work experience is best... putting what you can do into practice. I have a wildlife website, supply photos for NBN and GiGL and a local calendar, all voluntarily and good experience and proof of ability for a CV.

Good luck, Steve

[cmullen]

Hi there, I think experience is the most important thing as many jobs ask for things like hnd env sci or equivelent plus 3 years experience, not an MSc and no experience, which I learned the hard way. But if you do want to do an MSc I highly recomend the one I am currently doing. It's an MSc in Biological Recording by Birmingham Uni and Field Studies Council, based in Shrewsbury mostly but with some of the field modules at other FSC centres around the country. It is mostly for people who are or want to be ecology consultants, rangers who do surveying or things like that. It is ran over 3 years and has two years of courses done over weekends (and quite alot of homework!) then a year (or more if you need it) for your dissertation. Each year you have one core module ran over 4 weekend in winter which covers the more boring biological recording/stats/report writing skills and then 3 courses througout the summer out of a choice of lots of things. Plants, birds, inverts etc. You get good ID skills which is something not many courses give you.

Of course if you are more into the practical management side of things another course might be better. But just thought I'd mention this course as I haven't seen it mentioned before.

Cheers
Caroline

[coasty]

Sadly my words of advise would be dont do it. Recently a colleague has been made redundant due to the present downturn. He was head of our eco team and very good at his job he had also won a high profile industry award for personal acheivment. Sadly as in the last recession the first areas of companies to be cut are the so called soft skills. HR and sadly nowadays enviromental.

I cant imagine any circumstances where your earnings will match your current profession and think its pretty unlikely that you will manage to land a position where you are pitted against younger and cheaper graduates.

Why not consider moving your accountancy skills into the area of your interest, ie Accountant for wildlife charity or conservation body. You could compliment your skills in accountancy by learning about charitable status legislation etc and do volunteer work in conservation. The voluntary work would enhance your chances of the accountancy job and you would be in a sector you like.

Just an idea....

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by coasty

Sadly my words of advise would be dont do it. Recently a colleague has been made redundant due to the present downturn. He was head of our eco team and very good at his job he had also won a high profile industry award for personal acheivment. Sadly as in the last recession the first areas of companies to be cut are the so called soft skills. HR and sadly nowadays enviromental.

I cant imagine any circumstances where your earnings will match your current profession and think its pretty unlikely that you will manage to land a position where you are pitted against younger and cheaper graduates.

Why not consider moving your accountancy skills into the area of your interest, ie Accountant for wildlife charity or conservation body. You could compliment your skills in accountancy by learning about charitable status legislation etc and do volunteer work in conservation. The voluntary work would enhance your chances of the accountancy job and you would be in a sector you like.

Just an idea....

I'd concur - its very difficult to break into and the pay sucks (at least compared with accountancy) , by way of illustration I am a mid level manager with budget and staff responsibility in an environmental project (14 years experience under my belt) - last year i got paid a tad over £25k (you probably made more than that in your coffee break )

I'd say either work as an accountant for an environmental body as coast suggests (and be prepared for a severe drop in renumeration even so) or stick with your job but reduce your hours (if poss) and do some volunteering - that way your boring but well paid job will be paying for some interesting but unpaid work - and you will have the option of ramping your hours back up if you need the wedge.

[NickCantle]

...to add, it's not a good time of economy to be changing careers so make sure every action you take in regards to the matter is carefully planned, thought through and executed precisely.

[Vectisbirder]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I'd concur - its very difficult to break into and the pay sucks (at least compared with accountancy) , by way of illustration I am a mid level manager with budget and staff responsibility in an environmental project (14 years experience under my belt) - last year i got paid a tad over £25k (you probably made more than that in your coffee break )

From my own point of view, if I were in a well-paid job I'd just do the conservation/wildlife stuff on a voluntary basis. However, for anyone - such as myself - who barely gets £11000 a year, and I'd say the same to anyone in my position, I'd definitely take a chance on it, which is what I plan to do when this recession is over.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Vectisbirder

From my own point of view, if I were in a well-paid job I'd just do the conservation/wildlife stuff on a voluntary basis. However, for anyone - such as myself - who barely gets £11000 a year, and I'd say the same to anyone in my position, I'd definitely take a chance on it, which is what I plan to do when this recession is over.

in your position i'd agree - apart from job security you dont have a lot to loose - average starting for a junior warden /estate worker is about £14k - though many posts pay about £9k and give free accomodation in lieu of the difference.

[Vectisbirder]

Originally Posted by eeyore

in your position i'd agree - apart from job security you dont have a lot to loose - average starting for a junior warden /estate worker is about £14k - though many posts pay about £9k and give free accomodation in lieu of the difference.

I don't even have job security (does anyone these days?) as I am currently temping.