Working in Conservation

[Carl]

Hey all
I`m confused as to what to do.I really want to work in conservation.It`s in my heart and my blood, and when i`m doing that type of work, there`s no stopping me and it`s when i`m most happy,(i could win 100k on deal or no deal and i`d still be happier doing conservation work).
I love the outdoors, and all animals,and the trees etc.
I`ve always wanted to do this type of work i first started when i was 16 but things got in the way.But now i`m more passionate about it then ever.
But i don`t know which way to go, i`m young 18 i`m 19 in april, i`m at college studying maths english ict and it, and what i intend to do, is to do the higher maths english and ict course after.The one i`m currently doing is equiviliant to grade C in GCSE or so they`ve told me.And then after that i was thinking of doing a university course,and this is where my problem comes in, i don`t know wether to or not.I mean i don`t know wether i`d be wasting my time studying for 3 yrs or 4yrs total,because i could just do all that and not get a job out of it.And from what i`ve been reading on some off these posts it`s pretty hard to get a job in conservation.

Please help or advise.

Cheers

Carl.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Carl

...
I love the outdoors, and all animals,and the trees etc.
... i was thinking of doing a university course,and this is where my problem comes in, i don`t know wether to or not.I mean i don`t know wether i`d be wasting my time studying for 3 yrs or 4yrs total,because i could just do all that and not get a job out of it.And from what i`ve been reading on some off these posts it`s pretty hard to get a job in conservation.

Please help or advise.

Cheers

Carl.

Hi Carl

If I were in your shoes (and much younger than I am now!), I'd first of all make contact with your careers advisor at college and discuss some of your educational options.

It sounds to me like you're a much more of a 'hands on' type of person rather than academically orientated and it's a pretty heavy slog studying for a degree, especially if, as is often the case, it doesn't mean a passport into a specific vocation. Lots of jobs are graduate jobs and a Degree is a minimum to apply. However, in conservation etc, practical experience/related study is on the whole more likely to get you into the particular area you want and the type of study might be more suited to you personally. You can always continue adult education onto a degree course part-time as a mature student at a later period in your life if further study for example in environmental sciences appeals to you.

In the meanwhile, I'd look at agricultural/environmental management courses. They are less heavy on the academics and more vocational also shorter than a BSc or BA. Many offer practical skills such as chain sawing, first aid, hedge cutting, quad bike and ecology. These will be crucial skills in any outdoor job in conservation such as on a nature reserve for example.

Have a look through the courses on this link and perhaps discuss some of the options with members of your family.

Countryside Jobs Service - CJS Events Diary, training centres

If I were younger and fitter I'd do one myself. I went the degree route and ended up working in an office!

Hope that helps and good luck.

[Lin Murray]

Hi Carl

Great to see such enthusiam! If you want to get a qualification but don't want to go down the degree route you could have a look at more hands on courses such as ' National diploma in wildlife conservation'. Easton college (Easton College, Easton, Norwich) run this course and it is aimed at people looking to work in conservation. Entrance requirements are 4 GCSEs A-C or equivilant.

I did go the degree route and several of the people on the course (Ecology at University of East Anglia) had been on this course and said it was really good. Have a look at their website, it might give you some ideas.

Maybe you could do some work with British Trust for Conservation Volunteers www2.btcv.org.uk. You would be mixing with lots of likeminded people who would be great to bounce ideas off and you would be getting experience of various fields of conservation.

I agree with the previous posting that you should talk to your careers people. They might be able to put you in touch with a local group that would take you on work experience (RSPB reserve, local Wildlife Trust, Natural England, local ecologists who are employed to conduct surveys etc before developers can build roads/housing estates etc). You could do this while you are still at college, if you have time. It will help you decide which areas of conservation you would like to work in and it looks great on your CV.

Luck is important but just as important is hard work along the way!

Have fun


LM

[Carl]

Haha so i spoke to my LA and she what i`m studying for is equivalent to a D GCSE, and she show me the university route, and my first thought was stuff that lol but there`s something in me that still say yer go on do it.She said it`ll take bout 3-4 yrs to get to uni then with the uni course that 3yrs lol.
So i don`t know what to do i`d be bout 26-8 when i finish uni if i go.hahah think i might be a grave digger or gardener instead,there the other jobs i want to do if i can`t get into conservation.

[dampflippers]

Carl, I think most university courses require A levels or equivalent, so I would agree with the person who suggested a agricultural, horticultural or arboricultural course.
There is a college near me (in Durham) that runs full and part time courses on Environmaental conservation, which might suit you to a T.

East Durham College

East Durham College

East Durham College

Have a look at some of the courses, then look at colleges near you to see if they offer anything similar.

Also: East Durham College

[Secdean]

Hi Carl,
As the other have said, but i would like to add.

If you study for a National Certificate (NC), it will take you 1 year, and require no previouse Education or Experiance. Its very easy to do and will allow you a way in to the sector.
You can do them in Arboriculture, Ecology, and Horticulture but to name a few. Arboriculture is my sector and i will advise for it. It involveds climbing trees ,identification and basicly the manual work on trees at NC level.

Once you have a NC in it, you could move up to a National Diploma(ND)
(since the NC qualifys you for it). It requires 2 years , a little more work but will move you to a manager/adviser/team leader role.

And finaly you could use those and study for a HND/HNC Higher National Diploma, requiring even more studying, but less times a week. Takeing 2 years. This will make you a Overall leader/Senior Adviser role.

You could stop and find a job at NC or ND level. You are studying for Key skills Lvl 1 am i right? these are good, Continue and move up to the Lvl 2 in Maths and Communiation.

We are in a recession, top jobs are hard to come by, so study now for 3 years, and when your trained , the future will be better.

East Durham and Houghall Community College in Durham City, are Fantastic. But no long provide student accommodation.

[annie2]

Hi,

I don't think a qualification helps to get a job on its own, but it gives you more job oportunities, however studying is an experience in its self, especially if staying in college / university accommodation. I met some weird and wonderfull students and teachers.

I have been unable to find a job to suit me - one of the problems is that I don't have the right or enough of the right experience.

I don't know where you live, but their are quite alot of charity and goverment organisations around, for example North West Kent Countryside Partnership, Thames21 and BTCV. These run volunteer days, some even do weekends which will help you get some experience and you can ask staff for help and find out how they got their job.

I completed a degree in animal conservation and biodiversity last year at Hadlow College, Kent - I started on the Foundation degree (2 years with work placements) and toped it up with the degree's 3rd year. It was hard, involved alot of hot chocolates, but worth it.

I started on first diploma animal care and moved to national diploma animal care and then started the HND animal management but had to re do the year (health reasons) - but Hadlow scraped it for 3 different types of foundation degrees, so i chose animal conservation & biodiversity.

Most lecturers are helpful and are supportive.

It took me 7 years to get and i am now 24.

A careers person is helpful to sort out ideas in your head - though i didn't find mine helpful (I've seen 3 people!), but don't be put off - might be just where I live. They can also help with creating CV's and cover letters to help get a paid job.

If you can cope, you can also study while working.

Good luck and have fun

[neldadog]

Hi Carl,

I would agree with everyone else.

Get some kind of formal qualification but also get some pratical experience. There is lots of charities i.e. BTCV that would grateful for your help.

A bit of further advice - Be prepared to travel or move home! Conservation jobs are very competative, hundreds of people apply for one post.

You would put yourself in a much better position if you are prepared to up and leave to Northern Scotland, possibly Cornwall, even deepest Wales. Dont let the job come to you, go and get it yourself!

Either stay single or hope you have an understanding girlfriend!

Good luck dude.

[Fritillary]

I was going to suggest the same that Annie. Since you are 18 (did you have a gap year?) if not you could try one year working as volunteer in some natural reserve or maybe a zoo or botanical garden. It looks the volunteer jobs are opened to enthusiast teenagers like you, so it would help you to decide if you want to do a university degree and in what sort of conservation project or maybe study as a technician to work in conservation projects.

As a child I dreamed to be in a natural reserve in Africa . I ve just finished a phd in Ecology the past year and although I am very happy in university activities, I am not dealing with lions or forest conservation do you see?
Sometimes life takes you to other ways.

Anyway good luck!!