Job change advice

[wildlifewindow]

Hello,

I am looking for a bit of advice, with my current job situation.

I have always wanted to become a countryside ranger/warden and have completed a degree in countryside management two years ago and I have some practical experience through volunteering.

I currently have a job working for a commercial plant raising nursery on a starting salary of 21k, which I didn’t plan but just fell into. I can do the job but I find myself constantly looking out the greenhouses begging for some wildlife to pass by (it never does). I have to work 7 days a week, usually totalling over 50hrs - so there is no time for volunteering or my passion of wildlife photography.

I am seriously considering quitting this job and moving in with my girlfriends' parents (to save renting a house) and work voluntary full or part time as a warden/ranger.

This is a big jump - especially financially but I feel that if I don’t get back into practical work I will never get any closer to becoming a ranger.

My family think that it is very drastic but I know that I need a year or two of full time wardening experience to move on.

I would like some comments from people who possibly have been in similar situations or if you agree or disagree with the change.

Thanks

[DavyG]

I admire your ambition to pursue the career of your choice but have you fully thought this through?

You would be leaving a reasonably well paid job, for an uncertain future, at probably the worst time for employment in the last 10 - 15 years.

I suspect that many organisations will have more volunteers for Ranger/Warden jobs than they could use, you may find you can't get the role you'd like.

Have you discussed moving in with your girlfriend'ss parents with them? How do they feel about that plan?

How do you intend to support yourself if you are undertaking voluntary work and not being paid, is your girlfriend or your girlfriend's parents happy to pay your way and support you?

What is your back up plan should you and your girlfriend decide to part, do you have an alternative place to stay and means of support?

If your unsure of the answers to any of the above, take care you don't leave your job and find you can't get another one should you need to.

I don't know where you live but the current recession is affecting all areas to a greater or lesser extent, things are likely to get much worse and unemployment much higher.

Good luck in making your decision and in whatever you choose to do.

Dave

[wildlifewindow]

My partner is happy to support me and I would hope to gain a place on a reserve before I quit my current job.

I no its not the best timing in the world, but I just feel as if I am just wasting my time where I am and want to make the move before we get a house and the associated financial commitment with a mortgage.

[Oscar2006]

I'm not sure why you want to ask advice about your future from total strangers who know nothing about you?

The advice already given by DavyG is in my opinion very sound advice.
If that is not what you want to hear then perhaps it would be best not to ask!

[JoulesH]

It's always said it's easier to get a job when you are in a job, so I too would think twice about resigning in the current climate. Your degree and presumably your volunteering experience is recent enough for you to look at applying for relevant jobs without doing more voluntary ranger work first, so if I was you I'd keep up the current job but apply for anything suitable that comes up. That way if you get a few interviews you'll find out any weaknesses but at least you're still earning. Is suspect a lot of people will be using redundancies to change career direction and in a couple of years countryside jobs will be even more competitive than they are now, so I wouldn't ditch your current job just yet, start testing the waters.

[APC]

Okay. £21,000 per year is good money for land-based work but when you are working 7 days a week, this becomes less good. Personally, I would never work 7 days a week as I work to live not live to work. If you are happy doing this though then that's fine.

What area of the country are you from? As far as I have seen, there have been plenty of jobs around (in the south) including "starter" posts like seasonal wardens etc. These are mostly lower paid but from what I have heard about amount of suitable applicants, there are some posts where they have struggled to fill a pair of roles. This has been due to people getting offered the job but then declining them. These posts are often good feet in the door and sometimes give you a bit of training too. Just be fiercely competitive and make sure you fill out the application forms in full.

If you genuninely want to do this line of work, be pro-active and take a risk. It sounds like you have the support of some people close to you, and while your parents probably can't see past the "£21k" of your nursery job, I doubt they would want you to be unhappy.

Don't jump your present job though, until you have found something to take its place. I think if you can manage to find somewhere to take you on on a voluntary basis for 3-4 days a week, then you do any paid work to give you at least some income, then you should do exactly what you want to do. Yes, the current economic climate is rubbish but its by people NOT doing things, NOT taking risks, that make all the doom and gloom stories of people stuck in menial jobs crying for a way out when they won't even help themselves because they have been told by the media it is too hard.

Hope that makes sense.

Adam

[wild_as_kate]

Hey there

I say if you are unhappy then look for something that suits you better and when you find it leave!

You only live once and your job is a huge part of your life

i did it recently (moving into a completely different field) and although not entirely stable am just about earning a living and know i have found a vocation I want to stay in for good,

I can't tell you how nice that feels! I didn't quit my old job until i found some freelance work in my new field mind xx

[wildlifewindow]

I thought I would send an update on this forum to finish the story for anyone in a similar sitution as I was:

It did take another 7 months sticking with the old dead-end job but I finally quit and havnt been happier since. I am now an estate manager earning a similar wage as before aswell as a rent free cottage and bills paid! - I do feel very lucky and I hope that this will act a a glimmer of hope to all that want to move on from their current job and get outside that it does happen, you just have to stick with it and the pasion for the environment will be spotted

just dont give up!


cheers and thanks for the advice at the time!

[captain nodge]

Good luck to you, i was hoping to get out of my crane driving job, even offered to do voluntary conservation work for a bit so as to get a feel for it, learn stuff like hedgelaying,anything so as to develop mentally,but theres just too much red tape and health and safety issues going on today, still musnt give up hope to do something for the real good one day, i do rubbish pick on the river but thats only at selected times