countryside management careers

[alex79]

Hello all, I have just signed up and new to the board.

I was just interested in your thoughts about career prospects. I have returned to FT study as a mature student (30) and currently undertaking a national diploma in wildlife conservation and countryside management

I have been looking at vacancies on cjs etc and noticed most organiations/companies require a degree even for entry level jobs. Has anyone any comments on this or has anyone found it diffucult with only an ND? I am wondering whether to apply for a degree or not.

thanks

[eekoh]

I'm not sure about wildlife ranger, countryside manager type posts but if you are also considering ecological consultancy then you'll need the degree.

Also its a lot quicker to get membership of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) if you've got a relevant degree, without it you'll need an extra couple of years professional experience to meet the entry criteria. Again, I'm not sure how critical this is for countryside management roles as I work in the consultancy sector, but its something to consider. There's a careers advice section on their website which might give you some useful info. Careers advice

[Bill Hook]

Hi Alex,

It depends what type of job you're after. I manage environmental training delivery across several counties, and have been involved in delivering NVQs, the new Diplomas, practical and machine tools courses, health and safety etc etc.

A large amount of the NVQ / Diploma training I am responsible for is delivered to post graduates who are volunteering because they need to gain, and prove, practical conservation experience. Unless you are lucky enough to access a sandwich course, or your course has a practical element, you will need to gain this experience elsewhere. You could try and find a local Wildlife Trust / BTCV / NT volunteer group to work with while you are studying which would be good for your CV, your practical skills and the environment!

If you are interested in working in ecology as a consultant or surveyor the practical management skills may be less crucial, but it is still worth contacting some local organisations to see if they have any activities you could get involved with. The RSPB carry out a lot of surveys in my area, and so do certain NT properties.

Finally, if you are interested in pursuing the education / interpretation angle, speak to your local ranger service, Wildlife Trust youth group or NT property to see if there are any opportunities for volunteering in this aspect of conservation.

Speaking from experience, most people are only too glad of the help!