Where are all the jobs?

Ready Salted · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 10:47 AM

Hi,

I have just graduated in zoology and now comes the part where I get a job... Or do I?

I really want a job, and I am not even bothered what it is specifically. Just that it is something outside and working with the environment in one form or another. I read on here about all the people struggling to get work and the solution is volunteer to get experience. Which is very good advice. However, there are still no jobs to apply for.

Is there some secret recruitment agency or website that deals with environmental/conservation/animal type jobs? Or have I just missed a trick? Also is it worthwile speculatively applying to random companies or do they not like that very much...

Fuzzy-felt bloke · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 06:28 PM

Countryside Job Service is what you need, although not many organisations are recruiting just yet. Do look a RSBP web site for jobs they still seem to be recruiting. Once the spending review is out (21st Oct) all frozen recruitment may ease.
Good luck for the future.

Fuzzy-Felt Bloke

eeyore · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 08:23 PM

www.countryside-jobs.com also Environmentjob.co.uk: Environmental jobs in the UK

and imo speculatives arent worth it - we file them in the bin because civil service rules dont allow us to keep people on file for jobs, you have to consider each set of aplicants seperately

btw - you definitely need to volunteer first, you need at least a years experience, and a driving licence, to have a realistic chance at most jobs. - see cjs for volunteering oportunities also

RKB · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 11:21 PM

With a zoology degree (where from, what grade?) you might be better off doing a postgrad course to ride out the recession and get some more experience (including a decent dissertation/thesis that gets you doing something fieldworky and gaining experience).

thunder · #5 (**permalink**) 14-10-2010, 09:25 PM

I have to say where are all what jobs? If anyone told you that with a zoology degree you would have people queueing up to employ you, they were telling you porkies. Eeyore and RKB give good advice.

henrya

Wild-Woman · #6 (**permalink**) 15-10-2010, 11:34 AM

Volunteer work. It gets you in, your face gets known and you can keep your nose to the ground for anything interesting that comes up first.
The more places and variety of volunteer jobs, the better...it shows how adaptable you are and from your perspective, the more experience the better.

Guinnessman1974 · #7 (**permalink**) 16-10-2010, 05:43 PM

I'm looking at a nature/ environmental career - I'm currently involved in a local nature conservation group, volunteer for the RSPB over the summer, write birds articles for a local bird society, do surveying etc.

shirl · #8 (**permalink**) 18-10-2010, 03:12 PM

I completely agree, voluntary work is a must you need qualifications AND experience, might be an opportunity as RKB suggested to do e.g a masters whilst you are volunteering. Get out there, the RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, Natural England etc etc always have loads of opportunites. Good luck

Shirl

aquarian31 · #9 (**permalink**) 23-10-2010, 02:49 PM

Organisations such as English Nature ( Sheffield HQ) and the EA are all notifying that they have an embargo on vacancies being filled because of government cuts in budgest....see their websites!

eeyore · #10 (**permalink**) 23-10-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquarian31

Organisations such as English Nature ( Sheffield HQ) and the EA are all notifying that they have an embargo on vacancies being filled because of government cuts in budgest....see their websites!

and most councils too

most are expecting about a 30% cut in budget, and any vacant posts will probably be the first to go - any vancancy that survives the cutfest has to be offered first to displaced staff who would otherwise be made redundant

the cuts also knock on to private sector organisations like wildlife trusts because many of their posts are part funded by grants from people like NE

lean times ahead, and this is not a good time to be looking for environmerntal work - tho that said theirs not a lot of point in trying to shelter in academia doing a further qualification as research funding is also going to be hit hard

that said there are still some jobs going, just like there were in the last recession ( I graduated in '94) - its just a case that theres much more competition now so you need to be a better candidate whether by reason of qualification, knowledge, experience, or interview aptitude