Licencing and Affiliations

[CraftyFerret]

Hi all,

I'm at the moment struggling to get a job, despite having a BSc, MSc, a years worth of experience at a leading conservation organisation (8 months in London offices, 6 months in the field in Madagascar). A lot of jobs I see want affiliations to IEMA, and other animal licences such as bat, crested newt, and doormouse. How on earth do I go about getting these?! It seems impossible to get a job in this sector! Do I really need MORE experience? I have filed away nearly a decade of my life working towards this with STILL no luck!

[maccyd82]

What sort of work are you looking to get into? Consultancy/ranger or warden /project officer type work/education etc?

If you have been applying for jobs, what feedback have you been getting abot why you didnt get it? Its true there are huge numbers of people wanting to get into this line of work, but positively, the number of jobs available seems to be higher than it was last year.

[Johnny Redgate]

I'm not wanting to put you off but I've just failed to get an interview for a temporary ecologist post despite a PhD and 20 yrs experience. Maybe I'm too old. Good luck and keep trying.

It is extraordinary to think that you need to provide yourself with yet more training (probably needing to be acquired by working voluntarily with a Wildlife Trust or similar), I know. But that seems to be the world we live in. Nobody I know of does ecological apprenticeships.

[honedan]

Chin up,

As someone in the industry I can tell you that yes it wasn't east getting here and its not all about experience its about field craft and identification skills and getting those licenses. I went on the somerset environmental records center training scheme which taught me all the botanical field skills to undertake NVC IHS and Phase 1 habitat surveys which are the bread and butter of any consultant.

Getting my dormouse and crayfish license was a bit of hoop jumping. I went on the mammal society training course with the great mike woods (sadly passed away) then volunteered to undertake surveys with licensed persons who then signed me off to get my license.

I know its frustrating especially at this time of the year when companies are thinking about hiring although are waiting for work to be confirmed to they have the money to pay people.

When they say experience they mean can you identify British Species and Phase 1 Habitats accurately in the field and do you know how the legislation refers to each protected species. Understanding the letter of the law is really important.

If you already know this then I am sorry for ranting on. I just wish someone told me this in the begining.

Let me know if I can help.

[maccyd82]

I would say if you are wanting to get into consultancy the most useful licence to have would be for great crested newts. You need two references for this, which you can normally get from one season of surveying. The newt survey period runs from March to mid June, so if you can arranage to help on some surveys this year and/or attend a training course you should be able to get licenced this year.

Suggest you try your local ARG group Home - ARGUK, herpetological conservation trust, froglife or have a trawl through the webistes.

I also think IEEM may do a course, which is available to non-members.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by CraftyFerret

Hi all,

I'm at the moment struggling to get a job, despite having a BSc, MSc, a years worth of experience at a leading conservation organisation (8 months in London offices, 6 months in the field in Madagascar). A lot of jobs I see want affiliations to IEMA, and other animal licences such as bat, crested newt, and doormouse. How on earth do I go about getting these?! It seems impossible to get a job in this sector! Do I really need MORE experience? I have filed away nearly a decade of my life working towards this with STILL no luck!

its not so much about more experience as aboutt relevant experience.

looking at it from an employers point of view if you have a job which involves for example great crested newt survey and mitigation, what does someone whose experience is either office basd or overseas bring to the party.

I'm sure madagascar was great - but its not especially relevant unless you want to work in madagascar or in related ecosystems.