Advice for a new career

[Sigrunn]

Hello all,

I’m looking for some advice on a few different subject of this topic. Any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated. No matter how little or large I would be very thankful.

I’m 30, I work full time as a project coordinator (posh name for project manager) and I have a degree in IT. I have always loved wildlife, nature and the outdoors. Something I have as a hobby I guess you could say. I have always hated the area of work I choose, but never the less fell for the whole “IT is a safe job career” when I was at school/college/uni. Anyway, I have decided I want to change my career to where my passion is - the wildlife area. Looking more at the wildlife biologist or zoologist area but I would be happy just in this area as some other role.

I can’t afford to leave my job as I have a family and mortgage etc. I’m desperate to move to this are as for the first time in a very long time this feels like the right thing to do etc. I live in the North-East of England in Sunderland, I have sent off an application to the WWT as they have a side near where I live to volunteer to get some experience under my belt. Just waiting to hear back from them now.

So if anyone would give me some advice on short courses I could study, decent books, any uni courses that may be of value that I cant do either in evenings (that are local) or study from home, any training courses I could gain via volunteer work and if anyone knows of other volunteers that may be needed in this field in my local area.

Advice on jobs would be great, I have skills that would be useful to my new career path, is it possible to get a lower ranked job in their area and do on job training/courses etc, does anyone know if that is possible?

[Gulvain]

Hi Sigrunn,

Being honest it will be difficult to make the transition from one profession to another (especially one as competitive as nature conservation) without having the freedom to change locations and work patterns. Having some flexibility really helps when you are first starting out.

However, don't be discouraged! It sounds like you are starting out the best way - by getting as much voluntary experience as you can. There are a huge range of organizations that offer opportunities - BTCV, National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts etc. Getting some practical habitat management experience is an excellent introduction into the sector.

Do as much research as you can about what type of job you are aiming for, because there are a huge range. With cutbacks in the public and voluntary sectors private ecological consultancies offer better prospects at the moment. To break into this sector would take time and would require getting extensive experience in habitat and species surveys and in the long run you would benefit from having a degree.

There are a huge range of books depending on what area you're interested in. Try getting hold of 'Managing Habitats for Conservation' by Bill Sutherland. As for courses: the University of Birmingham does an excellent Certificate or MSc in Biological Recording and Species Identification which you can study by distance and attending field courses which would sharpen you're taxonomic and survey skills.

Best of luck with everything. It is a hugely rewarding career when you break into it. Send me a PM if you want to know more. I have a potential contact in the North East who is an ecologist and may be able to help.

[Lindsay-c]

Don't know if my words will be helpful but what the hell:

Two suggestions here since they aren't too far from Sunderland:
Newcastle university has some animal and zoology courses on offer, or another option is what I am doing - an HND in animal management at northumberland college. They also do countryside and environment courses as well. Might be worth looking on some websites

Also try this link. Tells you how to get onto to certain jobs and what you need to do. Click on A-Z search for other job options.

[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Zoologist - Science, Mathematics and Statistics - Job Families & Articles - Jobs4U

University of cumbria is pretty good for animal/wildlife courses too but far away.

[North Country Boy]

Hi Sigrunn, go for it mate, i was in a similar situation to you 2 years ago, for the last 24 years my career has been in the licensed trade and when i decided i didnt want to do this anymore and wanted to work outdoors (although then i didnt know exactly what i wanted to do) i started looking at what was about job wise. It quickly dawned on me that a combination of experience, either paid or in the voluntry sector, and qualifications was needed so i decided to do both. I didnt have the time to go back to uni to study (wrong side of 40) so I started volunteering for the National Trust and doing various courses to build my CV up. I first looked at the jobs i wanted to do which was in countryside management tofind out what was required then made a course wish list and found local training providers who delivered the courses. It all paid off last year when i was offered a shadow rangers placement with the forestry commission with the chance of a full time position within the near future. I cannot stress how important the volunteering aspect, and the fact that i had paid for the courses out of my own pocket was seen by the Forestry. Try Lantra for course providers in your area, I know they run a certified 'carrying out wildlife surveys and writing reports' course. Ecology training do a home study course in 'habitat management' and for volunteering, if you get no joy from the wildlife trust, have a look on the wild about Hartlepool website as they run day courses and have volunteering days.

Good luck and if its really what you want to do you'll get there in the end mate.

[Hobjob]

I wish you all the best, but I have a son in the IT world, and I know for sure that his income far exceeds that of most people in conservation.

Sorry to be a gloomy so and so

[North Country Boy]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

I wish you all the best, but I have a son in the IT world, and I know for sure that his income far exceeds that of most people in conservation.

Sorry to be a gloomy so and so

And your point is?

So what, 2 years ago I owned 2 nightclubs and had an income most people can only dream of, i was becoming ruthless, money orientated and selfish, certainly not the kind of person i wanted to be. Having decided to change my career and get out of the so called 'rat race' my life is now alot richer, i dont take the natural world for granted anymore, stress doesnt feature in my vocabulary anymore and my circle of friends has increased, ive become aware of the things around me i never even noticed before. Dont get me wrong I wish your son all the best, but the one thing changing my career has taught me is money doesnt buy happiness, for you or for the people around you, i barely make enough to live on but id sooner have it that way.

[JoulesH]

Well done North Country Boy! It's always great to see someone who has successfully changed career to something they are passionate about.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by North Country Boy

And your point is?

So what, 2 years ago I owned 2 nightclubs and had an income most people can only dream of, i was becoming ruthless, money orientated and selfish, certainly not the kind of person i wanted to be. Having decided to change my career and get out of the so called 'rat race' my life is now alot richer, i dont take the natural world for granted anymore, stress doesnt feature in my vocabulary anymore and my circle of friends has increased, ive become aware of the things around me i never even noticed before. Dont get me wrong I wish your son all the best, but the one thing changing my career has taught me is money doesnt buy happiness, for you or for the people around you, i barely make enough to live on but id sooner have it that way.

I don't think Hobjob was being pessimistic to be honest. He was just indicating that if you have a mortgage and a family (as the OP has), conservation is not a big payer and money does feature highly if you are in this position.
I agree totally, that doing a job that you love and don't find stressful- particularly if its a passion as well, is great but its hard getting a balance that suits.
Money certainly isn't everything and I wish the OP all the best for the future.

[North Country Boy]

I agree, but surely if money was the deciding factor Sigrunn would be staying where he is as most jobs in the conservation and wildlife sectorare not very well paid. I honestly wish Hobjob's son all the best and didnt think for one minute he was being pessimistic, or gloating.