|
|
|
|||||
|
Countryside Jobs Service |
||||||
|
CJS Discussion Board |
||||||
|
You are here> Info > Main Board> Countryside Careers |
||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Countryside Careers Topics on this page: New Topic on 31/7/07 - Should I study... New Topic on 23/3/05 - Volunteers get a raw deal. New Topic on 08/10/04 - Advice please... New on 3/11/03: jobs overseas. New Topic on 14/9/04 - Planning Ahead
New Topic on 31/7/07 - Should I study for a Foundation Degree in Environmental Conservation or am I too old. I have been offered a place to study for a Foundation Degree in Environmental Conservation. I would like to gain employment in this area of work. I currently do voluntary work with a National Work and have made contact with my local BTCV with a view to doing voluntary work with them. My question is:- If I take this course on completion I will be 48 years old. At that age am I wasting my time and will any benefit that a qualification will give me be outweighed by my age? Details supplied. (Ref: AGE) New Topic on 23/3/05 - Volunteers get a raw deal.There seems to be more organisations wanting to employ (use the term loosely) or should I say USE people for free labour in todays conservation/environmental work place. Unfortunately, we or most people who participate in voluntary environmental work get nothing out of it other than some well meant paper qualifications a cup of tea and some lacklustre biscuits. Am I being harsh? may be I am. Having just read an advert seeking the equivalent of a officer type green manager for work in a multitude of environmental practices including community promotion work, are asked to submit a lengthy application form. Hmm can not find a pay scale or band oh...its VOLUNTARY 5 DAYS A WEEK FOR 6 MONTHS. My problem is like most I have bills to pay and would love a post like this but, We would like to be offered payment (please!!!!) Does anyone else feel the same about this? Yes, I do volunteer 3 days a week but claim benefit (yes I have a degree too) and enjoy it but get hacked off with very few jobs being turned into lets get someone in for free attitude and 'I am alright I have a paid job' mentality. In other words WE volunteers get a raw deal overall. Details supplied. (Ref: VOL2) Replies: ► In response to "volunteers get a raw deal" I am the volunteers co-ordinator for a regional organisation and this is absolutely not the case with our volunteers. All have access to a wide range of training, hours are flexible to allow for other commitments and we have never turned a "real" job into a voluntary opportunity. In fact many of our volunteers go on to real jobs both with our organisation and with others. I sympathise if you have had a bad experience with volunteering but do not tar everyone with the same brush. Details supplied. (Ref: VOL2-R1)
New Topic on 08/10/04 - Advice please...PH says: Hello all, I'm new to this site. I'm considering trying to become involved in countryside ranger/warden work. I'm currently working in university administration but am sick of being behind a desk and the politics involved. I've been a walker and climber in the peak district for 20 years or so and would love to be involved in a practical way with helping others access the countryside and also helping to maintain it... However I've seen lots of negative messages on this site about trying to work in the profession and am wondering just how difficult it is to become a paid country ranger... Can anyone give advice or point me on the right path? Many thanks. (Ref: CRW) CJS: We always point people 'new' to the profession towards naturenet.net there's some great advice on there about what life is really like as a Ranger.
New Topic on 3/11/03: jobs overseas.
AH from Cambridgeshire says: I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with trying to find land management/forestry/environment jobs overseas. I'm currently looking at North America and New Zealand, but not exclusively. Is there an international version of CJS? Should there be one? (Ref: OS) ►CJS replies: Try the International Ranger Federation, a link is available from our Links page and the piece: Pros and Cons of working as a Countryside Warden below. ► From a reader in Central Scotland: AH, I work in Scotland for a Council Ranger Service, and I am also an active member of SCRA (Scottish Countryside Rangers Association). We have a good relationship with the IRF (International Ranger Federation) and often support exchanges on an international basis. We also believe in links with other agencies and have a good relationship with several services in North England. Whilst Rangering and in particular, Countryside Law is very different between England and Scotland, there may be a value in an exchange for both sides, particularly in inspiring new ideas! If you are interested, you could either arrange this through CMA (Countryside Management Agency) who SCRA works with, or perhaps contact SCRA directly (www.scotranger.freeserve.co.uk[or click on the logo on CJS home page]) to see if any of our members may be interested in an exchange. (Ref: OS-R1) ► CJ of London says: Dear AH of Cambridgeshire - I have just recently come back from New Zealand where I was attempting to gain a job in their marine conservation areas. I must caution you on two things, or anyone else going abroad seeking work for that matter. Firstly - make sure that you can either get sponsorship from a business before you go, or secondly that you are in a skill bracket to which the government in said country is particularly interested in hiring - which I am said to say seldom includes environmental jobs. I personally found that agencies and trusts are not interested in risking employing a temporary visitor - so you should have some proof, or intention to stay for some time. I also found that they tend to ask for skills and experiences which we may not have the ability to gain in this country. In N.Z. they quite often ask for "Bush Craft" as an experience if they are sending you into the field - ie do you know how to get round in the NZ bush. Quite simply we don't have a clue as it is obviously a country specific experience. So - in my experience - find out as much as you can through the internet or the relevant Embassy about job prospects and potential employers. The web is excellent for talking directly to employers in other countries and finding out what they want. Many of the governments and their embassies also post details of skill shortages in their countries - check them out. And before you go - make sure you can afford to live wherever you are going for at least 6 months unfunded. In addition be prepared to learn new skills - I ended up working as a gas fitter!! (Ref: OS-R2) ► On 2/3/05 - CM from East Lothian Says: There are hundreds of fantastic jobs in conservation across the US. You'll probably have to start as a volunteer and then find a way to be paid/sponsored and to be allowed to stay. Try to get a 6 month tourist visa to start, and approach any of the local conservation corps, e.g California Conservation Corps, Nevada Conservation Corps. See the BTCV International Holidays website for a great range of opportunities, especially in Arizona, get on a holiday, then contact their partner bodies in the US for a way in to an incredible world. You might be a ranger in the Grand Canyon in a few years- and they get paid very well! (Ref: OS-R3) ► Hi, coming from NZ I've a bit of experience in the job hunt for environmental type jobs. Try the NZ government website, there are good links to the department of conservation, but again the competition is quite strong. http://www.jobs.govt.nz/ Could also try landcare research institute or forest research or hort research, agresearch or ministry of agriculture and forestry. These are all the government funded organisations that sometimes have jobs. Other wise search private companies and try and get hold of the right person and push your way in. Good luck. Details supplied. (Ref: OS-R4)
New Thread started on 16/2/07
I presently work as a botanical surveyor for a nature conservation charity in Dorset. I am interested to know if conservation organisations/ consultancies employ ecological surveyors in France, especially in Brittany for botanical survey and/or protected species work. If you have information about this sector in France I would appreciate your wisdom! Details Supplied. (Ref: OS1)
New Topic on 14/9/04 - Planning AheadMM in Scotland asks: I am a recent graduate in biology and am planning the trip of a lifetime around Japan/Thailand/China etc next year. I want to come back and move to Cornwall (I am currently in Scotland) where my boyfriend will probably attend Duchy college. I am seeking employment in the environmental sector in this area and wandered if anybody could suggest any job seeking routes that I may not have thought of. I have seen a few positive adverts but am finding it difficult as it would be in a years time. Does anybody think I should opt for a 'regular' job first of all and seek out work (e.g conservation/project work) whilst actually down there? I sort of need a sound board for this task! Thanks (Ref: PA) Replies: ► JD from Tyneside replies: Dear MM, As this is such a broad field I suggest you get some experience of conservation work to allow you to chose which jobs to apply for, see where your interests and skills lie. Sometimes it doesn't matter where you get your experience from as these skills will be transferable ie from Scotland to Cornwall although having experience in a geographical area can do no harm to your applications in the future, my advice if you really want to work in the environmental field would be to start as you mean to go on, it's all too easy to slip out of the sector when other jobs pay proper wages. But then we do it for the love of the job and not (just) the money!! (Ref: PA-R1) ► BH in Cornwall says: I am currently living and working in Cornwall as a Project Officer for Sustrans, working with English Nature, local authorities and volunteer orgs. on site management and public access. Am trying to move into the conservation sector after a degreeein Env Science and a Masters in Natural Resource Management. Competition is TOUGH - everyone wants to live and work here! Have you thought about going to Duchy too? It is really good. Main vol. organisations are Groundwork and BTCV - Cornwall County Council want lots of relevant countryside management experience so do something that will make you stand out. Goodluck! (Ref: PA-R2)
I want to add a piece / comment -
The views contained on this page are not necessary those held by CJS. |
