Did you dream of all things animal as a child? Were you envious of Mowgli from The Jungle Book? Do you want to make a difference and love your job? If you’ve answered yes to all of these questions, then you may want to look into a job in conservation!
Like every job, working in conversation has its pros and cons, yes it’s not the stable hours of the 9-5 job nor is it likely to make you a million pounds. However, if you really want to make a difference to the lives of animals, love to work outdoors, want to do something different every day and have the opportunity to work and visit some extraordinary places then this career is definitely for you.
Now it’s true, those at the pinnacle of conservation are often very well qualified, with degrees in botany, zoology, biology and so on. If this is the route you’re planning to take then lucky for you there are plenty of colleges, courses and universities that offer conservation related qualifications.
For those of you who detest the classroom, don’t worry! Experience is key when it comes to this job, as much as you can learn in the classroom, nothing can prepare for the wild world like hands on experience can. Make proper use of your free time by volunteering with local projects (see The Conservation Volunteers), you can also volunteer at your local zoo or safari park such as The Aspinall Foundation who are celebrating 30 years of conservation.
It doesn’t do any harm to research the role and to study the approaches different organisations have when it comes to conservation. You can read up online or even get in contact with these companies to get some tips or to see if they have any upcoming projects you can help out with!
Unsurprisingly, it helps to have contacts in the industry. Some of the most exciting careers in conservation are filled through “who you know.” Networking is key, so get yourself to as many events as you can, not only will you meet people and hear their stories about working with animals, but you could also learn a lot, who knows the industry better than those who already work in it, right?
After gaining the relevant experience and knowledge, you may find yourself wanting to apply for your dream job, so it’s important to know what you want to develop into! Conservation is a wide industry with lots of sectors, familiarise yourself with jobs that are available and read the job descriptions thoroughly so you know exactly what you’d be doing day to day, ask yourself – does this excite me?
With the number of threatened species at an all-time high and wildlife in crisis all over the world, there couldn’t be a more important time to start a career in conservation.
Do you have any tips for people looking for a career in conservation? Let us know in the comments below…
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