Bloody Hell, I've gone and done it.

[JDP]

Hi Guys,

Well, it's all over... I have actually completed my degree, some how. Spent the last 3 years studying BSc (hons) Wildlife Conservation, it had it's ups and downs... now just waiting for results day (Wednesday) which is slightly nerve racking!...

The course was fully of horrible statistics and very interesting modules such as genetics, adaptive physiology, wildlife surveying... but the dissertation was definitely the best part of the whole degree! Finally able to say i've actually achieved something in my life, an academic qualification in a subject which is actually quite hard - It feels good being able to call myself a scientist! - next step masters and then that good ol' Ph.D!

But now I am able to concentrate on photography and finding a job, of course... Fingers crossed one will come along soon. Moved back to Brighton also, where there are **** all jobs about in animal care/conservation work :thumbsdown:.

Anyways, I am now able to give this forum my full attention. Look forward to catching up with people soon!!

 

[dexter35yrs]

congrats - when i did mine it was such a relief to finish but well worth the experience

 

[Steep]

Only 'slightly' nerve wracking?

 

[pepi1967]

Well done. My tuther half needed two degrees to do the job she does now. Also called scientist and I remember how hard she worked for the whole 8 years so well done for staying with it and I wish you well for your exciting new future.

 

[robhooley167]

Congrats on finishing, I just finished my BSc last week and it's a huge relief when it's done.
I'm hoping to do a Masters then a PhD too, have you got a Masters place waiting contingent on your grades then?

 

[viv1969]

Congratulations James.....Is't it just such a great feeling?

 

[big soft moose]

jobs about in animal care/conservation work :thumbsdown:.

speaking as someone who work in conservation, broadly speaking - I'm a head ranger with the national trust- I'd say your next step is to build up a decent record of voluntary work - chances are you'll need 6-12 months experience as a volunteer before you can get a paid job.

drop me a pm if you want to discuss in greater detail

 

[WillNicholls]

Congrats

 

[PatrickO]

Hey James, well done!

 

[JDP]

congrats - when i did mine it was such a relief to finish but well worth the experience

Thanks mate, yeah it really was! I do quite miss it now though.

Only 'slightly' nerve wracking?

- okay **** myself! haha.

Well done. My tuther half needed two degrees to do the job she does now. Also called scientist and I remember how hard she worked for the whole 8 years so well done for staying with it and I wish you well for your exciting new future.

Thanks! Wow, that sounds intensive, what does she do!?.

Congrats on finishing, I just finished my BSc last week and it's a huge relief when it's done.
I'm hoping to do a Masters then a PhD too, have you got a Masters place waiting contingent on your grades then?

Thanks mate, it really is.. I think the worse bit was completing the dissertation and just hoping there were no spelling mistakes or any other problems with it!. Sounds good, what do you want to do yours in?
As of yet, only got ideas on where I want to go, one in Bristol and one in Chester... but I don't have the money to do one at the moment so haven't applied yet! lol

Congratulations James.....Is't it just such a great feeling?

Thanks, it is amazing. But now bored tbh, job hunting and being away from the friends I made is a hard thing especially as I am used to seeing them every day for the last 3 years! haha.

speaking as someone who work in conservation, broadly speaking - I'm a head ranger with the national trust- I'd say your next step is to build up a decent record of voluntary work - chances are you'll need 6-12 months experience as a volunteer before you can get a paid job.

drop me a pm if you want to discuss in greater detail

Ooh really? That's the kind of job I would like, and thank you for that! . I am applying for some part time retail jobs so I will have enough time to volunteer... and to attempt to get some money to fund a driving license as most jobs ask for a full one!

Will send you a PM, thank you pal!

Congrats

Thank you!

Hey James, well done!

Hey, thank you!

 

[big soft moose]

Ooh really? That's the kind of job I would like, and thank you for that! . I am applying for some part time retail jobs so I will have enough time to volunteer... and to attempt to get some money to fund a driving license as most jobs ask for a full one!

Driving licence is going to be absolutely essential - even for many volunteer positions, so i'd prioritise that.

Also if you want to be a ranger the masters and doctorate arent necessary - its better to put the money into vocational qualifications like chainsaw, brushcutter, 4x4 driving with trailers, first aid, risk assesment, educational activity organisation etc (though a good volunteer placement will have training money for some of these)

As your career progresses you might want to look at an MBA (i'm about halfway through mine) but its worth waiting and seeing if an employer will help pay for one as they arent needed at the junior end of the career ladder.

The other thing i'd say is that if you commit to a career in conservation you need to resign yourself to long hours including regular weekend and evenings and relatively low pay ( By way of illustration as a team leader i'm on about £26k - my seasonal ranger (the first paid rung on the career ladder) is on £7.25p/h )

 

[j37r]

Well done James, as you live in Brighton have you considered the WWT at Arundel.

John

 

[robhooley167]

Thanks mate, it really is.. I think the worse bit was completing the dissertation and just hoping there were no spelling mistakes or any other problems with it!. Sounds good, what do you want to do yours in?
As of yet, only got ideas on where I want to go, one in Bristol and one in Chester... but I don't have the money to do one at the moment so haven't applied yet! lol

I studied Materials Science and Engineering at Manchester Uni and I have a place for the masters in Advanced Engineering Materials contingent on a 2:2 there too.
I actually really enjoyed my dissertation as it meant i could earn 1/3 of the credits for my final year outside of the exams (which i suck majorly at) and i had the chance to work with a good academic who was dead helpful.

Hope all goes well for you

 

[redddraggon]

i had the chance to work with a good academic who was dead helpful.

DH? He's my internal examiner

 

[robhooley167]

DH? He's my internal examiner

Yep DAH he's sound once you have a chat with him

 

[JDP]

I got a 2:2

Driving licence is going to be absolutely essential - even for many volunteer positions, so i'd prioritise that.


Also if you want to be a ranger the masters and doctorate arent necessary - its better to put the money into vocational qualifications like chainsaw, brushcutter, 4x4 driving with trailers, first aid, risk assesment, educational activity organisation etc (though a good volunteer placement will have training money for some of these)



As your career progresses you might want to look at an MBA (i'm about halfway through mine) but its worth waiting and seeing if an employer will help pay for one as they arent needed at the junior end of the career ladder.


The other thing i'd say is that if you commit to a career in conservation you need to resign yourself to long hours including regular weekend and evenings and relatively low pay ( By way of illustration as a team leader i'm on about £26k - my seasonal ranger (the first paid rung on the career ladder) is on £7.25p/h )

Yeah, it's a right pain. But makes sense! Yup its the first thing I plan to do when I finally get a paid job!

Really? Okay I will think about that! thank you! - I will look at short courses at my old college, they do aboriculture and stuff! I really do want a MSc and a Ph.D would be lovely just to better myself rather than go into academia.

Again, thank you for that... i will look into them too! . are they as expensive as MSc's?

The money side doesn't really bother me tbh, as long as I have a little and I enjoy what I do, can't really beat it! Just need to learn to budget and prioritise where the money goes!

Well done James, as you live in Brighton have you considered the WWT at Arundel.

John

Thanks John. Yeah I have through about that, I am going to pop in in a few days, now I know my result!

I studied Materials Science and Engineering at Manchester Uni and I have a place for the masters in Advanced Engineering Materials contingent on a 2:2 there too.
I actually really enjoyed my dissertation as it meant i could earn 1/3 of the credits for my final year outside of the exams (which i suck majorly at) and i had the chance to work with a good academic who was dead helpful.

Hope all goes well for you

That sounds really cool! Yeah the MSc I am looking at requres a 2:2, so I just need to find some moneys ...

Thanks mate!

 

[POAH]

Finally able to say i've actually achieved something in my life, an academic qualification in a subject which is actually quite hard - It feels good being able to call myself a scientist! - next step masters and then that good ol' Ph.D!

then you get to work in a supermarket

 

[big soft moose]

Yeah, it's a right pain. But makes sense! Yup its the first thing I plan to do when I finally get a paid job!

Really? Okay I will think about that! thank you! - I will look at short courses at my old college, they do aboriculture and stuff! I really do want a MSc and a Ph.D would be lovely just to better myself rather than go into academia.

Again, thank you for that... i will look into them too! . are they as expensive as MSc's?

The money side doesn't really bother me tbh, as long as I have a little and I enjoy what I do, can't really beat it! Just need to learn to budget and prioritise where the money goes!


!

The biggest problem with getting MSc and PHd to "better yourself" if you are serious about a practical conservation career (as opposed to an academic or research based one) is that it makes you look over qualified for the junior jobs

If a team leader is appointing someone who's going to spend 75% of his time working with a brush cutter and/or chainsaw , and the other 25% engaging with the public / running events and school groups (which is a typical work load for a seasonal ranger) they will be more inclined to employ someone who has the relevant certs and experience of doing that work as a volunteer than someone who has a probably irrelevant doctorate.

(in addition to practical certs, the other thing that can be useful is a PGCE , especially a primary based one - that also opens up alternate career paths as countryside jobs are not easy to get)

I do have a masters (countryside management) - but I did mine by distance learning while working for a wildlife trust - which has the dual benefit of the employer helping pay for it, and the experience helping understanding of the subject. Leaving it to later in your career also avoids the 'over qualified' issue by leaving it til you are ready to apply for jobs where its relevant.

The same is true for MBA , which wasn't an essential to getting my current Head of Department job, but will be at least desirable for my next step (to property general manager), and essential for the step beyond that to Assistant director of operations (running an area) - so again don't look into them now , leave it til it's relevant.

I'm doing the Edinburgh Business School MBA which is about £9k but has the advantage of being mostly distance learning (so you can do it while employed) and also can be paid for piecemeal - costs for others vary , but they can cost as much as 15k.