A career in conservation

Are you passionate about the natural world? Do you have a love of plants and animals? Are you prepared to commit yourself to protecting species and ecosystems

A career in conservation can be varied, hugely rewarding and can take you to remote locations all over the world, but is also highly competitive!
Competition for jobs in conservation is fierce, and often applicants are highly qualified with plenty of experience.
There are a huge variety of positions which fall under the banner of ‘conservation’, from field assistants, wardens and wildlife managers to politicians, public relations and marketing executives, and IT experts. With thousands of people out there who want to work in conservation, there are three main pieces of advice which will help you on your way to the job of your dreams.

Get a relevant qualification

For scientific posts, which are what many people wanting to work in conservation aspire to, a degree in a subject such as Biology, Zoology, Ecology or Wildlife Management is essential. Quite often workers in this field will also have a Masters degree, or even a PhD! Don’t despair if you are not on a relevant degree course; you can still work your way into conservation, although you will need to build up a fair bit of work experience.

Get practical experience

Working in conservation is not all about qualifications, and many employers will argue that work experience is just as, if not more, important. Getting some relevant work experience should be a high priority if you want a career in conservation! Employers will be looking for people who can demonstrate commitment and dedication to conservation and environmental issues.
You can start by joining your local Wildlife Trust and volunteering for any environmental or conservation groups in your area. National and international working holidays are also great ways to build up conservation field experience, often in exotic locations. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (www.btcv.org) offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities in the UK, and organisations such as African Conservation Experience (www.conservationafrica.net) offer similar schemes overseas.
Through organisations such as these, you can gain practical hands-on experience in identifying species, wildlife rehabilitation, countryside management and much more.

“My overseas placement gave me much needed experience in the zoological and ecological fields” David Wright, Student (BSc Zoology and Conservation).

“An experience like this is something that stands you out from the crowd and many employers value people with life skills and experience. It shows that you’re willing to embrace a challenge and to try new things.” Charlie Ellis, Volunteer in South Africa

Gain transferable skills

Presentation, teamwork and research skills are all vital, and you should try and build on these during your course of study.
Many field conservation positions require the management of volunteers, and also involve interaction with local people, requiring good interpersonal and communication skills.
Having even a basic grasp of a foreign language will be beneficial if you are looking at overseas conservation work, and IT and marketing skills are also useful.
Another great tip is not to underestimate the importance of networking. Most people working in conservation got there through perseverance and getting to know the right people.
Throughout your studies, work experience and extra-curricular activities, you will have ample chance to get yourself known and get to know people who can point you in the right direction - make the most of every opportunity.
The most important thing to remember is that it is passion and commitment to the cause that drives most conservationists, so if you have that, you are half way there.

Editorial: September 2006