Ecological Jobs In Ireland?

Driseog

I know it's a terrible time in general to go looking for jobs but what's the best option for someone wanting to go down the ecology route if they have just a Hons Degree?
Is it best to try and get someone to hire me on a voluntary basis and try and get experience that way or just go straight for a masters?

I get the feeling there is very limited work for ecologists in Ireland full stop. Britain seems to have a lot more going on but ya still need the experience no matter where ya go looking for a job.

El Siglo

Driseog wrote: »

I know it's a terrible time in general to go looking for jobs but what's the best option for someone wanting to go down the ecology route if they have just a Hons Degree?
Is it best to try and get someone to hire me on a voluntary basis and try and get experience that way or just go straight for a masters?

I get the feeling there is very limited work for ecologists in Ireland full stop. Britain seems to have a lot more going on but ya still need the experience no matter where ya go looking for a job.

Well here's a chap in UCD that I used to have as a lecturer, sound man and he's an Ecologist. He got into working as a park ranger down in the Burren and then he worked at building hedges, he does informal hedge building training courses. It's only a few hours and all that you need is a brier hook.

If I were you, I'd go to England and get into there. The Hedge Laying Association is pretty good over there and it's well run (i.e. you have to have proper training before you can go on their roll of hedge layers, that's where your man from UCD went to do the training originally). It's a great way of getting to meet people with some potential of gaining employment (i.e. hedges are cheaper, longer lasting and better looking barriers than wire fences for cattle).

If you're interested in starting off as an ecologist, I'd definitely email that chap from UCD because he'd be more than happy to discuss it further.

Driseog

El Siglo wrote: »

Well here's a chap in UCD that I used to have as a lecturer, sound man and he's an Ecologist. He got into working as a park ranger down in the Burren and then he worked at building hedges, he does informal hedge building training courses. It's only a few hours and all that you need is a brier hook.

If I were you, I'd go to England and get into there. The Hedge Laying Association is pretty good over there and it's well run (i.e. you have to have proper training before you can go on their roll of hedge layers, that's where your man from UCD went to do the training originally). It's a great way of getting to meet people with some potential of gaining employment (i.e. hedges are cheaper, longer lasting and better looking barriers than wire fences for cattle).

If you're interested in starting off as an ecologist, I'd definitely email that chap from UCD because he'd be more than happy to discuss it further.

Maith agat a chara. I'll send him an email to see what the story is.

Do you work in the field yourself?

boru05

Hi Driseog,

From what I hear from colleagues in the industry, ecologist jobs are few and far between at the moment.

First off I would check out the sites in the "useful websites" thread above, you may find something of interest there.

Secondly, I would start contacting all of the small independent ecological consultancies here asking for an unpaid internship if nothing is on the horizon in the job front. Real world experience in this field is essential (more so than other jobs) and will seriously stand to you in the long run. The other option that you have is to try and join one of the larger firms on a graduate scheme (e.g. WYG) although I'm unsure if these opportunities are as readily available and if they are they'll be highly competitive.

Thirdly, re. masters - I would advise thoroughly researching the job market first rather than taking a brief look at a couple of job websites and deciding that the market is "closed" - these days, the market is so tight that job opportunities don't get as far as websites - they're nearly gone as soon as they become available - a lot of the universities have reasonably tight links with some of the smaller firms so ask around your department.

If you do decide to go for a masters, look carefully at what specialist skills/knowledge it will add to your "sellability". In the past 3 years especially, I have seen too many people put themselves (or their parents) under significant financial pressure for the sake of a couple of meaningless letters after their names and after 12/18 months are back at square one, minus €10-15k. The days of being able to swan into a consultancy and be able to demand more money than the next guy because of M. Sc. are long gone it seems.

Anyway - just my 2 cents worth! Best of luck!

El Siglo

Driseog wrote: »

Maith agat a chara. I'll send him an email to see what the story is.

Do you work in the field yourself?

No, I'm doing a PhD in Physical Geography in Queen's but when I have money some time in the future I'd like to do the hedge laying course because it's good craic.

Jobs are tough and boru has some good points there.

Driseog

All the help is mighty!

Interesting that in Britain the National Trust always seem to have some opportunities, even if some are voluntary.....An Taisce seem to be very poor compared.

Thing is, if I am to emigrate I'd prefer to go to the continent rather than England but seeing that I don't have a language that may be a bit naive.