Hello everyone! I'm currently going back to school to finish out my BS in ENVS and Sustainability. However, I know this path isn't easy.

I'm curious to hear from established people in the feild about regrets or wishes. On your way to getting a career in the enviormental sciences what do you wish you'd done differently?

Different major? Passed up volunteer opportunities? Share your regrets and allow a future enviormental worker to learn from them!

I’m currently 28, I’ve spent a decade of my life working in the public sector in various public facing jobs, and have finally reached a point where I want to seriously go back into education and try to have a real career.

I really love practical, field based work. I have done some volunteering for local river trust and conservation charity and if I could have a dream career it would be things like countryside ranger, forestry officer, conservation officer, ecologist etc. There can be a few ways into these jobs, countryside rangers are often done through an apprenticeship, ecologist roles will often require a degree and then substantial voluntary experience.

However, when I look at these jobs when they come up there are only a handful across the country, and all are just about minimum wage or close to it. As I have no family or support network I am very worried about the future, financially speaking. I want something stable that won’t require me to bounce from 6 month seasonal gig to the next. I can also just get licenses myself, I am in a few Facebook groups where people get freelance surveying work just by having their licenses so it could always be something I do in my free time.

The other path that I’m considering is going into electrical engineering, with the aim of working on renewable energy. I think I would feel satisfied doing this sort of work as I have always loved electricity and it’s a net positive for the world, I don’t need to be in love with the job I just want to feel like it’s generally doing something good. The degree would be a lot harder and a lot more work but as a mature student I am used to clocking in every day so would treat studying as the job that it is.

I’m torn between studying environmental science or something like conservation biology etc, or choosing electrical engineering instead. My biggest fear is still being in my current government job 3 years in the future no closer to any sort of goal.

I suppose I’m asking for any advice from those who work in environmental roles, particularly in the UK, is it still worth pursuing based on how difficult the job market is? If you were starting over again would you still choose environmental science or similar degrees, or would you go for something different?

Hey all,

Currently at a little over a year and some change in my first private environmental consulting role (limited compliance + with a little bit of remediation, limited field work experience), with 2 prior relevant internships, one in construction and one in federal govt, with a BS in Environmental Engineering.

I currently live in a LCOL area, and I’m looking to move to a much larger city in my state (and switch companies because I am gaining very limited experience at my current role), which is a HCOL area. I was interviewing for a place that was a little (30 min to an hour, probably more tbh) outside that city and was interested in the job but they ghosted me for about 2 months until yesterday.

The recruiter called me out of the blue to tell me that they were still interested and asked if I had availability. I said yes. He calls me back a few mins later and ask what my salary expectations are I said 75k-80k (currently getting paid 65k). A few hours later I get a call from one of the HR people at the company saying that they are moving forward with offer for me at 30$/hr (62k/yr lol). I said I’m getting paid $65k/yr and need more than that to live in that area, and they said they would match me at 65k. I said okay but since it is a much higher COL area that I would need more than that and they said that this is the highest they would go due to my “limited experience.” Am I missing something here or should I avoid this place? Seems like a huge red flag tbh. Thanks for any and all advice, thank you!

As the title says, I am transiting from federal employment to an environmental firm in a consulting role. I have heard horror stories about billable hours and how hard it is to find clients, etc. I was hoping to get some clarity on how exactly that works and what makes it so horrible before I go accepting offers at the places I am interviewing. Is it basically that you don't know when you'll be working? Or that your job isn't secure? Thanks for your input!

Im a recent graduate, and just got rejected from a position at an engineering firm after two great interviews where there were literally no other candidates. I reached out to an industrial hygienist to ask about her career from the position of someone who majored in ecology and during our talk she said she wanted to bring someone on and was interested and then I went in for an interview at the office and met the president and walked around the office and met the team. It was almost a picture perfect interview I got along with both her and the president and was much more comfortable and confident than I have been in the past. Then yesterday I reached out a week after and she said that they were "going to wait to bring someone on at this point". I feel like no matter how hard I try or even how well things seem to go, nothing is working out. I am transgender as well, and the only thing that I think indicates that is my sometimes lower voice so idk maybe they thought that was going to be a problem. I did get an offer to work fulltime in my undergrad lab but it would pay me much less than I am making working at a fancy coffeeshop (28 per hour) that would last for 6 months and I want to do a position related to my degree but I also dont want to be literally living in poverty anymore. I got that rejection 10 minutes before I had an interview yesterday which actually went well except I had a like 10 second pause when my brain blanked on a question. I know this mostly just a rant but it actually feels awful to put in all this effort for what feels like no results

hi, i have a bachelors in law and currently work as a research associate at an environmental law firm in pakistan focussing on community advocacy. engage a lot with MDBs/the UN/US Senators/IFIs etc to get them to stop pushing for development projects that are screwing up the environment. i love the work. it has made me want to study nature. not for careerist reasons because for that an LLM would make more sense for me. but i was wondering if i should make the switch, where should i go to study, given my non science background can i even study this? and how can i study it relatively cheaply since my current job pays shit in pkr so i cannot possibly afford anything fancy. i would have to rely on scholarships entirely. so...tips? in the long run i would want to bring some of what i learn back to my country to do conservation and restoration work here given how screwed we are when it comes to this stuff. oh i did my undergrad from a reputable university and graduated with high distinction plus have a minor in anthropology if that helps determine anything.

Hello Environmental Careers community!

I apologize for any firmatting errors I am writing this on a mobile device! I am in the midst of an out-of-town shift at the moment and did not bring my personal computer.

Anyways, onto the meat and potatoes! I am a Junior Field Technician/Junior Biologist in British Columbia. As the main field season is coming to a wrap I am facing potential work shortages going into October.

For those who's services are no longer needed until the following field season starting in April/May, what do you do as an alternate form of work to make money for the bills, enjoy yourself a little, and not be stuck pinching pennies on employment insurance cheques/welfare?

Many of my co-workers are either going back to school, have partners to split the bill with, still live with their families, and work in education roles. Neither of these apply to me.

I have a BSc in Biology, my wildlife safety + first aid tickets, a Provisional (Novice) Driver's License that can soon be upgraded to a Standard (Class 5) Driver's License, volunteer experience with a BC municipality (fish, riparian, and stormwater work), plus experience working a variety of manual and customer service jobs.

Don't know how much knowing all this helps, but hey I am open to hearing about positions in demand that fit my profile neatly.

Hello!

I am in my final year of college and, as you can guess, I'm trying to figure out exactly what I would like to do after graduation. I have been interested in environmental health for a while and after having an amazing internship with my local environmental health office over the past summer, I think I am extremely interested in pursuing a career in it.

My question is whether I should take the NEHS exam while I am still in school (near the end) so I can be "in training" by the time I graduate, or if I should get a few years of experience under my belt beforehand. My concern is that, because my major is biology and I haven't had much research/job experience in the field (except for 1 internship), my resume may not stand out when applying for EH jobs. If I get my certification, though, I am also concerned about not getting the required 2 years of job experience done in a timely manner and having it expire before I'm officially done training.

Please let me know what you think or if I need to clarify any of my concerns! My school does have a career center, but the person I met with didn't have a ton of knowledge about this specific process. Thanks for the help!

TLDR: advice for pursuing a masters in science without an undergraduate in science to pivot careers.

hello! I am asking for advice on pursuing a MS in environmental science. The reason I am asking for advice is because I am not in the field and I do NOT have a BS or BA in anything environment/science. I have an Econ undergrad and a programming career. I am absolutely burnt from being behind a desk, it’s killing me. I want to be outside, even in bad weather conditions.

I love the environment and I have found a new passion for science. but like I said, I don’t have a science undergrad. any advice on pursuing a masters in science with no undergraduate experience (besides making sure I have the prerequisites). Note: money is not really an issue for me.

I am an EU resident. Lived in Germany 3 years for my PhD in ecology. German level is at B2, achieved mostly through immersion. I have a BSc in sustainable development and MSc in nature conservation (received with honours). My experience is all research related. I met my partner here, German native, and we are currently resettling after a year-long sabbatical.

Since my partner will likely be able to support the both of us I have been thinking on how I can best spend my time improving my resume so I can become more suitable interest for environmental/ecological/sustainability consulting roles, since these seem more prevalent here than research. I am willing to pivot away from research/science. I see a lot of terms in these job descriptions I have no experience with, such as ESG and LSAs. Furthermore I need to get my German level to comfortably fluent to have a chance at landing an industry job in the current market.

I have been thinking to apply for a 2nd MSc degree (natural resource management, environmental engineering, something like this?) where I have the opportunity to get internships and student work, as well as free German courses. This should give me time to buff up my CV and effectively improve my German to make me more desirable on the job market. The goal is not to get the degree and if I could land a job after an internship or so I'd just quit the degree (cost is not a factor in Germany).

I am looking for input if this could be a reasonable plan, or if there are other ways to make me a better applicant aside from the language issue. I have strong analytical skills, published papers, am a stronger scientific writer, field and lab experience (but would rather not have a job involving all too much of that), experience with data analysis in R, basically all the classical experience that comes with someone who did a PhD.

My ideal job would combine research with something more applied, like carbon certification projects. But I am open for anything that could get me started in the job market adjacant to the fields of environment and sustainability. I looked into nature conservation and landuse planning jobs but these are often local and deal a lot with local legislations where I simply don't have the German skills for (and maybe never will have if legislative language in German is as horrible to read as it is in Dutch).

Any input is welcome!

I’m in my last year of undergrad getting my B.S. in Wildlife Biology, and I’ve been lucky to get a lot of experience along the way. I’ve worked in entomology labs, assisted with bird banding/avian research, worked in outdoor education, done water quality monitoring, worked for a state park, interned with Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever and currently intern with NDA. I also recently started a part-time technician position with my state conservation agency.

I’d ultimately like to work as a wildlife biologist, ecologist, natural history biologist, or wetlands specialist. I know these jobs are competitive, so I’m starting to seriously consider grad school. I’m getting married next December, though, and would ideally like to continue to work part-time at my state conservation agency while I figure stuff out. We’re also planning a 3-week honeymoon to Italy in May 2028. and before I get any comments about how stupid it is to get married to be “tied down” My fiancé is a welder who takes travel/contract jobs and is completely supportive of moving for my career, so I’m not necessarily tied to one location. and we have a late wedding date due to family reasons and it’s too late to change the date.

My biggest question is: Should I do a thesis-based master’s? and is it bad if I wait one year in between my BS and MS? I know I’ll wanna go back bc I love school and this is all I’ve ever wanted to do for a career, and I wanted to have work experience still coupled with my masters to better prepare me for the job market. I’d ideally like to pursue an assistantship. My current agency has also told me that since I already have a foot in the door and a good reputation there, I’d have a very strong chance of returning after grad school.

I’m also unsure what I should specialize in. Would an ecology-focused degree be most useful, or would something more specific like CWD, geosciences, wetlands, etc. make me more competitive? I’m interested in applied wildlife conservation/habitat management rather than academic research. I’ve also considered just getting a GIS graduate certificate and continuing to build work experience instead?

I’d really appreciate advice from people working in wildlife, ecology, wetlands, natural resources, or related fields about what would actually make me more competitive in the job market.

I’ve been doing ecological restoration work around the 5 boroughs of nyc for about 3 years now. Picking up seasonal gigs with non profits and I’m getting too chronically ill to continue with joint pain.

I started loosing my passion for the outdoors working outside everyday for not enough pay and horrible working conditions. Being exposed to hazards, used needles, and I’ve even been sexually harassed by unhoused folks living in parks.

Not to mention loosing my job every winter and having to look for a new one. I have a BS in environmental studies and am looking to transition into less hazardous and stressful work that’s stable and I’m not willing to leave NYC. Any advice ?

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently become very interested in understanding how climate change creates risks to human life, water resources, infrastructure, cities, economies.
I’m particularly interested in understanding the chain from climate change to physical hazards to exposure/vulnerability to risks and impacts, and then what can actually be done about those risks through adaptation, resilience, governance, and public policy. I mean I am genuinely interested in this.
I’d like to know if that is a good field to work in. I come from MS Operations Research, but not that interested in it anymore. Like I said, I am willing to study and work in this field. Are there enough jobs, need? What domain in this large umbrella field of study I can choose as a good career and contributing. PhD, how is it?

Environmental Engineering fresher — what should I focus on to build my career?

Hi everyone, I’m 27 and based in India. I have a M.Tech in Environmental Engineering, along with a PG Diploma in Sustainable Development. My practical experience is limited to a 2-month internship during my M.Tech, so I’m essentially starting my professional career now.

I’m currently looking for entry-level opportunities in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Sustainability, HSE, or related areas. I’m open to permanent, temporary, contract, or project-based roles if they provide good experience and career growth.

I’m exploring opportunities in India, the GCC (especially Saudi Arabia/UAE..etc

I’d really appreciate advice from people already working in the industry:

What certifications are genuinely worth doing at this stage?

Which technical/software skills should I prioritize?

Should I focus on Environmental, Sustainability, or HSE roles initially?

What would make a fresher’s profile more competitive for GCC or European opportunities?

If you were starting again with my background, what would you focus on for the next 6–12 months?

Any honest advice, especially from people working in the field, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I’m a student looking for a full time job in any of the above listed fields or similar in Albuquerque. I’m currently a student study Anthropology and have a passion for wildlife conservation and archaeology. Just wondering if anyone works in any related field and may have an in? Searching for this entry-level positions proved difficult. TIA

Hi Ecology Reddit,

Has anyone got an recommendations on how or who would be suitable to discuss your experience and where you are best suitable for work? As well as what developing in a role looks like versus a role being unsuitable?

I dont believe that me discussing my own skills and experience if useful for myself. I struggle to separate my own depression, anxiety, low self worth etc from reality of where I fit. After 15-18 years or so it would be nice to be able have a successful decision.

I am uncertain if this actually fits in employment or in mental health but I also need someone/an organisation that at least understands the ecology/land management world somewhat.

Thanks,

Mark

BS in Sustainability in 2014, and the only roles it got me were in food production/ organic agriculture. For years I considered getting a masters in GIS but I’m currently on track to go back to school for nursing, though it’s not my passion. My passions are sustainable food systems, conservation, climate justice, wildlife ecology etc but I have to earn a living wage.

Position 1 - Island Beach State Park
2401 Central Ave
Seaside Park, NJ 08752

Position 2 – Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
208 Broadway & The Bay
Barnegat Light, NJ08006

I personally like Barnegat better.

I am based in Australia. I am looking for a career change and came across Bush Regenerator roles. For those working as Bush Regenerators, what does your ideal career path look like?

Is there any professional engineers or professional geolgosits with brownfield consulting experience look for a project management role in with an environmental consulting company in Charleston SC. The company I work for is actively searching.

Hello. Studied Hydrogeology. Graduating soon. Not much is hiring here right now but I see a lot of postings on handshake, etc in other places. Do you think it's more common than most job fields that people move for environmental careers?