Environmental work and animal care/ behaviour
Environmental work and animal care/behaviour
Each year large numbers of students are keen to enter this sector, but it can be difficult to find permanent jobs in some areas.
Work experience, often voluntary, can be very important both in developing contacts and in gaining experience. The Student Business Partnerships has environmental job placements which could be valuable to career planning and progression.
It is worth while taking a very broad view of this sector and areas such as recycling, waste management and alternative energy tend to be better financed than purely ecological areas and will therefore offer more job opportunities. A relevant postgraduate course may enhance your chances of entering this competitive field.
The Career Zone has produced three guides -
- Getting into environmental work (.pdf)
- Resources for a career in animal care/behaviour (.pdf)
- Careers in sustainable energy (.pdf)
IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment) has produced a Skills Map for those interested in developing their skills and career development in the environment profession.
Job and information sources
- My Career Zone - our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.
- Prospects job vacancies - search under 'Natural Resources and the Environment'.
- TARGETjobs vacancies - search under 'Environment'.
- Graduate-jobs.com - search under 'Environmental'.
- Prospects - Explore Job Sectors: Environment and Agriculture.pdf
- Prospects - explore types of jobs - search under 'Natural Resources and the Environment'.
Reference books available from the Career Zone: The Green Directory, The Voluntary Agencies Directory, Working with the Environment, Green Volunteers, The ECO Guide to Careers that Make a Difference, Careers in Renewable Energy.
Additional resources
- British Antarctic Survey - jobs and environmental research in the Antarctic
- British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
- Central Science Laboratory - a public sector science organisation providing research and information services to governments and industry around the world
- Conservation Foundation - a means for people in public, private and not-for-profit sectors to collaborate on environmental causes
- Natural England - working to conserve and enhance the natural environment.
- Countryside Jobs Service - a large selection of jobs on-line together with details of how to subscribe to the complete list of conservation jobs
- earthworks-jobs.com - web site covering many jobs within the earth science and environment related careers
- Eco-uk - ecological recruitment
- Environment Agency - public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales
- ENDS Environmental Data Services - includes news, directory of environmental consultants, jobs and environmental job agencies
- Environmental Careers - careers advice for careers in this sector
- Environmental Data Interactive Exchange - international news and jobs
- Environmentjob - variety of jobs in a range of sectors
- Environmentjobs - UK Green jobs and voluntary roles
- Garden Forum - links to horticulture and garden courses
- Global Vision International - placements for volunteers with international environmental charities and ngos
- Green Jobs - recruitment in the environmental industry sector.
- Green and Renewable Energy jobs
- Green Jobs International
- Green Volunteers database - hundreds of green volunteering opportunities on projects all around the world
- Iema.net Information and opportunities on work in the environment
- Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management - careers advice and jobs
- Kew Diploma - paid 3 year course of study in amenity horticulture
- Lowcarbonjobs - jobs in climate, carbon and renewable energy
- National Trust
- Nature Net - news, jobs and training
- New Scientist - jobs
- Renew-Reuse-Recycle Job Board - job opportunities in the environmental, green energy and renewables field.
- Stop dodo - global environmental jobs and internships
- Acre Resources - job site includes a few jobs for new graduates in landscape, ecology, environmental impact and waste management
- Student Force - projects in sustainable development and environment
- Wildlife Trust
National newspapers carrying job adverts in this field include The Guardian (Wednesdays).
