Conservation Careers 2021
Welcome to 2021! If you are looking for your first job in conservation or the environmental industries or are planning to change your career this year, then we thought you might like some tips and ideas on how to find your next job during a difficult job market year.
2020 was a particularly hard year for most conservation organisations. Many NGOs rely on donations and contributions from their local tourism industry for funding. Due to the worldwide pandemic restricting travel, funding dramatically reduced, meaning organisations were not able to implement new projects or take on new staff during 2020. With a second COVID-19 wave upon us, the tourism sector might also be facing another difficult year. This means that there will be less money supporting conservation NGOs, both here in Zambia and across the world, making finding a new job in conservation far more difficult.
Aspects of working in conservation
Some of the positive aspects of working in conservation include the opportunity to work in different geographical locations and the satisfaction of knowing that you are improving the environment and the world around you. Plus, if you enjoy being outdoors you will probably enjoy the fieldwork aspects of conservation work. Some other aspects to bear in mind include the physically demanding nature of the work and that this is a highly competitive industry.
To gain an entry-level job in conservation you will typically need a Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, wildlife biology, forestry, agricultural science or a related field. If you are seeking a managerial position you may need a Master’s degree from a reputable university.
What skills are needed?
- Be enthusiastic, passionate and committed – most conservation jobs involve long working hours, in difficult conditions and traditionally NGOs pay less than private business. So, you need to love your job and be aware that you might not earn the same salary as your family or friends.
- Great communication skills – although research, fieldwork, or surveys might take up the majority of your time, you will need to be able to present your findings to others, whether it be report writing, grant seeking or sharing your findings via social media platforms. So you will need to be organised and have good written and IT skills.
- Good field skills – even if a project isn’t strictly field based, field skills are a core component of conservation. It could be anything from meeting and talking to local communities, to radio tracking big cats and everything in between. Careful planning can make life much easier when it comes to analysing data or writing up reports later on.
- Willingness to work long and antisocial hours – field work often involves early morning starts and working over weekends and public holidays. Many conservation jobs are not just office based, so don’t expect to work an 8 hour day, with weekends off.
- Being able to adapt, with a willingness to learn and keep developing your skills – keep up to date with new research methods, developments in national and international policies and new technologies, and be open to undertake training courses and internships.
And, adopt a positive and friendly approach. Conservation work often requires considerable contact with the public, as well as networking with others – from local communities, NGOs, government departments and the tourism industry to the media and international organisations.
Job hunting tips
- Most people working in conservation are highly educated – find out what others have studied and be prepared to put some serious time and effort into studying if you want to get ahead.
- Only apply for a job that you really want – companies and NGOs get hundreds of emails in reply to a job advert. They find that the majority of applicants do not have the relevant skills, qualifications or passion for the job advertised. So make sure you state clearly why you are the best candidate for their job so that you are top of their list to be interviewed.
- Highlight your unique skills and experiences within the conservation industry – even if you are looking for your first job or internship this is where your field studies, volunteering or work experiences can come in handy.
- Most conservationists work long hours, in difficult conditions – so you need to be really passionate about the job and be prepared to highlight this in your interview.
- With so few conservation jobs being available at this time, it is a highly competitive industry – you need to create opportunities for yourself by volunteering, attending events, asking people in the field for advice and don’t forget to network.
How we can help
From your emails and comments, we know that finding a job at the moment is extremely difficult. So Conservation Careers Zambia will continue to scour the job market to bring you all the latest volunteering and job opportunities to make your search a little bit easier.
Our weekly blogs will also be offering you tips and advice on how to further your career, as well as posting stories and articles, keeping you informed with what is happening in the conservation and environmental industries, both here in Zambia and from around the world.
So keeping checking out our jobs board and blogs page so that you don’t miss out on any careers opportunities for 2021!