Conservation students & professionals — what’s the hardest part about finding real, sustainable opportunities in this field?
Posted by rh34exe@reddit | marinebiology | View on Reddit | 3 comments
I’ve been speaking to a lot of divers, marine biology students, and conservation folks, and something I keep hearing is how difficult it is to actually build a sustainable career in this field.
Jobs and internships are scattered across dozens of sites, most are unpaid, and it’s hard to even show verified experience from volunteering or field projects. It feels like there’s no clear “pathway” the way other industries have.
I wanted to hear directly from the community:
- Where do you currently find opportunities (jobs, internships, volunteer work)?
- What’s the most frustrating part of that process?
- Would you appreciate something that would help streamline this process?
Just want to understand if this problem resonates beyond my circle.
LaVidaAcuatica@reddit
When I was starting out, my first supervisor gave me the advice: “become indispensable”. Meaning, build a reputation and a network so solid, and build your expertise such as, that when a project comes up people WILL call you instead of you having to be constantly on the lookout.
It has worked decently well for me for my first decade as a professional but now I’m facing the daunting prospect of moving countries and starting from scratch.
DrNukaCola@reddit
I’d say that’s probably good advice in general to not just specific to one field either.
RealLifeSunfish@reddit
My advice would be to work hard, be kind, and don’t give up, regardless of what any doubters say you will be able to carve a space out for yourself in your field if you want it badly enough. You’re also correct that there isn’t a clear path, but you just have to put yourself on the path and trust that it leads somewhere. It is a difficult leap, especially if you’re someone who is pragmatic and logical and wants to have a plan (extremely valid). It’s a leap of faith in a field where you’ll basically always be over worked and under paid, a field that is often frustrating, but is equally rewarding. If it’s your path I think you will know in your heart, don’t be discouraged, believe in yourself! We can achieve whatever we set our minds to, though easier said than done I do truly believe this.