Looking for work in Forestry

Tomfrancey

I was just wondering is there any body out there who can give me advise on looking for a job in the forestry section. I was working on the buildings as a carpenter but dew to the down turn I have decided to change my carrier and try my hand at forestry. I am currently attending a chainsaw coarse with coillete (cs30 cs31) and do intend to do NPTC cs32 also.

I was wondering has anyone ever done these coarse's and if so, have they found any work or is there much work in this sector. I have all my own safety gear and my own transport and I don't mind having to travel and also stay over if needed.

Anybody with advice or info on where I mite find work would be gratefully appreciated.

fergus1001

im in the same boat i have nptc cs 30 and 31 and i have been looking for work part time even minimum wage on thinings would do as im completing a forestry coarse in ballyhaise im based in monasterevin and i have my own transport and also have all the P.P.E gear for the job just need a chainsaw and a line of trees and herringbones will follow

Git101

I've had contact this week from a company looking for qualified chainsaw operators for forestry thinning.

I'll forward their details by PM

I'm not involved with this company so I don't have any information about pay, terms & conditions, etc, etc but I know they require NPTC CS30/31 as a minimum.

fergus1001

Git101 wrote: »

I've had contact this week from a company looking for qualified chainsaw operators for forestry thinning.

I'll forward their details by PM

I'm not involved with this company so I don't have any information about pay, terms & conditions, etc, etc but I know they require NPTC CS30/31 as a minimum.

Thank you for the info man is there a name for the company and how you know them (first impressions and all that)

Thanks
Fergus

Git101

fergus1001 wrote: »

Thank you for the info man is there a name for the company and how you know them (first impressions and all that)

Thanks
Fergus

Don't know if I'm allowed to post the company details here so I'll PM them to you.
I'm not familiar with the company, just the guy who contacted me.
He's sound, knows his stuff, but I've never worked for him so you'll have to decide for yourself.

greenfingers89

Tomfrancey wrote: »

advise on looking for a job in the forestry section.I am currently attending a chainsaw coarse with coillete (cs30 cs31) and do intend to do NPTC cs32 also.

I was wondering has anyone ever done these coarse's and if so, have they found any work or is there much work in this sector.

Anybody with advice or info on where I mite find work would be gratefully appreciated.

I've done cs 30-33, firstly i think you should try do cs 33 when you are doing cs 32, im not saying cs 33 is going to be a massive extra benefit but i know it is possible to do both in the same week so might be good(if coillte are able to do so) to kill 2 birds with one stone.

teagasc from time to time run courses on marking hardwood trees for final crop selection and thinning so give them a shout.

depending on your situation maybe you could do the 2 year course in ballyhaise? or even do the degree course in waterford IT or UCD?

keep an eye on local papers because teagasc also run information events now and again, these are almost always free. go to them and talk to a few people you'd never know who you might meet.

i know of one forestry company who have first thinnings of hardwoods going on from time to time i'll pm you

greenfingers89

Git101 wrote: »

I'll forward their details by PM
.

pm'd

fergus1001

greenfingers89 wrote: »

Tomfrancey wrote: »

advise on looking for a job in the forestry section.I am currently attending a chainsaw coarse with coillete (cs30 cs31) and do intend to do NPTC cs32 also.

I was wondering has anyone ever done these coarse's and if so, have they found any work or is there much work in this sector.

Anybody with advice or info on where I mite find work would be gratefully appreciated.

I've done cs 30-33, firstly i think you should try do cs 33 when you are doing cs 32, im not saying cs 33 is going to be a massive extra benefit but i know it is possible to do both in the same week so might be good(if coillte are able to do so) to kill 2 birds with one stone.

teagasc from time to time run courses on marking hardwood trees for final crop selection and thinning so give them a shout.

depending on your situation maybe you could do the 2 year course in ballyhaise? or even do the degree course in waterford IT or UCD?

keep an eye on local papers because teagasc also run information events now and again, these are almost always free. go to them and talk to a few people you'd never know who you might meet.

i know of one forestry company who have first thinnings of hardwoods going on from time to time i'll pm you

I have cs 30 31 and I'm going to do large trees and pesticides and I might do wind blow and multiple windblow

When I'm done in ballyhaise I'm hoping to move on to the forestry management coarse in wit and maby move on to ucd

greenfingers89

fergus1001 wrote: »

I have cs 30 31 and I'm going to do large trees and pesticides and I might do wind blow and multiple windblow

When I'm done in ballyhaise I'm hoping to move on to the forestry management coarse in wit and maby move on to ucd

as far as i know wit has the honours degree and possibilities for a masters in forestry now so you mightnt need to bother going on to ucd

i've bumped into the course leader tom kent a few times he knows his stuff especially when it comes to woodfuel

Mr.Boots

Just came acsross this thread.
Its something that interests me.
After completing the WIT course what job opotunities are out there.....pay etc?
cheers.

Caoimhín

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Just came acsross this thread.
Its something that interests me.
After completing the WIT course what job opotunities are out there.....pay etc?
cheers.

Honestly? There are reasonable job opportunities as the sector hasn't been hit by the recession too badly so there are some companies hiring. You can expect to have to work your way up from planting trees up to management.
Pay isnt great either, starting salary for a junior forester is about €30,000 plus car and bonus.
The public sector (Forest Service/ Department of Agri) are not and will not be hiring. Coillte is going through some uncertainty and had a recruitment drive a few years back so there aren't many opportunities there.
Sadly, it is quite a close industry with who you know being more important than what you know. Dont get me wrong, it is a great job and a great lifestyle, just don't expect to retire wealthy at 50.
I don't mean to sound bitter either, i worked my way up through private and public sectors and now do well enough with my own business.

Tomfrancey

Cheers to every body who replied, especially to greenfingers89 and git101 for their pm, I will give those guys a ring and see what comes out of it. It sounds good from what i am hearing about the sector, it seems to be moving along a bit better than the buildings anyway, so hopefully I might be able to make a go of it.

Would anyone know where is the best(cheapest) place to buy a new husqvarna saw, something not that big a 14 or 15 inch blade would get me going to start with.

Dazzler88

Does anyone know where you can do the course for driving Harvesters/Forwarders?

Tomfrancey

I was talking to a guy today and he said it is very expensive to do and it is very hard to get someone to fund you (lFAS) unless you have a job secured.

greenfingers89

Tomfrancey wrote: »

Would anyone know where is the best(cheapest) place to buy a new husqvarna saw, something not that big a 14 or 15 inch blade would get me going to start with.

everyone will tell you there is nothing wrong with a saw thay bought on the cheap off a "fella". im not saying this is a bad idea but just bare in mind if your going using a chainsaw commercially, parts and service will become important and you will only get this off a good dealer...( i dont have anyone in particular to reccomend tho)

other thing to note is dont get carried away with the size of the bar, i always tell anyone starting out in commercial hardwoods to get a saw with decent power and if they really feel the need to get a large bar (say 18inch or more), then thay should get a small one as well (say approx 15inch)...that way you can switch them depending on the job....a big bar in first thinning/tending of ash/oak is just a nightmare and will tire you out

theres another tread running on chainsaws, its called "whats good value chainsaw" check it out

Scruff88

i have the cs30 and 31 and all the ppe and have done a substantial amount of tree surgery work with a company however i no longer have transport so i had to find different work ,now i would like to go back at the timber but was wondering about opportunities in the uk, would anybody have any advice please and thanks

Fiskar

Try looking and posting on the Arbtalk.co.uk website. The members area (must be logged in) is a useful repository.