What wildlife/environmental opportunities are available in Ireland?

marshmallow2

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the right area to post this but I'm just wondering if anybody has any advice as to what jobs are most attainable in the environmental/wildlife/animal welfare sectors? Does anybody have any regrets studying their chosen degree due to there being a lack of jobs in their field and wish they pursued a different pathway?

I have a masters in an unrelated subject but also have completed a certificate in wildlife conservation and have experience working as a wildlife rehabilitator. I am from the UK but would like to settle in Ireland and would like to pursue a course here (ideally a masters if I can hop straight into it).

I have been advised to pursue a course that is specialised as opposed to studying biology and conservation but I'm just not sure what areas would guarantee me a job. I realise there is high competition in these sectors but are there any areas that are thriving at the moment where opportunities would be more attainable?

Many thanks for any advice or insight!!

OpenYourEyes

In short, no these areas aren't thriving at the moment. If the area of environmental education interested you, its a bit of a niche but there seem to be regular jobs for them, either for NPWS, Heritage Council, Dublin Zoo etc. The majority are part-time, but they're the type of thing that if you can get a foot in the door it will help as time goes on.

I'm not sure I agree with pursuing a course thats specialised tbh. You're better off studying something broad and using it to delve deeper into something specific that you're interested in. For example I did an MSc with a broad title, but did two research projects on a specific bird group that I'm strongly interested in. So the broad-titled MSc. gives me some flexibility when applying for jobs, and I would theoretically have an edge in the more specialised stuff that fits in with the research projects I did.

I don't know anything about the animal welfare sector tbh, it might be worth emailing various rehabilitation places in Ireland with your CV and telling them to get in touch if they ever have work or anything?

marshmallow2

Many thanks for your reply. Basically I would like to get into a field where the pay isn't minimum wage or below so perhaps direct work with animals is a no-go. I have no experience in field work or lab work but would like to try them out to see if I'm good at it. Are there any relatively well-paid jobs that you know of that would entail both? I would like a job that is hands-on/research-based as opposed to administration.

I'm finding it difficult to pinpoint exactly what area or job I would like to pursue but I'm gravitating towards ecology/conservation. However I need to be 100% sure of my choice as I don't want to end up completing another masters and not being able to get a good job at the end of it! But I guess that's the chance you have to take.

If you don't mind me asking, were you able to secure a job in the area that you wanted to pursue?

Thanks again for your time.

OpenYourEyes

Honestly, if you do a masters in conservation or ecology you'll still be several years off getting a well-paying job, and in all likelihood you'll be some time off even getting a full time job.

I'm in my mid-to-late twenties, with an MSc, and at the moment I get seasonal work (around 4 months in the summer) and part-time work here and there otherwise. I'm applying for PhDs etc, and I have a good track record in terms of experience and research, publications, referees etc., but it's still very difficult. And I know of plenty of people my age in the exact same boat unfortunately.

Thats not to say there aren't exceptions, but if these are the kinds of things you're thinking of at the moment then it's worth considering the above. I really enjoyed my Masters and the things I've done since, but secure employment is still very difficult in this field.