I graduated in 2007 from St Lawrence University with my B.S. (double major in Biology and Environmental Studies) and was in the same boat. Essentially, as soon as you are hired and begin one seasonal job, the best thing to do is start applying, or at least looking, for the next. You are competing with 1,000s of people that are struggling to have continuity in employment as entry level biologists. You need to apply to many positions to keep your options open and hopefully have some options to work with. If you end up getting hired onto a project (and you hopefully like that project) keep contact with your boss upon completion of a season because this could be a great option for next year. Generally, supervisors like to hire employees back due to the fact that you are already trained with their protocol, you know the backcountry where field sites are, they know you've managed to complete a season before, and you can help train new employees. I managed to sort of cycle between 3-4 jobs throughout a 3 year period and it worked out really well.
It is quite the struggle and I suggest meeting a lot of friends along the way to be prepared to couch surf. It's a period of time that you always have to be on your toes and most likely live out of your car. Between short seasons, layoffs, etc you need to keep your options open and always be on the hunt for new positions if you really want to have work throughout the year (it is possible!). Although frustrating and challenging at times, the process is necessary and I thought very enjoyable. Once you begin to build on your post-graduation experience you will notice interviews will become more common and job offerings as well. I found that my experiences took me to places I never would have gone before and I was able to see the most beautiful parts of this country while being paid. I saw the time I spent working seasonally more as an incredible experience than anything. I wouldn't trade those times for anything. In fact, I kind of wish I was applying for jobs and thinking about where I would be this summer instead of sitting at my desk analyzing data now! Trade-offs! Hope this helped a bit, John Winkowski MSc Candidate Memorial University of Newfoundland On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 1:36 AM, David Moldoff <[email protected]> wrote: > Let me start off by saying that I am in the same boat and hope we both get > some worthwhile answers here. I recently graduated and have an internship > from April till July but after that I'm completely lost as to what would > help my employment chances. I have a few friends with wildlife degrees and > the way they have been handling "off season" is by finding a job that pays > the bills and then volunteering for wildlife organizations. I know this > isn't a great alternative but hopefully other people post some better > ideas. > > David Moldoff > > On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 4:29 PM, Jason Hernandez < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > I see that the surge of recruiting announcements for the seasonal > > technician jobs is underway. It looks like a lot of important and > exciting > > projects, as I would expect. But it is impossible not to notice the time > > frame: usually just spring and summer, some only spring or summer. > > > > I cannot really complain; I am fortunate in that my current job began in > > January, instead of having to wait for April or May. Still, it does end > in > > July, about the time so many other jobs are also ending. This means I > will > > have to compete with all those other temporary and seasonal technicians > for > > my next job. > > > > Which brings me to my question: what does someone like me do in fall and > > winter? Granted, based on my current qualifications, someone I work with > > predicts I could have a permanent position "within two years." But I > must > > still make a living DURING those two years. What should I be looking at > now > > to maximize my chance of being employed come this fall and next winter? > > > > Jason Hernandez > > Biological Science Technician, USDA Forest Service > > > > > -- "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything in the universe."
