I wouldn't recommend a Ph.D. The market is flooded with us to the
effect of our 10+ years in school not paying any dividends for that
investment - see studies such as a recent one on Florida associates
degree holders making more on average than those with Bachelor's degrees
- a Ph.D. is an even more exaggerated example of that. The years you'll
invest in that (graduate tech position) and, subsequently, in postdoc
after postdoc tech position are better spent gaining real world
experience and seniority in your field. In doing so, you become more
valuable and irreplaceable at wherever you work.
And hey, in the mean time, you're working on your own career, not
someone else's.
Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
On 2/13/2011 6:32 PM, malcolm McCallum wrote:
There are only two ways to get ahead, but neither gives instant
gratification...
1) keep getting more education whether it means adding courses,
degrees (in same and other disciplines) or what.
I have a phd and just finished a course on using the program R. There
is always more to learn. This does not guarantee you will succeed,
but at least you are doing something. Sitting waiting for your next
gig just keeps you falling behind in both skills and knowledge.
2) publication. If you can figure out a way to get peer reviewed
pubications out of your work, it will generally lead to permanent
jobs, even if those are not research posts.
Malcolm
On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 2:49 PM, Wayne Tyson<[email protected]> wrote:
Jason, David, and John (and Ecolog):
I forgot that when I decided to give up my cushy high-paid job, I
individually typed, on an old Underwood typewriter, forty applications to
forty National Forest offices. I got one response, but all I needed was one
job. I'm sure glad I didn't stop at 39.
WT
PS: "Tis friction's brisk, rough rub, that provides the vital spark!" --A.
R. Martin
----- Original Message ----- From: "John Winkowski"
<[email protected]>
To:<[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2011 7:56 AM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] What do technicians do in the "off" season?
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."
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