Hello, This has been one of the confounding issues for me trying to get out of the temporary wildlife research technician rut. As long as I am willing to work temporary/seasonal positions it almost doesn't matter where I am from. I have observed the pattern a few others mentioned that permanent positions are looking for a more specific knowledge set based within a region, and not spending a set amount of time in that region disqualifies the candidate. I have lived and worked in so many different states, and even different places within the same state in order to stay employed, that there is no way to get the number of years in one ecosystem type that they are asking for. The people I know who got permanent wildlife jobs commonly got their schooling no farther than one or two states away, and then got into the state system via civil service exams or internships. The other issue I have dealt with is I rarely have residency in a state when the exams are offered. Unless states are willing to open up their exams to people outside the state, it limits opportunities. I am well practiced in a lot of transferable skills, but it's not competitive against someone who has been in one region for school and most of their following career.
On Tue, Feb 23, 2016 at 10:59 AM, Elizabeth J. Sbrocco < [email protected]> wrote: > I think that knowledge of the local ecosystem is important for any job, > but not for entry into graduate school as others have stated. In my > experience hunting for jobs post-masters and again post-PhD, the big > advantage of local applicants has been that they can typically start > immediately, or within a matter of weeks. At the interview stage the > questions go something like “When would you be able to start?” and when you > point out that taking the job would require a cross-country move (which > obviously requires a bit of planning and actual drive-time, and if you have > a family there are your spouse/children/childcare situations to think of > too) and so you might need a month or more, they tend to lose interest > really fast. Sometimes people just aren’t very accommodating, but sometimes > the contract/grant has an end-date that is looming, and so some or all of > the money is going to disappear if there isn’t an immediate hire. > > That said, if you’re the right person for the job a prospective employer > *should > be *willing to wait. But if there are several people who could be a good > fit, the one who can start the soonest is probably going to win, and that > is usually the person who doesn’t have to move. > > I’m sure others will have different experiences and opinions, but these > are mine. > > ~Elizabeth Sbrocco, PhD > > > On Feb 23, 2016, at 9:24 AM, Theryn Henkel <[email protected]> wrote: > > My experience has been similar to what Chris describes. I am a Ph.D. and > am looking to move back home to Seattle. I did my schooling in New York, > Indiana and New Orleans and have live in New Orleans for 10 years. Since I > have no education experience in Washington State Ecosystems, I am finding > it very hard to compete for jobs over there, even though I have > demonstrated the ability to learn the ecology and plant life of a variety > of regions and ecosystems in the United States. I also have no contacts in > Seattle since I have not lived there in so long. It is very difficult to > compete with someone who has local or regional knowledge in this case. I > have not quite figured out how to remedy this except continue to network as > much as possible to make contacts. > > Good Luck! > > > Theryn Henkel, Ph.D > Assistant Director, Coastal Sustainability Program > Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation > Office: 504-308-3470 > Cell: 812-219-4740 > www.saveourlake.org > > On Mon, Feb 22, 2016 at 5:01 PM, Chris Buddenhagen <[email protected] > > wrote: > >> That may be true for students looking to get into graduate schools, but >> for graduates looking for work after a Masters or PhD I think it can have >> an influence. For example getting state or federal agency jobs. It is true >> for University jobs too - if your record shows you to be a competent >> professional working in environments familiar to the committee that has to >> help. Social capitol and local biological knowledge mean a lot even though >> in theory these skills are largely transferable, e.g. demonstrable >> proficiency in using a plant key, quantitative skills, collaboration >> ability, effective networking etc. A quick familiarity with local plant and >> animal communities and species, or important local issues suggests people >> will quickly become productive at the desired level for field work. Also >> familiarity with agencies and people - provides the search committees with >> the ability to check your skills and reputation by talking to people they >> know. Its something to consider when setting up your projects or choosing >> your mentors. Also every positive contact and project seen through to >> completion is an opportunity and a blessing in itself. Its all about the >> narrative you can tell when seeking out an opportunity. Hopefully that >> narrative has a enough weight to combat any tendencies toward favoring >> local candidates. >> >> Just my thoughts >> >> >> Chris Buddenhagen >> >> >> Chris Buddenhagen >> [email protected] >> >> On Mon, Feb 22, 2016 at 2:08 PM, Culley, Theresa (culleyt) < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Angela, >>> >>> John is correct - I think you received some inaccurate advice. I've seen >>> quite the opposite. Often grad programs like to attract non-local students >>> because it enhances their reputation on the national stage. In addition, >>> many advisors recommend that their undergrads go elsewhere for grad school >>> (if they are able) to experience a wider breadth of experience. So I would >>> recommend that you keep trying. >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> Theresa Culley >>> Professor >>> Dept. Biological Sciences >>> University of Cincinnati >>> >>> >>> On Feb 22, 2016, at 12:36 PM, Long, John A <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Angela, >>> >>> >>> >>> I think you have heard wrong. Most places that I’m familiar with have >>> little issue with students being out of state. This might be more of an >>> issue for out-of country applicants when funding is designated for >>> nationals. >>> >>> >>> >>> John A. Long, PhD >>> >>> Assistant Professor, Computational Biology >>> >>> Northern State University >>> >>> Aberdeen, SD 57401 >>> >>> 605-626-2629 >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [ >>> mailto:[email protected] <[email protected]>] *On >>> Behalf Of *Angela Trenkle >>> *Sent:* Monday, February 22, 2016 9:35 AM >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Overcoming the Location Hump for Out of State Jobs/Graduate >>> Studies >>> >>> >>> >>> Hello everyone, >>> >>> I am looking into employment/graduate school out of state. I was >>> wondering if anyone had any suggestions/words of advice on how to overcome >>> the location hump (I have heard that a lot of places will dismiss you >>> immediately upon seeing that you are not a local). Is it impossible? How >>> can it be done? Thanks! >>> >>> -Angela >>> >>> >> > > -- Tamathy Stage Master's Candidate Antioch University New England
