“A Career Outdoors? Keep your options open”

January 20, 2009 by admin

By Doug Leier

Outdoor Careers

As spring gradually thaws the frozen tundra and ice on area lakes becomes mush, I can count on a couple of things. First, I’ll be itching to hear the first song of a western meadowlark. No matter in which part of North Dakota I live, the meadowlark is my quintessential sign that spring is indeed here to stay.

Another indicator that spring is near is a sharp increase in the volume of calls I get from students and parents looking for guidance and insight on a career outdoors.

I’ve never second-guessed my choice of careers and few things make me happier than to hear how excited a prospective student or college graduate is to embark on a similar career path. I’ll take a short look at both aspects of life, the prospective student and recent graduate.

High school

Any high school student or recent graduate should keep their options as wide open as the prairie sky. You may have a specific goal in mind, such as becoming a game warden or researching pallid sturgeon behavior, but when setting goals take a broad view.
Fifteen years ago when I graduated from high school I could not have envisioned that part of my work life would involve producing outdoors information. Along the way I’ve banded geese, arrested poachers, battled mountain wildfires and worked with landowners on improving habitat.

Even non-biology majors find careers in natural resources. Government and other organizations employ computer specialists, communication specialists, accountants, administrative support — just about the same jobs needed for most businesses to function.

Highly developed skills as an angler or hunter are not a prerequisite, but they may help you relate to the hunting and fishing public. The most important factor is a genuine interest in and love for the outdoors, a standard shared by most of my co-workers.

On a personal note, don’t be intimidated by the science and math course work inherent in wildlife related college degrees. I struggled through organic chemistry, calculus and physics. One option may be attending junior college such as MSU-Bottineau, which has a successful history as a spring board for future game wardens, fisheries and wildlife professionals.

College

Most college graduates are well aware of the tight job market and competitive nature of natural resource management. Over the years the recurring theme includes solid grades and job experience.

I spent my first summer after high school as a volunteer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A $10 day stipend didn’t go far even 15 years ago, but beyond the money, the experience established a solid foundation for the future.

Even with five summers of field experience, after college graduation it was four months of intense job hunting until I landed a secure job. If you graduate without much work experience, my suggestion would be similar what I’d tell a recent high school graduate eyeing a career a decade down the road: don’t pass anything up or become excessively selective. A few months or years of experience may be the key to unlocking the door.

You may also find yourself contemplating graduate school. If research or a highly specialized career is your goal, obtaining a masters or other advanced degree may be in order.

It’s been 10 years since I graduated from college and along the way I’ve made hundreds of new friends and colleagues. Few regret their career and that in itself speaks volumes for the vocation.