It’s well known that careers in wildlife, conservation, and the environment are incredibly competitive. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a job to have hundreds of applicants. So you might be surprised to hear that there are jobs that are difficult for employers to fill. Yes, difficult! (insert mind blown emoji here). To be honest, I was surprised too.
Today’s episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast is inspired by this recent insight, and it came about through a new connection on LinkedIn. Dr. Patrick Raney, the Director of Conservation Programs in the Great Lakes Atlantic region of Ducks Unlimited, and I were messaging each other about conservation jobs, and he mentioned that it had actually been difficult for him to find qualified applicants to fill certain positions Given that so many people are struggling to get jobs, I immediately thought that this was wonderful news and that I needed to have him on the podcast to learn more and help those in need.
As the Director of Conservation Programs in the Great Lakes Atlantic region of Ducks Unlimited, Patrick leads wetland restoration and mitigation efforts to restore habitat, protect biodiversity, and ensure that long-term conservation wins for both wildlife and communities.
In this episode, you’ll learn about Patrick’s winding career path to Ducks Unlimited and early interest in conservation. We also talk a lot about what I am now calling “wildlife adjacent careers,” that is, careers that are related to wildlife work, but are not necessarily directly involved in research. This includes fields that you might not think of when it comes to helping wildlife, in this case, careers in engineering that rebuild wetland habitats.
Patrick initially trained as a plant biologist and started his journey at the early age of 16 with a summer camp job that he demanded (yes, demanded!). It’s a great story that you won’t want to miss. In it, he demonstrates his unstoppable attitude towards going after your wildlife career, which is CRITICAL in this field. We also follow his career progression through various roles in environmental science and research.
We talk in-depth about Patrick’s work at Ducks Unlimited, how he uses different strategies to support wetland species, and especially ducks. You’ll learn how Ducks Unlimited approaches wetland conservation, working with stakeholders, and achieving results that are a win-win for wildlife and partners.
Throughout the conversation, Patrick offers a lot of valuable advice for early professionals in wildlife careers. We cover the importance of volunteering and building experience, and that a little goes a long way, as well as the value of transferable skills from non-wildlife jobs in environmental careers. Patrick shares advice on the importance of networking and even making proactive job applications. He mentions that he occasionally hires candidates who reach out directly, even if there are no immediate positions available!
Given that we met each other over LinkedIn, we also go into the importance of this platform, which I have become obsessed with recently. Ever since I took some training and developed my own LinkedIn for Wildlife Careers Masterclass, I have been using and loving LinkedIn. He talks about how he believes it is a powerful career tool, and uses it for job recruitment offering you tips on how you can use LinkedIn to your advantage.
If you’re interested in wildlife careers, you’re going to get a lot of specific and concrete advice on how to approach your career, as well as creative ideas to think differently than others to set yourself apart. And if you’re not on a wildlife career track, you’re going to learn about important conservation practices that work and successful wetland restoration efforts.
Specifically, we go over:
- What wildlife adjacent jobs are and how to think about careers in conservation
- Patrick’s work at Ducks Unlimited and what they do as an organization to protect wildlife
- How Patrick got started in wildlife work and the unexpected turns his career took
- How you can get started in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers
- The importance of volunteering and how to make it work for you, even with limited time and resources
- How Ducks Unlimited works with various stakeholders to achieve conservation success What jobs are in demand for wildlife careers
- Creative ways to set yourself apart from others to secure experience, jobs, and more
- Making LinkedIn an asset to network, connect with others, and share your professional achievements
- And MORE!
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then…
✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/
🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/
📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/
🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.
🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg
Full show notes:
👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/142-patrick-raney/
Jump Links:
00:00 Introduction and Inspiration
02:19 Meet Camilla Price
02:38 Camilla's Background and Career Path
07:07 The Journey to the NSF GRFP Grant
10:07 Developing the Research Proposal
13:44 Methodology and Broader Impacts
18:27 Seeking Help and Finalizing the Application
22:48 The Joy of Receiving the Grant
23:57 Choosing the Right Program
24:26 Reaching Out to Professors
26:50 Advisors and Research Projects
29:43 Backup Plans and Career Strategies
33:32 Final Tips and Reflections
38:18 Networking and Taking Initiative
Let’s connect! 🤝✨
Website: https://fancyscientist.com/
Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/
