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Career Advice
parkt
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Using an alt because my username is pretty distinct and such.
I graduated with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics in 2011. Shortly thereafter I went for a master's (M.A) in Marine Conservation which I graduated from in August of last year. In that time I've done a market research internship (where I analyzed some data [SPSS and Excel], and programmed and deployed surveys) and a Department of Environmental Protection internship where...I unfortunately haven't done anything very interesting or educational (some like ArcGIS work, slight data analysis with Excel, mostly just data entry though).
I've been applying to environmental jobs since August and haven't even gotten a nibble. At this point it's been a bit over 4 months of job applications and I haven't gotten a single call-back/interview. It's becoming very depressing, and I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm thinking I should get a job so at least my resume doesn't have a huge gap in there, but I'm not sure what to even apply to given that my resume is such a myriad of different things that can at best be very loosely tied together. And ideally this a job would be something that can be used for jobs more relevant to my degree.
I have computer skills such as fairly good knowledge of hardware (I can assemble a computer and narrow down a hardware part that's faulty, for example), I can troubleshoot software and hardware, I'm very comfortable in Windows, and I have some very light experience with coding (I coded in high school with Java and VB, and now am trying to get back into it with Python using free online classes).
I can speak Russian fluently.
I'm comfortable in Photoshop, ArcGIS, Excel, SPSS.
So what sort of things can I apply for that can possibly help in the long run?
I realize I can do IT, but can that be used as a stepping stone to something? Or is that more of a dead end sort of thing?
Thanks in advance.
I graduated with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics in 2011. Shortly thereafter I went for a master's (M.A) in Marine Conservation which I graduated from in August of last year. In that time I've done a market research internship (where I analyzed some data [SPSS and Excel], and programmed and deployed surveys) and a Department of Environmental Protection internship where...I unfortunately haven't done anything very interesting or educational (some like ArcGIS work, slight data analysis with Excel, mostly just data entry though).
I've been applying to environmental jobs since August and haven't even gotten a nibble. At this point it's been a bit over 4 months of job applications and I haven't gotten a single call-back/interview. It's becoming very depressing, and I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm thinking I should get a job so at least my resume doesn't have a huge gap in there, but I'm not sure what to even apply to given that my resume is such a myriad of different things that can at best be very loosely tied together. And ideally this a job would be something that can be used for jobs more relevant to my degree.
I have computer skills such as fairly good knowledge of hardware (I can assemble a computer and narrow down a hardware part that's faulty, for example), I can troubleshoot software and hardware, I'm very comfortable in Windows, and I have some very light experience with coding (I coded in high school with Java and VB, and now am trying to get back into it with Python using free online classes).
I can speak Russian fluently.
I'm comfortable in Photoshop, ArcGIS, Excel, SPSS.
So what sort of things can I apply for that can possibly help in the long run?
I realize I can do IT, but can that be used as a stepping stone to something? Or is that more of a dead end sort of thing?
Thanks in advance.
parkt on
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Facepalming so hard. This is your problem. Abandon your dream field. Get paid.
Also, you are horribly evalutating your talents. Here is the heirarchy of your marketability.
1. BS in Applied Math
2. Reserach internship work experience
3. experience performing data analysis in excel and SPSS
4. A demonstrated ability to get a Master's Degree (The degree itself is otherwise worthless)
5. Fluency in English/Russian
...
15. light experience with coding
...
28. Photoshop skillz
...
...
...
54. troubleshooting hardware / software issues.
Look for jobs in banking and finance.
A decision to follow your dreams into the desired sector is valid - but it wont be as easy or pay as well as just playing to your technical strengths.
Sounds like you have a decision to make.
everything about hiring is awful
I've made peace with the fact that my environmental degree was an expensive mistake and I have to, at the very least, move away from that indefinitely.
How do I do so that doesn't put huge question marks in hiring managers' heads, though? The environmental protection internship and the conservation degree are the most recent things on my resume. How can I work around that to accent my research/math stuff even though it happened earlier?
"Because fuck whales."
When in a hiring position and working with young people, plenty of people understand, "I was a little too idealistic/educated too specifically, and now I realized I need to get a real job that's both fulfilling AND has career options."
The key to answering the interview question is doing it in a way that doesn't play down that you're interested in the field/job you're applying for.
Was the OP where you said you got your degree in 2012 was a typo? As long as you didn't get your BS in 2002, it really isn't going to raise any red flags and your internship/Master's degree can add some interesting color to your interviews.
"I pursued a conservation degree because I am passionate about the environment, but ultimately I decided that in the long term it didn't provide a suitable career path."
Some variant of this shows that you're an actual human being and a sharp motherfucker.
And you should be doing stuff like that anyways to pay the bills. I have always found when I'm unemployed I'm working on increaseing my marketable skills. Taking classes, going to work shops, even volunteering. It's surprising what you can throw under self employement when you are doing it.
Once you get experience and a comfortable job, if you still want to land your dream job field you are in a much better position to try and do it.
@Deebaser, I really appreciate your brutal honesty, and it definitely helped me reevaluate my worth, which at that point I thought was very low.
@zepherin, I've been taking the Python online class to further/add to my skills, and I'm looking for some SQL tutorials to do as well (that should look great for data-centric positions, right?) Any suggestion for that?
Also how would I even get myself to do any kind of freelance consultation? Like where can I go to do something like that?
One place I'd suggest you start looking is environmental consulting firms, but don't restrict yourself to just, like, science-y positions. Look for admin stuff, too. They'll see the Masters as a big boost over other candidates.
Water treatment operator
Environmental scientist x10
Bluebelt management coordinator
Environmental specialist x5
Water quality specialist
Water ecology scientist
Environmental manager
Also worth noting: every job on that list looks like it does something different, and that makes it sound (to me, nothing to do with a hiring manager) like you aren't really sure what kind of job you want to do as long as it can be vaguely tagged "environmental." Once you're settled into something stable enough to be more selective, maybe take some time to think about what it is you want to spend your working hours actually doing. Do you want to work in a lab setting? Do you want to run a piece of heavy machinery? Do you want to oversee operations or people? There's not a lot of point in jumping into the first job you see with a pretty general adjective in the title that is so far from the kind of work environment and task load you really want that it turns you off to the whole field. As long as you're taking the time to apply to jobs outside your field, if you decide to keep looking once you get one, really put some thought into what you're aiming for, why, and what experience or qualifications you need for that job.
Glad to hear it, bro. You're in a much better position than you thought, a damn sight better than most recent college grads.
When I freelanced I used guru.com , but I don't know if it's still any good. Freelancing isn't really entry level stuff. You need to be able to bring a project from start to finish with little support.
Well, if you couldn't get in through the front door, go in through the back. You could always find a job at the company that was offering those positions. ANY job with that company. It's easier to move once you're inside. That's what I've done when I couldn't get the job I wanted initially, I just worked my way up with the added benefit of gaining practical knowledge for my future with X company and the tasks that they carry out.
Yeah, careers can be weird like that. I graduated with an English degree, and then spent a year making cold calls for a small telecom company, then moved and went into tech support for a software company. I moved up from there and ended up as their sales engineer. Once another team is given some headcount, I'll be moving over to them and will become a remote employee.
There are all kinds of ways to end up in the job you want. If pounding on their front door isn't working, get creative. Don't worry if your first job isn't your dream job.
In regards to working my way up to a position I want starting with a low one, I don't really want to do that (yet). I'd like my next job to be something where I feel like I'm learning and/or expanding on a skill. I'd like to walk away from it saying I've expanded my skill set and learned something. And of course I realize that will have to be in a non-environmental position, which I'm perfectly OK with now.
Thinking on it, I actually enjoyed playing with numbers during my market research internship and my schooling, so I'll definitely be checking out analyst positions.
Example, you might find yourself working for a food plant or municipality plant using your skills for a paying job while having a chance to transfer to environmental engineer or scientist.
Another thing to consider is the area you are applying for jobs in. Places like Seattle, where the UW has a large environmental program, are more over saturated than other areas of the country. I got a job in the Midwest that I never would have been able to get when I lived in Seattle. Unfortunately, you are far more likely to get an interview in a place where you currently live than somewhere you would have to move to.
If you want to keep looking for environmental positions, by all means, get any job in the meantime to make money and build some sort of skill set. When you can, volunteer for environmentally minded places. This can also help you build skills while you get connections. I volunteered for the local recycling program doing outreach, and within a couple months, the people I volunteered with were passing on any position they heard about that I might have been interested in. If you can, look at getting additional certifications in the area you want to go into. You're probably going to have to revamp your resume and cover letter a lot. When you think its perfect, let it sit, then do it again. For environmental jobs, the best places I've found were, in order of usefulness: company websites, linked-in, the texas a&m environmental job board, and simplyhired/careerbuilder. Occasionally, something would pop up on craigslist. Linked-in was one of the best places I found to get new job information. Join the groups related to environmental career paths you are interested in. Recruiters post jobs on the boards frequently.
It may take tons of applications. I know I sent out probably hundreds. Best of luck to you.
Seconding this. Applied math is your most valuable skill. Also network for your job. Efinancial careers is great and all, but nothing and I mean nothing beats networking for the job hunt.
Feel free to look into infrastructure, utilities or water-related finance at financial firms.
For instance, here are the holdings of Powershares' water resources fund: http://www.invescopowershares.com/products/holdings.aspx?ticker=PHO
Plenty of finance/consulting gigs that revolve around those types of firms and there are obviously gigs at those firms specifically (which may also be rewarding as you can help develop new technology). Water conservation is becoming a surprisingly strong theme on Wall St., especially on the long-only investment side of the business.
Environmental impact investing is pretty big now, especially in Europe because the deals essentially subsidized infrastructure deals and thus returns can be juiced with a lot of leverage. It's more of a European theme though right now and who knows if those subsidies will survive or have survived the current "realignment" of the European monetary regime. Here in the states, a number of utilities e.g. Con-Ed take junior guys with math/programming skills to help offset their commodities risk. Also, if public service is your bent, you should investigate your state's public utilities commission. That said, given the regulatory environment in this country, I would generally advise starting in the private sector first and then going to the public sector if that's your cup of tea (you can then go back to the private sector with the invaluable skillset of knowing all the regulators, your morality mileage may vary).