Studying a relevant university degree is the first step to a career in marine research and conservation, however employers are looking for more than just a qualification. To boost your chances of landing your dream job, supplementing a degree with a variety of diverse experiences is an excellent way to give yourself an edge when it comes to employability.
Why do I need additional experience?
University degrees can be tough, tiring, and time-consuming – but sometimes quality over quantity doesn’t apply. Whilst employers undoubtedly do value high-class degree qualifications, without additional knowledge and experience gained in the real world, the value of a degree becomes lessened. To ensure your CV is abundant with noticeable, unique and applicable skills, it is recommended that related fieldwork, volunteering experiences, and extracurricular achievements are completed to set you up with a head start when looking for jobs.
If you already know the field you are working towards, you can streamline your choices to suit this, however any marine-related experience is valuable and enhances your development as a marine scientist or conservationist. This is your chance to demonstrate your passion, dedication, and abilities to contribute to a team or lead and manage a project – all of which are essential in the career world.
What experience should I aim for?
It can be intimidating to know where to start, so here is a broad overview of different types of experience you may pursue.
Volunteer/internships
Arguably the most valuable experience, volunteerships and internships provide you with the knowledge required to actively fulfil a specific role, often including highly transferable and broad skills which are applicable to a whole range of marine-related jobs. Look for opportunities which offer a selection of tasks to give yourself the fullest experience possible, and opt for positions which provide food, board or stipends in exchange for your efforts. Internships can be found all over the globe in every corner of conservation, so finding the right fit is relatively easy.
Fieldwork
Joining fieldwork expeditions and trips in a student assistant or research assistant role is a great way to get stuck into in-depth, real science and figure out if fieldwork is the career path that is right for you. It also exposes you to the often tough and harsh realities that come with working in the field, testing your endurance and ability to adapt in changing and sometimes unpredictable situations. This is specifically useful to have on a CV if you are applying for roles which are heavily research-based.
Conferences and events
Attending marine conferences, public events, and community open days is also a useful way to broaden your horizons and open doors to opportunities you may not otherwise come across. Talking to a range of professionals currently working in the marine science and conservation realm facilitates valuable connections and may lead to you discovering new interests or networking with future employers.
Independent hobbies and projects
Applying yourself to relevant hobbies and projects, such as rockpooling, diving, snorkeling, starting a blog or contributing to citizen science projects is another effective way to augment your experience and highlight your willingness to invest time and effort into marine science and conservation.
Where do I look for opportunities?
Knowing where to find opportunities such as those mentioned above can also be daunting – but they are surprisingly common and available in a range of forms, in-persona and online.
Citizen science projects can be found online, requiring a simple web search to identify suitable options. Sites such as seagrasswatch, the big microplastic survey, and Project Noah offer the chance to contribute to global datasets and actively enhance the body of knowledge on distributions of species, pollution, and natural phenomena.
Approaching conservation organisations such as through email or phone can be a great way to branch out further afield, connect with useful contacts and discuss potential options. This direct communication also allows you to talk about whether the opportunity is the right fit for you and your availability at the time. Many conservation NGOs and charities offer intern or volunteer opportunities, and are often looking for additional help with tasks such as admin, social media management, and public engagement.
Your university may also have multiple opportunities to secure lab or field assistant roles, voluntary positions assisting PhD students, or positions on society boards such as wildlife or conservation student groups. Talking to professors in relevant fields can open doorways to hands-on experience too, such as summer research expeditions and potentially paid roles.
Universities also often host weekly talks, many of which will likely be marine related – attending these events can open your eyes to new career ideas, routes, and goals, and chatting to experts and talk presenters can bring about further opportunities – perhaps they know somebody who may be working on your interests, and can connect you. It can also be useful to talk to older students, postgrads, and alumni for further information on careers and experience; hearing stories from students like yourself who are only a couple of years older can inspire you to follow a similar path and they may also know of suitable organisations, labs, or professors you can contact.
Takeaway
Overall, building a rich and diverse CV takes time, effort, and determination, but is well worth it – every step takes you closer to landing a fulfilling and impactful career. Extracurricular experience is a vital component, and can take many forms – from online work such as running a social media platform, to volunteering abroad on whale watching boats or practicing underwater photography. The most important factor is that you keep trying new things, seeking opportunities, and saying yes when they arise.
Thanks to our guest writer Sophie Coxon for this blog!
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