Conservationist - Career Information

Conservationist - Career InformationConservationist - Career InformationA conservationist manages natural habitats including parks, forests, and rangelands. He or she mayalso be called a conservation scientist or soil and waterconservationist. This green job involves finding ways to utilize land without harming the environment. Conservationists, who are employed by either private landowners or federal, state, or local governments, make sure landowners follow government regulations and take appropriate measures to protect habitats. They advise farmers and ranchers to help them improve their land and control erosion. Quick Facts Conservationists earn amedian annual salaryof $61,480 (2017).About 22,300 people work in this occupation (2016).Employers include thefederal governmentand state andlocal governments. Social advocacy groups also employ some of them, as doprivate landowners.Thejob outlookfor conservationists is good. Job growth will be on pace with other occupations between 2 016 and 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Conservationists work in offices, labs, and outdoors. A Day in the Life of a Conservationist What is it really like to be a conservationist? Employers listed these duties in job announcements onIndeed.com Make field visits to meet with producers to determine conservation needs and assist with conservation plan developmentUse greifhand tools (e.g. clinometer, hand level) to determine percent slope and slope lengthConduct site inspections of on-going projects to assure that practices being installed meet specificationsServe as a liaison and the point of contact with ecological, safety, and program support for the State Resource ConservationistEnsure all federal, state, departmental, and district regulations are being followed The Downside of Being a Conservationist Expect your days to be physically demanding if you choose this career. You will have to walk long distances often and spend time outdoors in inclement weath er.There are dangers inherent in this occupation which include coming into contact with poisonous plants and biting insects. Education Requirements To work as a conservationist, you will need, at the minimum, a bachelors degree in forestry, agronomy, agricultural science, biology, rangeland management, or environmental science. Some people go on to earn a masters degree or doctorate. Your undergraduate studies will prepare you for graduate school. What Soft Skills Do You Need? Particularsoft skills, which are personal qualities with which you were born or acquired through life experiences, will allow you to excel in this occupation. They are Listening and Verbal Communication Skills As a conservationist, you will have to communicate well with colleagues, workers, landowners, and the public.Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills Detecting problems and then identifying possible solutions will be a big part of your job.AnalyticalandDecision-Making Skills The ability to ev aluate the results of experiments and studies and the capacity to utilize this information are essential to success in this field. What Will Employers Expect From You? Here are some requirements from actual job announcements onIndeed.com Ability to work independently and as part of highly collaborative teamsWorking knowledge of computers and software including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and/or GIS preferableAbility to perform minor maintenance and repair to infrastructure and equipmentAbility to compose clear, concise, and technically correct documents chooses the most effective and meaningful written form to express information states information as simply as possible and organizes information logicallyExceptional attention to detail Ability to manage multiple tasks through use of effective organizational and time management skills Is This Occupation a Good Fit for You? This occupation is most suitable for individuals with the followinginterests,personality type, andwork-r elated values Interests(Holland Code) EIR (Enterprising, Investigative, Realistic)Personality Type(MBTI PersonalityTypes) ESTP, ISFPWork-Related Values Relationships, Achievement,Independence Related Occupations Descriptionzentralwert Annual Wage (2017)Required EducationEnvironmental ScientistIdentifies and then finds ways to eliminate hazards to the environment or the earths inhabitants$69,400Bachelors Degree (entry-level) /Masters Degree (advanced)HydrologistStudies the distribution, physical properties, and circulation of water$79,990Bachelors Degree (entry-level) /Masters Degree (advanced)Environmental EngineerSolves problems in the environment using knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, and soil science$86,800Bachelors Degree in Environmental, Civil, or Chemical Engineering,Urban or Regional PlannerHelps communities determine how to best use their land and resources$71,490Masters Degree in Urban or Regional Planning Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Departmen t of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NETOnline(visited June 13, 2018)