UKC

I need some advice on breaking into the industry, what qualifications I need to get etc.

In reply to Twinkle: can you be a bit more specific. Depending on your definition, you might want to be a bin man or Al Gore

In reply to Twinkle:

What do you mean by the 'Environment Industry'? Working for the Environment Agency, waste management, building windfarms, conservation?

In reply to Twinkle: Any particular part of the industry? It covers a multitude of sins.

In reply to Twinkle:

Alright alright, fair point.

I mean Sustainability really. I'd like to get into working on developing Eco homes and planning sustainable developments.

I have a place on a Spatial planning MSc starting next year and I'm hoping to specialise but it's part time and to support it I need a job in the industry. It's the old catch 22. Can't get a job without the qualification, can't get the qualification without some experience.

In reply to Twinkle: can't help you there, I'm afraid, though I was involved in a couple of visitor centre green builds. You might need to do some voluntary work as a fall back. Can your course provider not give you a few pointers? they want your course fees, after all

In reply to Twinkle: Not the same sector I know, but in nature conservation practically everyone I know who now has a paid job (NGO or government) had a fair amount of experience from working as a volunteer either while they studied &/or while unemployed - eg I spent quite a while working with SCP plus some poorly paid work with the former ITE & some very short contracts with NCC/NCS before getting a 'real' job - even then I was on short term contracts for several years.

In reply to Twinkle:

If I was you I'd look at a 'multi-discipline engineering consultancy's' who include sustainable building design etc.
Say someone like Buro Happold, Whitby Bird, Jacobs Babtie, Scott Wilson etc.

In reply to Twinkle:

I work for Natural England (sic) but I suspect this is not what you're after.

In reply to Twinkle:

The girlfriend is an ecologist and had to do a fair bit of volunteering etc whilst at Uni and afterwards to get a job. She was 'lucky' to be living with her olds at the time though.

Despite this being in the private sector there still seems to be an attitude that they're expected to put themselves out more, and their desire to do that kind of job is possibly taken advantage of. ie she'll do some training courses in annual leave, quibbling over minor expenses etc - this is a multi-milllion pound company, not a small new firm or NGO relying on its staff to get it up and running.
Though I get told off if I point this out, so I'll shut up now.

Not the same job, but I'm guessing possibly similar attitudes.

In reply to Twinkle:

Sorry, should also have pointed out she really enjoys her job.

When I texted her from a blue sky-ed Glen Nevis yesterday sarcastically asking her if she was enjoying work, she replied yes as was in a stream next to Loch Lomond which looked stunning.

In reply to Twinkle:

As others have pointed out, you're wanting to work in a very 'sexy' part of the construction/'green' industry, so competion for jobs is quite stiff. Our company has a few gradute traineeships going, but it's more in the waste management/finance side of things. If I hear of any firms doing the sort of work you're interested in I'll drop you a line.

In reply to Twinkle: You could try some of the larger Environmental Consultancies and see who's doing what. The IEEM is their professional body and will have info on their website. Also some of the bigger NGO's such as WWF, FoE and RSPB all have an interest in this area too.

My own field is species conservation and you need two relevent degrees, a specialism and voluntary experience to even get a look in these days. Its not unusual to see over 200 applicants per job and as Doug pointed out everyone starts on short-term contracts and works up to, hopefully, a permanent job.
hth

In reply to Twinkle: I'm also trying to break into this industry - albeit a different side of it (more interested in EIA/contaminated land) and it's bloody hard! Despite having an apparently fairly strong CV, the majority of job's I've applied for I've never heard back from. The few interviews I’ve had all said they like me but want more experience. When you then offer to work for free to gain experience with these companies they never get back to you despite numerous emails/calls – pretty unprofessional I’d say – it doesn’t take much to drop someone an email to say no. I have to say I find the whole process pretty demoralizing but am determined to stick at it a bit longer because I want the job – good luck with it. Rob

In reply to ring ouzel:
>

bloody hell - sounds like the arts! It's amazing how hard it is to get a shockingly underpaid job nowadays

In reply to Rob Dyer: Maybe they google your name and find that you are only trying to get a 'proper job' to fund your trips There's 24,000 job vacancies in the environmental and engineering sectors at the moment, one must have your name on it - good luck.

In reply to Rob Dyer:

Rob - what sort of qualifications have you got? I haven't changed or looked for new positions for a while, but there is a general shortage of people within the contaminated land field, and plenty of work around, so I would have thought finding something would be possible.

In reply to TimS: Ah but I'm not - I'm trying to find a proper job, and when I do I intend to make that top priority as it will be something I actually enjoy instead of just paying the bills. In the meantime whilst temping in a job I have no intention of making a long-term career, I'm taking advantage of flexible time off to go on trips. Maybe that doesn't come across though and I take your point, so I shall remove all talk of wrok from my profile.

In reply to Twinkle:

Ok I'm beginning the search for volunteering opportunities...

Any merit in getting an admin job in an Environmental Agency/Consultancy and then sweet talking them into taking me on lots of work experience outings?

Thanks for responses so far

In reply to phil webber: BSc in Geography specialising in physical/envrionmental side of things (I thought that wouldn't be enough and I'd need an MSc at least but apparantly it's fine according to a friend in the industry?) Also a few bits of work experiance with BP environmental team and vonuntary work with an small NGO in Malawi. Maybe that is woefully underqualified though and this guy I know is just being optimistic?

In reply to Twinkle:

I've just started an Msc at IC in Environmental Technology.

It's designed to churn out people with a good 'across the board knowledge' to work in the environment industry. So that's one way...........

In reply to Twinkle: No! Back in the 70's and 80's you could join as admin then get into more specialised work but not today. Today there are thousands of people with all the right qualifications and experience trying to get a job, so why should they look to the admin officer to fill the post? Concentrate on getting the job you want, dont just take on any job and hope to get in.

In reply to Rob Dyer:

Well, alot of people I know in contaminated land tend to be geologist or civil engineers, but there are a few environmental science types that i know of. My degree course did some specific contaminated land/groundwater assessment stuff, so i was fairly well versed in the specifics before I started working.

I guess you have tried all the usual channels for finding a place (Ends is good starting point)?

How about the big multi-nationals - many would have graduate training schemes? Also, it may be worth ringing some of the people who deal with recruitment at the big companies, and ask what it is you dont have (qualifications/experience etc) and would need for a job with them.

Also, it may be worth sitting down and getting familar with the necessary regulatory guidance - i guess that would show an employer that you have done some research of your own back.

In reply to phil webber: Cheers - good advice - I've been working my way through a couple of textbooks on EIA and writing environmental statements recently after being recommended them from an interview - where would I go about getting hold of formal regs from?

In reply to Rob Dyer:
- where would I go about getting hold of formal regs from?

used to be the office of the deputy prime minister, but I think it'll be here now

http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/

t

In reply to Rob Dyer:

The EU EIA Guidance is a useful reference, since all EIAs are supposed to conform to the same standards.

ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/eia-guidelines/g-review-full-text.pdf

In reply to tony and toad: great thanks guys - I shall peruse that tonight.

In reply to Rob Dyer:

How about this one?

Job Title: Graduate Trainees
Job Ref: 914
Location: Northampton
Salary Details: Competitive Salary + Company Benefits
Closing Date:

Job Description:
FCC is a leading international construction and services company with operations in Europe, South America and the United States. In the UK we are one of the largest waste management and energy recovery companies, offering services to over 60 Local Authorities and commercial customers.

As a graduate trainee you will have the opportunity to work on a range of assignments varying from small projects to large complex infrastructure bids. This will involve working alongside our first class teams with the opportunity to contribute and learn from day one.

Learning opportunities will involve a comprehensive knowledge of our landfill, recycling and energy recover operations, support service functions (inc. engineering, environmental & estates), finance, as well as gaining knowledge and experience of the challenges faced by the industry. If you enjoy responsibility, are keen to learn, ambitious and driven to succeed then this could be the right place for you.


Contact Details:
If you are interested in this position, please contact Melanie Wharton on 01302 303037, (or via Email to melanie.wharton@wrg.co.uk]) to request an application form, quoting job reference number 914.


Further Details:
Please note that an application from an employee of Waste Recycling Group will only be considered if you have advised your Manager of your intenion beforehand.

In reply to Ridge: sounds good - I shall email them later. Blimey I cant belive how helpful you lot are being - I should have said something on here earlier! Thanks v much. Rob