How to seal the deal – From internship to career with Seal Rescue Ireland
“People who work towards conservation efforts are vital for the preservation of all ecosystems and all biodiversity and even for the preservation of humanity itself. I work in conservation because I feel a responsibility to protect the natural environment.” – Lauren O’Brien.
At age 25, Lauren, now working as an education and fundraising manager with Seal Rescue Ireland, has already been involved in multiple spheres of the conservation universe including roles with the Zoological Society of London and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.
Read on to gain invaluable insight into Lauren’s journey as she takes us through the steps that she followed going from volunteer to career in marine conservation with a special interest in education.
Lauren, having witnessed the recruitment process from both sides herself, shares some fundamental advice for applicants as she implores us to allow our passion for conservation to shine through as a means to set ourselves out from the crowd.
Where it all began
In 2020, living in the UK where she grew up and following the completion of a BSc degree in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography at the University of Essex, Lauren decided that she was ready to take the leap into conservation.
As a result of the COVID pandemic, the entire world was at a standstill and Lauren found herself exploring the Conservation Careers website as she stumbled across Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) under ‘Top 20 places to Intern’. Little-known to herself, she was beginning the greatest adventure of her life.
Seal Rescue Ireland internship
Prior to commencing her internship at Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI), Lauren didn’t have any experience working with animals and so she didn’t quite know what to expect. She fondly recalls working with the seals, ensuring that the enclosures were clean as well as feeding them using various methods depending on where the seal was at in its recovery. Other exciting activities that everyone got involved in at SRI were beach clean-ups and visitors education.
Education, Lauren remarks, is an incredibly important part of what is done at the facility as it is through educational tours and events that most of the funding (95% of it) is raised, usually with only about a 5% contribution by the government.
Another crucial part of internship training at SRI was ‘manning the rescue phone’, where, as the only organisation in the whole Republic of Ireland to do this, an extensive network of over 800 volunteers cover about 3000km of coastline, taking in seal distress reports and sending out rescue missions following situational assessment.
First paid position
The internships at Seal Rescue Ireland are usually only about 3 months long but Lauren loved it so much that she spent 9 months working with the seals there. It was, however, all volunteer work and eventually Lauren knew that it was time to start trying to make a living.
With gravitation towards environmental education, she found herself working with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) at Whipsnade Zoo.
After initially securing only a seasonal position of 2 months, a permanent position as a Visitor Activities Officer became available and Lauren spent a further 7 months at ZSL.
Her biggest take-away from the experience, as someone who was previously not in support of wildlife in a captive environment, was a deeper understanding of how large non-profit organisations such as zoos are some of the biggest fundraisers for conservation activities and can therefore help to provide funding to smaller organisations that might not yet be able to sustain themselves independently.
Back to where it all began
Following this experience Lauren found herself in a training position as an Animal Care Specialist and Trainee Animal Care Assistant at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary for about a year before returning to where it all began and she is now working as an education and fundraising manager with Seal Rescue Ireland.
Growing up, Lauren always wanted to be a marine biologist, “I’d never really heard of the term ‘conservationist’ in the way that it could be a career and although I knew that it would involve a lot of work in charity and people would say to me: “‘Are you sure that’s something you want to do, there’s not much money in that’, I thought to myself – No! I want to fight this stigma around working in charity, because conservation is the future.”
Words of wisdom
When asked if, knowing what she knows today, would she have done anything differently? The answer was a satisfying “I don’t think so. I am so grateful for these past four years; it has felt very well rounded. I’ve done some work in animal care, marine mammal training, rehabilitation and environmental education.”
Lauren’s advice to aspiring conservationists is to volunteer, do internships, get involved in charity and make yourself known. It’s important to be willing and hardworking, but being excited about getting involved is definitely a key attribute.
Take every opportunity that is given to you and try to build a good rapport with managers or those leading conservation efforts because you are then more likely to be remembered and recommended in other places and positions.
Be the change you want to see in the world
So take the next step: volunteer, do the internship, tell a friend, and like Lauren, let’s dissolve the stigma around working in charity and continue to build the way forward for conservation and a sustainable future.
Are you interested in exploring a career in conservation fundraising or eduction? Check out these Conservation Fundraiser and Conservation Educator role profiles. Or, if the sea calls you, download our guide to Marine Conservation Jobs.
Author Profile | Sarah Donaldson
Sarah Donaldson is a medical doctor by profession. After qualifying as an independent general practitioner in South Africa, she relocated to South-East Ireland where she currently provides patient care in a busy emergency department. Sarah’s passion lies in healing and protecting all things vulnerable.