Top Conservation Careers Advice for Career Switchers

At Conservation Careers we have LOTS of resources to help career switchers like you understand what’s needed to transition your career into nature conservation. You might have a passion for wildlife and want to work in nature conservation, but don’t know where to start? 

We’re here to help you understand the conservation job landscape, where you might fit in – especially with all your lovely transferrable skills – and to help you form a plan of action to make your dream career a reality.

As a result, in this guide, we’ve hand-picked our top resources to help you to get clear about what you can do to switch careers into conservation.

Top Ultimate Guides for career switchers

Our Ultimate Guides give you in-depth answers to your top questions about working in conservation. From the 15 key conservation job types to the top paid and free internships, to how to apply for jobs, you’ll find it here.

As a career switcher, here are our top guides to download…

Ultimate Guide | How to Switch Careers into Conservation. Top ten questions answered. In this detailed guide, we answer the top ten questions we get asked at Conservation Careers by career switchers. We also share advice from some of the key figures in the industry, plus links to free resources. Download. 

Ultimate Guide | Switching Careers into Conservation. We monitored conservation jobs worldwide to give a snapshot of the opportunities for career switchers. Find out what skills are in demand, and how to switch on your conservation career! Download. 

Ultimate Guide | How to apply for a conservation job? Whether you’re applying for your first professional experience or switching careers into conservation, this step-by-step guide will help you write a killer application designed to get you an interview. Download.

Explore our growing selection of Ultimate Guides here.

Top Podcast Episodes for career switchers

Every two weeks we uncover what it’s like to work as a conservationist, and how you can become one too. You can listen and subscribe to the Conservation Careers Podcast on iTunes, Spotify or Stitcher , or search for ‘conservation careers’ and you’ll find us!

As a career switcher, here are our recommended episodes to listen to…

Podcast | Neil Prem, Seven Steps to Purpose. There are many times in our lives when we might find ourselves at crossroads looking for purpose and direction. At these times, we might feel stuck and confused and perhaps we don’t know what to do. And if we do have a sense of what we need to do, we might find ourselves lacking the courage to make it happen. In this special episode of the podcast we’ll help you to get unstuck, discover your dream job and do what matters most. Listen.

See all episodes of the Conservation Careers Podcast here.

Top Interviews for career switchers 

Interview | Switching it up: From astrophysics to Kākāpō conservation. Dr Andrew Digby is a conservation biologist who works for New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. He dedicates his time to saving two of New Zealand’s most vulnerable birds; the Takahē and the Kākāpō, and is the scientific advisor for the two teams responsible for their recovery.  Andrew hasn’t always worked in conservation. Read.

Interview | From farming for profit to farming for wildlife – Advice for career switchers As an RSPB warden in the Norfolk Broads, Matthew is the custodian of one of the rarest fenland habitats in Europe. Many career switchers are hesitant to apply for warden roles, believing they would have to study for a biology degree or learn to identify every species on the reserve to be successful. Read.

Interview | From banking to tropical biology | Switching careers into conservation. Mark Thomas works as Senior Field Staff for Crees Manu – teaching and training the next generation of conservation enthusiasts, dedicated to protecting the Amazon and its people. Mark is from Brighton, London in the UK and after working in a bank for nine years, he decided he wanted something different out of life. Read.

Interview | Lawyer to Conservation Scientist | Joan O’Shaughnessy Joan is a Conservation Scientist who switched from Laywer to managing the Dixon Prairie and the Skokie River Corridor with the Chicago Botanic Garden. Joan bravely decided to leave her stable (if personally unfulfilling) career as an attorney to achieve her dream of working outside, in the elements, with plants. Joan’s story demonstrates that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. Read.

Top Webinars for career switchers

We hold regular conservation webinars and live training events at Conservation Careers. These cover all aspects of career planning within the conservation sector from job hunting and volunteering, to confidence and much more. 

As a career switcher here are our hand-picked top webinars to watch…

Webinar | Land more jobs you love. Do you struggle to sell yourself? Would you like to learn how to convince employers to hire you or show your current employer you can do more? Are you ready to overcome your progress killers? Discover some practical steps to set this right. Watch. 

Webinar | Confidence and Imposter Syndrome. Does fear of failure hold you back from pursuing your dreams? Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong, or weren’t worthy? Are you overly negative or critical of yourself, and worry about what others think? Discover how managing your mind can transform your performance and career. Watch.

Webinar | Postgraduate Training for Conservation Careers. Are you looking for the best postgraduate training to further your conservation career? Do you think you might need to do a Masters, Postgraduate Certificate or similar? During this live event, we spoke to leading Course Directors from Cambridge and Oxford Universities to answer your questions. Watch.

See the latest webinars planned and also watch the recordings of all past events here.

Top Training for career switchers

Do you want to work in conservation but you’re feeling lost, disillusioned or confused?!? Check out our free and fee-based training courses and programmes below, all designed to help you understand the job market, to navigate your career options, and to get hired more quickly.

Free Training | How to get a Conservation Job? Learn how to quickly and easily start your career as a professional wildlife conservationist with Conservation Careers. As a student you’ll learn the golden rule for getting started, the key mistakes to avoid, and answer your biggest questions. Enrol.

Training | Conservation Careers Kick-Starter. Our proven step-by-step system to get clear, get ready, and get hired in the conservation sector. After going through the self-paced course, you’ll have created a personal career plan which will finally give you confidence in your job hunt and will make everything quicker, simpler and more fun! Enrol.

Training | Communications For Conservation Projects. Conservation employers are looking for people with communications skills, with 41% of all jobs explicitly wanting people with communications skills or experience. The goal of this course is to help you confidently be able to plan and deliver effective communications activities; making you more employable, competitive and better at your job. Enrol. 

Training | How to Apply for Any Conservation Job? Stop feeling alone or hopeless in your job search. Join a global community of conservationists using our step-by-step system to help land your dream conservation job! Enrol.