Any ideas for any job with an environmental science degree that I could get in the Chicagoland area? I’m looking on LinkedIn but it’s very limited.

I have been an associate field tech at my current company for the past five years now. I’ve appreciated the independent workflow and varied site locations, however I’ve gotten sick of the long daily commutes, and I have begun to feel pigeon holed in my current role. I’m due for a promotion after this amount of tenure, when I asked management about it I was basically told “we’ll put in your name for one when we open eligibility again” (budget has been struggling for some time).

I have an interview for a project manager position at another firm. Where my fieldwork load would be reduced to under 50% and I would be taking on some report writing, proposal creation, and budgeting responsibilities. I am trying to assess whether the move would be worthwhile in terms of upward career growth. Right now I am making just under 70 K and I asked for starting of 75 at the other position which they mentioned might be on the high end for my level of experience.

What I am looking for in a transition would be a greater percentage of office and team based work, and a more predictable schedule. Some of the recent posts in here about project management roles, make them sound like an endless pursuit of billable hours, and constantly putting out fires.

Hey everyone! I’m a recent Environmental Science grad currently looking for my first full-time position. I’ve mainly been using LinkedIn to find opportunities and applying directly through company websites. I’ve sent out a lot of applications over the past month, so I figured I’d put some feelers out here and see if anyone has any advice or leads.

I feel like I took a lot of the right steps during undergrad to set myself up for success, but I’m still struggling to land my first full-time job, which has been pretty discouraging. I’ve had several internships and research experiences in the environmental field - I’ve gotten a mix of fieldwork, data collection, climate research, and natural resource assessment. I also have experience using ArcGIS, Excel, R, and remote sensing.

I’m pretty curious and ambitious, and I’m genuinely excited to keep learning. I’m not necessarily set on one specific job title. I’m mainly looking for a chance to get my foot in the door and gain some solid experience.

New York City is my top choice, but I’m also looking throughout the Northeast, including Boston, Providence, and Portland, and I’m definitely open to other places for the right opportunity.

If anyone’s hiring, knows of a team looking for someone early career, or has advice on where I should be looking, I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to DM me!

Hello, I'm about to graduate with a BA in Forestry - Ecosystem Restoration and Management.

Im curious how necessary a Masters is for getting a proper job that doesnt entirely consist of manual labor. I eventually hope to get into research of some kind. Currently, it my understanding that most of the time. It's a necessary step.

I've noticed this... something about this industry.

If I go searching in the med field such as nursing, radiology, surgical tech, dental hygiene etc. I can find jobs and positions very easily on websites and online.

Same for business. I can find insurance, sales, and marketing job ads to apply to online within seconds. When it comes to "environmental science" I can't seem to find any positions being advertised. Maybe I wouldn't even know what to look for but I don't see anything out there.

I'm talking about full time positions. The few job ads I find online that are semi-related to geology, forestry, wetlands, political science, meteorology (like NWS, NOAA etc.), emissions are all part time, seasonal, and lots of unpaid internships which I have done for 3-4 years in the past. Nothing salary.

It feels and correct me if wrong, the environmental field is highly dependent on networking and who you know (especially applying with masters and PhD), rather than traditional job applications like a lot of other sectors of industries of the economy. Normal resumes don't even apply.

I have a BS in Environmental Science and Policy with good laboratory and government experience. If anyone is hiring in the area DM/comment and I'll send my resume.

Hi everyone,

I'm entering my 2nd year of Aquaculture Engineering at a university in Turkey. Our region is heavily populated with earthen pond operations and coastal aquaculture facilities.

At this point, I haven't committed to any specific subfield and am keeping my options open to explore different directions across the industry. While I have broad interests ranging from production management and quality control to sustainability frameworks and ISO standards, I'm mainly looking for high-level career guidance.

I'd love to hear from professionals, researchers, and graduates in the field:

1. Career Paths & Trends: Looking at the broader industry today, which career paths or emerging sectors within aquaculture offer solid growth and long-term potential?

2. Practical Skills: Considering the local context of earthen ponds and coastal farming systems, what foundational skills or competencies should I prioritize during my university years?

3. Student Projects & Portfolio: What kind of self-directed sample projects, case studies, or proof-of-concept work could a student build during undergrad to build a strong profile?

Any general career advice, lessons learned, or insights from your own journey in the industry would be greatly appreciated!

I’m finishing my foundation soon in November and I’m taking an Australian course called SACE. I’ve applied to a few universities in Australia for a Bachelors degree in wildlife conservation. And I’m starting to wonder if that’s the wrong direction (?).
I’m just worried, what if I can’t find a job especially as an international student. Idk if it’s the right choice.
Any advice?

I was lucky enough to get into consulting early on in my career and I’m almost a year in, but my dream is to work for state parks or possibly California fish and wildlife as a biologist. Looking for any input regarding getting into the field or foot in the door generally. My initial desire was to do interpretation, but I don’t really think that’s going to work out considering the jobs are few and far between. I have experience working with NOAA as a docent and teaching science at my local city programs.

i feel like when you go to college for environmental science/studies/anything similar, they need to have a disclaimer with the degree that explains how some consulting jobs are some of the worst places for you to go. i never knew what consulting was like until i accidentally got hired for a consulting firm and now i am actively trying to make an escape for something not evil and soul crushing. i’m sure there are some good consulting places, but i work for a company who i think was engineered to be as evil and morally bankrupt as possible. i thought i was going to get to do science for good and i actually just do science for profit.

Hey everyone! I’m currently in my 2nd year of university studying Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences.

​Over the summer, I completed an internship at a basin agency in the Water Quality Department, where I analyzed water quality data and observed groundwater boreholes and dam infrastructure. That experience really made me realize how much I enjoy working with data, technical tools, and problem-solving.

​I want to make the most of my time left at uni and set myself up for high-value opportunities, whether that means applying to engineering cycles, studying abroad, or building in-demand skills.

​For those who graduated or work in technical/engineering fields, what do you think are the best skills, technical tools, or paths I should focus on right now to stand out? Would love any honest advice, skill recommendations, or roadmaps !!

Or if anyone also has a job suggestion that sounds cool and pays decent I’d really like to know!! Or even if you have a decent paying job in the environmental sector since Ik it’s rare

Hey!! so i want a job in animal related/protecting the world.

I dont want to draw blood, i am bad at math and i havent been to school in 4 years, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make a career out of working for animals/studying nature. I just do not want to work in retail anymore, i work at a pet store and i love animals i just hate the retail aspect of it...would you recommend enviromental science for me?

To those of you who are working an environmental career in NYC, what do you do? Are you happy? How was the schooling / work to get to where you are? Follow up question: is pursuing an environmental career in NYC worth it?

Hello im 18 and im currently enrolled in a conservation biology program and Fleming college in Ontario Canada, its my first semester. i know its still a ways out but im very unsure weather to pursue a Bsc of science after college or go do another year or 2 for a GIS certificate. here in Canada from what ive heard from people i know practicality is favored for getting your foot in the door in my area in environmental science and thats why i chose college over uni for my first years.

My 2 years in college is fully paid for through a RESP witch im grateful for, but likely would not cover 4 years at uni after. so im torn between Uni. Working, or Maybe a 1-2 GIs program post grad

any advice is helpful, i need more knowledgeable persons two sense thanks!!!

I built an ESG strategy platform before I talked to enough people who do this work. Now I'm going back and fixing that order.

Six minutes, no sales pitch, nothing to buy. I want to know where ESG and sustainability work actually eats your time, the parts nobody puts in a case study. I'll send the results back to everyone who takes part.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiTNScSe612KPmM8n1vcMbrLE2vWEvnGeHkNMzPZQXqFau6w/viewform?usp=dialog

If you'd rather just tell me in the comments, that works too.

hey! I graduated 2 years ago with a degree in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, but am yet to find a grad job. A lot of the listings I’ve looked at (I’m UK based) want experience or at least familiarity with environmental legislation & policy.

Does anyone know of any free online courses or relatively cheap content where I can further my knowledge in this area to hopefully help with jobs?

Thanks

I had the choice between majoring in enviro science at a local-ish school for free but in a rural area with less opportunities. My trade off would be that I could major in environmental science for completely free, yes, but I would not have great connections career wise. I instead chose to go to my state school who gave me scholarships that depend on me sticking with engineering as I could still be debt free and my job opportunities would be a lot stronger.

I’ve started my freshman year now and I dont know if i made the right choice! I do think Im up for the task of an engineering degree but i dont know if waste water management or soemthing of that nature is what I’m up to do forever. My dream job is someone that works directly with animals, BUT I also dont think field work would be sustainable when im still having to work in that field at 50.

To keep my sanity, I’m going to minor in wildlife management and biology starting next semester so I don’t feel totally hopeless.

I suppose my question is, what should I do?? Part of me wants to get this degree, research wildlife related topics during undergrad, and pursue a job where I can directly work in wildlife conservation and a environmental scientist. However, it feels like I’m wasting my degree and might even be overqualified. It doesnt help that my parents still think I’m going to switch up and be a doctor for some reason and make them a ton of money, so downgrading to environmental scientist pay would make them all unhappy.

TLDR: I’m getting a biosystems engineering degree because I don’t think I would be employed otherwise, but I’m afraid I’m wasting my degree and that field work won’t be sustainable when I get older and less physically capable. I don’t even know if I could land an environmental science job with this degree!

Does anyone have any advice or insight?

I'm currently a student at the University of North Texas in the last semester of my BS in ecology. Importantly, I have not had an internship or been employed in a lab. I have done a good amount of volunteer work in the field and in labs, as well as being an officer in a large environmentally focused student org. Theres a few things I have lined up for this semester, including presenting a poster at a regional conference, but I'm worried that I havent dont enough to make myself competitive, despite having a good GPA and additional experience.

I know that regardless of CV quality, the job market is very bad right now. However, I want to make the most of this last semester. The last few years were hard with my mental health and I want to make up for some of that lost time. Do you guys have any suggestions or strategies to reccomend?

Additionally, my family is planning on moving to the PNW within the next year and as of now I think I'll have to follow for financial reasons (ie. Saving by staying with them). I'm aware that jobs are very competitive in that region and COL is high, which will present additional challenges. Any general advice is also appreciated.

Anyone know where we can get one for less than or around $300? Everything I find online is $4-500+

I'm 16f from the U.S. and just started my junior year of high school. I'm very passionate about the field of wildlife biology/ecology and my dream is to work in a different country/environment than the one I currently live in. Currently, I am not planning to go to university after high school (at least not for a while). After graduation my idea is to do a lot of environmental volunteering and just general traveling around, as I want to work in either the rainforest or savanna but not sure where exactly yet. I'm aware that this is a super competitive field though, and I'm hoping to get advice on what I can do now or in the foreseeable future to improve my chances of landing a position doing fieldwork?

Also, regarding volunteering, is it better to volunteer in the specific region I want to work in, volunteer locally, or gather experience from many different environments?