What does it take to be successful in wildlife careers?
You might be thinking:
- Lots of experience in far away places
- Having a strong network of top scientists and other wildlife professionals
- Knowing GIS like a pro
- Courses in wildlife handling, trapping, and tracking
- Having a Master’s or Ph.D.
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Some of those things *do* help (others don’t even help much!), but they still are not getting at the core of what it REALLY takes to be successful in a wildlife career.
You see, those things are the results of first having the mindset that this career is not just possible for you, but what you are destined and dedicated to do. In other words, even if you have the things listed above, but don’t have the strong mindset, you won’t have the wherewithal to keep going when things get hard.
And this career is HARD. One thing I don’t do is shy away from the realities of this career (but that also doesn’t mean I don’t think you can’t do it!)
I first started out wanting to become an actress, but was always uncomfortable with the high level of risk and rejection associated with acting careers. I was relieved to find wildlife biology, not only because I loved it, but I felt a huge weight lifted off of me knowing that I could get a “regular” job that paid a steady income instead of waiting tables by day and getting unpaid in community theater while trying to break through after an endless amounts of auditions.
But it turns out, careers in wildlife are a lot like those in acting!
Compared to how many people are out there, positions are few and competition is therefore high. Rejection from not only jobs, but also grants and publications is part of many careers. To gain experience, people work for years in unpaid or poorly paid temp work.
To deal with all of those realities, your mindset, combined with other factors outlined in this podcast, is truly key for success in getting a permanent job that you love. When you have the right mindset in place to be able to handle all of the competition and rejection, you will succeed no matter what because you will find a way.
In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I dive deep into the core attitudes and mindsets that separate those who thrive in wildlife careers from those who struggle and never secure permanent jobs or are unhappy with the jobs that they have. I talk about developing an unstoppable mindset, being willing to invest in yourself, and how to creatively overcome obstacles. I share personal stories – like my experiences at Disney World and working with elephants – to illustrate these points.
Specifically, I go over:
- The importance of developing an “ensure your own success” mindset
- Creative ways to fund your professional development
- Ways to overcome ego and embrace all aspects of the job
- How necessary making sacrifices is for your goals
- Using community science as a way to gain volunteer experience when official opportunities are scarce
- Practices to maximize every opportunity to learn
- How to take 100% responsibility for your results
- And MORE!!
Remember, success in wildlife careers isn’t just about technical skills – it’s about who you BECOME in the process.
