4 Tips for Conservation Graduates Entering the Workforce During the Pandemic
Looking for work after college is never simple.
Graduates must figure out what they want to do, navigate an ever-changing job market, and be strategic in their approach.
This year, acting strategically is especially important. 2020 college graduates are facing a pretty bleak job market due to the novel coronavirus—and they must think outside the box to ride out the pandemic.
With that, here are four strategies for prospective workers in the conservation and natural resource management space:
1. Engage your LinkedIn connections.
Why not form connections now that will serve you in the future?
The first step is to update your LinkedIn profile. Be sure to include a recent headshot, list your most relevant work or volunteer experience, and make sure your educational details are current.
Then, you can start sending cold emails to conservation workers.
Here’s the caveat, though: rather than asking directly for a job, think carefully about what you have to offer. Let your contact know how you can help them, and see where the conversation takes you naturally.
2. Reach out to conservation leaders in your community.
Just like in the above example, the connections you build now will be highly beneficial post-pandemic.
To this end, you may also want to reach out to the conservation organizations in your area directly via email. Spend some time on their websites, get to know them virtually, and then contact those employees whose backgrounds resonate with you.
Aim to be polite and respectful of these workers’ time above all else. And again, rather than simply asking for a job, describe what drew you to their organization in the first place—and highlight why you think you could be a good fit for their needs.
If they’re responsive, and the conversation goes well, you can then request a 10-minute networking conversation via video chat. Who knows? From there, your contact may even recommend you to their circle.
3. Mindfully scour job boards.
There’s a lot of uncertainty in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some professional conservation opportunities are up in the air, so to speak.
Though recent graduates are grappling with a challenging job market, not all is lost.
This is where job boards come in. There are a number of conversation and natural resource management job boards featured online—including those listed directly on the MobilizeGreen website.
So, to jumpstart your green career, don’t hesitate to pursue the internship, resource assistant, youth conservation, or other sustainability-minded job opportunities posted on the internet.
Pro tip: be mindful of the positions you apply for, and curate your cover letter and resume to reflect each one.
Who knows? This could help you land the job you’ve been waiting for.
4. Build your freelance business.
In the current climate, your dream company may not hire you right away—and that’s perfectly okay.
Rather than passively waiting out the pandemic, aim to be proactive. You can leverage your skills in a number of creative ways. If you’re a talented writer, for instance, you may want to launch your freelance profile on a site like Fiverr or Upwork. Similarly, if you have computer programming expertise, you can list your coding services.
By doing so, you can attract a likeminded organization for contract work. This could potentially lead to a full-time conservation position down the road.
Because ultimately, recent graduates looking for work in the conservation and natural resource management sector shouldn’t give up hope during these unprecedented times. There are resources and strategies available while you conduct your job search—and MobilizeGreen is here to help. Please regularly check our website for new programs, project opportunities, and resources.