I will be working mostly with the monkeys. This seems crazy as I am a big cat person, but, monkeys are fascinating and ever since I cuddled baby baboons in Namibia last year, they definitely have a bit of my heart. On the project I will be tracking and recording data for Chacma Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Samango Monkeys , Thick-tailed Bushbabies and Southern Lesser Bushbabies along with understanding how predation by Leopards and Hyenas affect the populations.
The idea of spending 3 months in the African Mountains is a little daunting, to say the least, but it's going to be an amazing adventure. On the plus side once I return at Christmas I will have a nice tan.
Now that I have found all my placements I decided that it maybe nice to share what I have learnt with you all. This doesn't only apply to people who are in biological sciences, everyone should be able to find some useful information; whether that it is what I have learnt from the whole experience or using some of the websites I found useful to aid you in finding work abroad!
So lets begin...
1. When companies and charities come into your university, ATTEND! This is how I first heard about the Chester Zoo programme. Going and speaking to the people who are part of the application process doesn't just help you understand the role that you are applying for but it also means you can mention who you met if you get called for interviews.
2. If you meet someone remember who they are!! I have had problems when trying to remember who I have met and what their role is. Take a notepad with you, even if it is just to write down there name and role in the business.
3. Get connected. Everyone always makes out that this is a hard thing to do and it certainly may seem daunting but it isn't difficult. Without realising it you are connected to all of your parents' friends and their friends families, your friends and the people they know, as well as all the staff in your university. The majority of the connections may be useless BUT there will be some good ones in there! When I was interviewed for Trentham Monkey Forest, although I didn't gain the job, I would never had known about it if I hadn't spoken to my old year 11 head of year, whose son was the manager there. It is incredible who you can find by just asking your older friends and family questions. Likelihood is, even if you don't have something come of it straight away, you may do in the future.
4. Put yourself out there. Last summer when I went to Namibia (and started my blog, doesn't time fly) I took the risk to go out there on my own and it is to date, the best thing I have ever done. Namibia offered me so much experience and was a crash course in showing me many different elements of conservation in Africa. It also helped me to get to know the staff there at the time. Since then, one of the Researchers there, Matt, passed my details on to Paradise Park, who are partnered with the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, and hence, how I found out about them and now have a placement there from April next year. I would have never known anything about theme if I hadn't met the people I did in Africa.
5. Take a risk. Yes, this is referring to my Africa placement that I have just gained, because it certainly is a risk, and I can't wait to take it. I had scoured the internet for hours and hours finding different projects in different countries, trying to find something that fitted and would be in the guidelines of my placement (not allowed to pay the place to go bar living and food) and it felt like every place had many ups but many downs, including some requiring at least 9-12 months which was infeasible for me having already obtained my 2 placements in the UK. It was after lots of searching I came across a website with monkey positions and consequently found my placement. I very nearly didn't even apply as it is part of Durham University so I assumed that they may only take students from there, but I was wrong. Sometimes even if you think its unlikely its worth applying for the hell of it.
6. Gain as much experience as possible! Before Easter a man came in to talk to Biological Science Students about ecological surveying and I was amazed at how many students didn't attend. The talk was by Brooks Ecological and at the end of the talk we were told that if we sent in an email, they would connect us when they needed help with surveys, providing training for us and also experience. This, to me, is a "no brainer", for people who don't know what to do, or even if you do, volunteering one night a week to learn a new technique that may help you in the future is surely one of the most valuable things to do. So far I have attended a Newt Survey which was really interesting and I cannot wait to do another in the upcoming weeks.
7. Stay positive. I know its obvious, but I must have sent over 30 emails out to ecological firms and African wildlife parks last September and I don't think I heard back from any of them! I also had a really good interview but failed to get the job because there were lots of good applicants. Staying positive is often hard but if you don't believe you can obtain the placement, the company certainly aren't going to offer you one.
Lastly, for the biologists and zoologists, here are a list of websites that I used throughout my time of finding placements and some placements that I wish I had applied for...
http://www.environmentjob.co.uk/volunteering
Volunteer Dodo Page( slightly different to environmentjobs.co.uk)
Organutan long term placements
Info on how to gain careers in conservation
For work with Cheetahs
A primate project
TONS of Primate jobs, interships and research assistant opportunities
A blog just for Zoo Jobs
Conservation Jobs & Internships, mainly in America
Volunteer with Marine Life in the UK
Guides to Careers in Animal Behaviour
Jobs and research help in Animal Behaviour
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