Natural Resource Professionals - Career Advice

[ColoradoBackpackHunter]

I am currently working a dream job in the private sector but less that thrilled with supervisor and in a position that doesn't have any upward mobility if I decide I want to advance my career. I have a job offer on the gov side that will require taking a substantial pay cut for a year in a position I am interested in learning about but would never consider making a career out of with an agency and people that I have worked with and that I really enjoyed working with. I feel like the answer is obvious but I am having reservations about the big change. Has anyone made this jump one way or another and care to share any advice?

 

[WV Mountaineer]

I have a degree in Forest Resources Management. I have worked in government sectors and, the private sectors for over 20 years. Here is the basic reality of working in the Natural Resources.

If you work for the private sector, all the cool stuff you thought you'd be doing while studying the major in college, pretty much doesn't exist. You might focus on some facet of forest ecology, wildlife biology, etc..... in your private sector job but, you aren't going to be managing a complex ecosystem for private owners. With that said, it can be very rewarding. It just isn't going to be a thing that you get to evaluate, implement, and watch your input affect anything but, the interest you've been hired to develop. Which will be singular or, very simply the wishes of the owner.

Working in government used to be pretty cool. You had large ecosystems that needed evaluation, application of practices, and multiple goals to achieve. But, on the negative side, you never got to implement those things due to the bureaucracy of managing an entity that requires public approval or, at the least understanding. One complaint would halt the whole process.

Here is the deal. Private sector employment usually pays better. Not always. But, most times it will. The private sector requires results, will most likely be salary paid, and will most assuredly require more time to achieve the results expected then your compensation pays for. So, all of a sudden, the better pay might not be that much better after giving up half your evenings and weekends to get the job done for the "man". Government jobs are the opposite. You go to work, work your day out, and go home. No phone calls, late evening or weekend meetings with property owners, or a boss that just wants results no matter the variables. Your year end reviews won't be subject to company woes, markets, or a host of other things out of your control.

The most condensed and accurate way of saying all this would be to remember that money is important. But, it ain't everything. I've made a lot of money in some private sector jobs but, couldn't take a weeks vacation to enjoy it. It seems most employers think the more they pay you, the more they get to own you. And, I've made pathetic money in government jobs but, could take 5-6 weeks off. It seems local government and state level jobs expect your spouse to be a doctor of some sorts because they pay about what a walmart teller makes. Fed jobs are sweet but, if you are not a minority or a women,it is hard to get those jobs. I'm an idiot for quitting the one I had. But, big money and, the inside need to see results from my work lured me away. You just gotta decide whats more important. Good luck finding a middle ground that fits you well. God Bless

 

[Boudreaux]

I think it depends on what agency and what you are interested in, management, regulations, directive or research.

There are a few things that I agree with @WV Mountaineer with, but there are a few that I really disagree with.

I am a govt employee and have been for a few years now. The agency you are in and what job you are looking at has an influence on how your job will be. In my position, I am in the field almost every day, I have a lot of direct hands on with wildlife while also developing management plans and executing them. I work some long days and nights and am on call 24/7. The great thing is I get to set my hours, I can work when I want as long as I get my 80hrs a pay period.

Most of it depends on what agency and the position. Those two things are what influence a govt job the most in my mind.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

I think you misunderstood my post. Or, maybe I didn't do a good job of explaining it. But, from my known intent, I'm petty sure we are saying pretty much the exact same thing in that the position will dictate the extent in which your work will be influential.

 

[gwl79902]

I worked in both and now am 1 year from retirement is the public sector. I am happy to have done what I did and in a year I will be even happier.

Working in the public sector is not all roses and yes I work long hour, almost every weekend, get calls on my time off, get stopped in the store to get a ear full from someone, but there is a payoff.

Gov retirement is not what it was but it still is damn good and the long game is an angle you may want to realy look at.

 

[ColoradoBackpackHunter]

From my experience in my limited career the private sector side pays more upfront but the chance of moving up the ladder so to speak and increase pay is limited. The job does have less flexibility and I do get a lot more hands on application and action rather than the latter as you brought up WV. I worked as a wildlife tech with the FS and realized it was a completely different world I wasn't used to. The benefits of vacation time, retirement, ability to move into other positions elsewhere is very appealing to me as well as the relative stability. My only fear is that my current job will become my "glory days" that I look back on as I manage a program from my desk. I appreciate the input and will be making a decision here within the week.

 

[gwl79902]

You will look back on the tech time as the glory days because it is great work. But low pay, family, aspirations, and such makes most move up. By moving up you will generally move to a desk.

That is why I went into enforcement, keeps me in the field. Generally you can make good money without promoting and keep doing what makes you happy and if you are happy you generally will do well.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

Government jobs usually have more time in the field then the private sector. At least as much in my experience. Yes, it has its requirements of paper work and due diligence but, it isn't the same as a private sector job. Your supervisor or department head will insist that you put a day per week or, some amount of allotted time to be in the office for such requirements. Its expected and required. Which sure beats 12-15 hour days working for a company and, then having to do that in the evenings after your kids go to bed. I also sure got my fair share of people's opinion on the job I was doing while doing government work. Most wasn't nice either. For some reason, every time a tree gets cut on state or federal land, or a ton of coal gets mined, most everybody that doesn't like it feels compelled to tell you how bad that is and, how you need to be doing a better job.

All in all, you gotta decide. Government work can be very fulfilling if its the right job. Benefits are hard to beat. And, compensation on the federal level is good for the most part. State pay can be unrealistically low. You just have to analyze things. For me, hindsight is 20/20. Coming from a guy that has made well into 6 figures for the private sector, to less $350/week 20 years ago working government jobs, I wish I had stayed with a compromise of decent pay, huge time off versus where I am at now. Living life as it happens is important because no one is guaranteed tomorrow. One bout with a serious illness can erase a lot of effort to invest in the future when you are making really good money. So, if you can make it on the government wage, I'd really have to consider doing it if it allowed enough money to enjoy life some.

Sorry to get long winded but, it is something I wanted to make sure you were aware of it.

 

[ColoradoBackpackHunter]

I appreciate the input tremendously. I’m really stuck on it. I know the government side is the right choice for me given the future opportunity but I love my job right now. It’s good pay but poor benefits and has a very uncertain future in terms of stability. I’m sure I will take the opportunity because it’s right choice even if it doesn’t feel quite right at the moment.

 

[ColoradoBackpackHunter]

Just to clarify some of my hangup...I’m currently working as a wildlife biologist and that has been my path for the past few years but am going to transition into rangeland type work until I get my time in grade to move into another Biologist position

 

[SouthernWyo]

You would be surprised how much wildlife habitat management you can get done in a rangeland management position. In our office the range staff completes the vast majority of the wildlife habitat management while the wildlife staff occupies their time with regulating oil and gas development and tends to obstruct habitat management projects and treatments. The dynamic varies by office, state, agency, etc.

I tend to agree with most of what WVMountaineer stated, with the exception that 40 hour weeks and being free from work phone, email, etc., in the evenings, weekends, and other days off, are the exception, depending on the position.