Chester Zoo Biodiversity Trainee Job 1 year Contract - closing date 7th Jan 2011

[karoocheetah]

sorry it's a bit short notice but the following Job advert was sent out to the zoo volunteers recently and mentioned in the local newspapers too - if anyone is interested please apply quickly and details are shown below....

BIODIVERSITY TRAINEE
Fixed term contract 1 year​

Chester Zoo, one of Europe’s leading Zoological collections, along with RECORD and Cheshire Wildlife Trust, are working together to provide training placements giving diverse work experience in the UK wildlife heritage sector.
This new project is designed to provide unique experiences within the field of native biodiversity conservation and is possible due to generous funding from Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future scheme. The successful applicant will be required to complete assignments and obtain recognised qualifications as well as undertake practical training over 12 months in the broad areas of:
• Species identification and biodiversity recording
• Habitat and species conservation and management
• Environmental education and interpretation
The successful applicant will have a BSc in a biological, conservation or environmental related discipline or equivalent. They will have some experience in the practical training areas highlighted above (in a voluntary or paid capacity). The successful applicant will have good standards of literacy and numeracy. They will have an intermediate knowledge of computers and be conversant in Microsoft Office packages. The successful applicant will be highly organised, have good communication skills and be able to manage self and workload effectively. They will be able to work as part of a team.
The successful candidate will ideally have the ability to present information clearly. They will have an interest and enthusiasm for wildlife. The successful candidate will ideally be able to use their own initiative and be self motivated.
Hours are 35 hours per week worked from 9 – 5 over Monday to Friday, to include some evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Travel is required around Cheshire and a full driving licence and your own vehicle is essential. Salary is £12,000 per annum. Criminal Record Bureau checks will be made for this post.
For further details about this role please see the Application Pack. To apply please download our application form or contact the recruitment line on 01244 389477 or recruitment@chesterzoo.org.
Applications will only be taken from people resident and eligible to work in the UK. Closing date for applications is 7th January 2011 and this is a two stage recruitment process. An initial group assessment will take place on 26th January and interviews will take place on 9th February, with trainees beginning their placements in March 2011.

 

[Javan Rhino]

sorry it's a bit short notice but the following Job advert was sent out to the zoo volunteers recently and mentioned in the local newspapers too - if anyone is interested please apply quickly and details are shown below....

BIODIVERSITY TRAINEE
Fixed term contract 1 year​

Chester Zoo, one of Europe’s leading Zoological collections, along with RECORD and Cheshire Wildlife Trust, are working together to provide training placements giving diverse work experience in the UK wildlife heritage sector.
This new project is designed to provide unique experiences within the field of native biodiversity conservation and is possible due to generous funding from Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future scheme. The successful applicant will be required to complete assignments and obtain recognised qualifications as well as undertake practical training over 12 months in the broad areas of:
• Species identification and biodiversity recording
• Habitat and species conservation and management
• Environmental education and interpretation
The successful applicant will have a BSc in a biological, conservation or environmental related discipline or equivalent. They will have some experience in the practical training areas highlighted above (in a voluntary or paid capacity). The successful applicant will have good standards of literacy and numeracy. They will have an intermediate knowledge of computers and be conversant in Microsoft Office packages. The successful applicant will be highly organised, have good communication skills and be able to manage self and workload effectively. They will be able to work as part of a team.
The successful candidate will ideally have the ability to present information clearly. They will have an interest and enthusiasm for wildlife. The successful candidate will ideally be able to use their own initiative and be self motivated.
Hours are 35 hours per week worked from 9 – 5 over Monday to Friday, to include some evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Travel is required around Cheshire and a full driving licence and your own vehicle is essential. Salary is £12,000 per annum. Criminal Record Bureau checks will be made for this post.
For further details about this role please see the Application Pack. To apply please download our application form or contact the recruitment line on 01244 389477 or recruitment@chesterzoo.org.
Applications will only be taken from people resident and eligible to work in the UK. Closing date for applications is 7th January 2011 and this is a two stage recruitment process. An initial group assessment will take place on 26th January and interviews will take place on 9th February, with trainees beginning their placements in March 2011.

For a £12,000 a year trainee job you need to educate yourself to BSc level - I'd be suprised if you didn't need a Masters degree in retail to get a seasonal job in the gift shop

 

[Maguari]

For a £12,000 a year trainee job you need to educate yourself to BSc level - I'd be suprised if you didn't need a Masters degree in retail to get a seasonal job in the gift shop

In fairness, this isn't comparable to a seasonal gift shop job - it's a scientific trainee position and with only a year they need to make sure they don't have to spend too much time getting people up to speed.

However, what is always frustrating with these jobs are the experience requirements - there's a 'Catch-22' situation where it's very hard to get ecology experiemce without ecology experience unless you're able to volunteer. Which can be hard if you've no vehicle and/or need to earn a living.

 

[Javan Rhino]

In fairness, this isn't comparable to a seasonal gift shop job - it's a scientific trainee position and with only a year they need to make sure they don't have to spend too much time getting people up to speed.

However, what is always frustrating with these jobs are the experience requirements - there's a 'Catch-22' situation where it's very hard to get ecology experiemce without ecology experience unless you're able to volunteer. Which can be hard if you've no vehicle and/or need to earn a living.

Exactly, it is difficult to volunteer without transport (or even with, depending on volunteer hours, because you'd need a 'real' job which may conflict. As for the seasonal staff, I was just making a little joke about how Chester are always asking for some qualification or another, where most other places have positions where you can learn/take courses on the job (which seems better all around, the problem being I can't get to these places). Trotters were after a carnivore keeper and it didn't have ANY requirements, I don't even recall a mention of experience being essential, just preferred. And to be fair, the fact that this is a 'trainee' position seems to say from the out that this is the sort of job where you'll learn everying on the job

I'm not having a go at Chester, of course they can afford to be picky with who they employ. I just sometimes find it a little frustrating that Education seems to be the only the one way into any keeping/animal related, whereas anywhere else has several paths depending on the job (eductaion, experience, train on the job). My two cents

Just a quick edit: I've just looked on BIAZA and found at least 3 well known collections that don't require the qualifications - and one of them is London :O

http://www.biaza.org.uk/public/pages/jobs/jobDetail.asp?jobID=778

http://www.biaza.org.uk/public/pages/jobs/jobDetail.asp?jobID=770

http://www.biaza.org.uk/public/pages/jobs/jobDetail.asp?jobID=777 - okay, so the third one does require a qualification, but nothing anywhere near as major as what Chester ask for, and that isn't even trainee. (On a good note, it mentions working with MUSK OX )

 

[zelda]

I think you can safely assume though that with the trainee salary at london being higher then the salary for the job at edinburgh asking for city and guilds (done on the job) and the recent senior keeper position at twycross, that they will have some pretty experienced people applying for the position and if you have no qualifications or experience then you won't get a look in despite it being advertised as trainee.

I would imagine that the lack of specifications in their advert is to give them a bit more wriggle room if they're wanting to employ a particular volunteer.

Zoo keeping is also very very different to the job chester is advertising. Many ecology jobs are similalarly low paid with high requirements in terms of qualifications. Doesn't make it right, but that's life.

 

[Maguari]

Zoo keeping is also very very different to the job chester is advertising. Many ecology jobs are similalarly low paid with high requirements in terms of qualifications. Doesn't make it right, but that's life.

Absolutely; whatever the rights and wrongs of zookeeping entrance requirements, this is not a zookeeping job but an ecology job and I don't think asking for a BSc is unreasonable.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Absolutely; whatever the rights and wrongs of zookeeping entrance requirements, this is not a zookeeping job but an ecology job and I don't think asking for a BSc is unreasonable.

Fair play, I was just having a moan and went off-topic . Just going back to keeping for a moment though to add 1 point, I know when some places advertise trainee keepers then they won't look twice at people with all of the major qualifications, because they are after somebody that THEY can train in THEIR ways and methods (or at least I think that's sometimes the case). Anyway, back to the topic

 

[Panthera Puss]

For a £12,000 a year trainee job you need to educate yourself to BSc level - I'd be suprised if you didn't need a Masters degree in retail to get a seasonal job in the gift shop

Getting paid at all for this sort of post-graduate training is bite-their-hand-off attractive.

The requirements don't look that daunting for someone with the right degree, and there will be many people out there who have put the work in to get to the right place.

On the other hand, with so much self-funded study, long unpaid internships, etc etc expected these days, there's a danger that we'll go back to the days when only the kids with rich funding parents will have a chance to achieve anything (arguably it was always the same and nothing has changed).

 

[Javan Rhino]

Getting paid at all for this sort of post-graduate training is bite-their-hand-off attractive.

The requirements don't look that daunting for someone with the right degree, and there will be many people out there who have put the work in to get to the right place.

On the other hand, with so much self-funded study, long unpaid internships, etc etc expected these days, there's a danger that we'll go back to the days when only the kids with rich funding parents will have a chance to achieve anything (arguably it was always the same and nothing has changed).

Exactly the point. I am more than willing to put the work in, and indeed I put quite a lot of time into self-researching using a variety of mediums. The problem: Funding for the education. Of course, there are bursaries etc, but it in no way covers everything. Even with the tuition fees paid (if they are fully) there is then transport (I know Reasheath has its own bus, but not sure of price - I looked briefly at photography and the bus would have been £15 a week), sometimes food, personal money for days out, dvds, etc (not essential, but 5 years at least when you have collage AND uni is a long time to go without having any money to yourself), money to pay for things like birthdays, christmas etc, later on when it comes to Uni we can add accomodation, food and other needed shopping to that, in some cases bills (tv license, electric, phone etc). I could take one thing out of that lot probably, and that is personal money, but any bursaries I've seen would barely scratch it still.

 

[Little Lion Man]

Maguari has hit the nail on the head hear. No where in the job description is there a mention of working with the animal collection at Chester this is not a Zoological job. This is field work in natural habitats.

Also anyone thinking they can get a job at a huge collection like Chester with zero qualifications and zero experience is very naive. Zoology roles in any capacity get huge numbers of applicants. You really need to stand out of the crowd with experience and qualifications to get even a trainee role.

My advise is working on your cv and get some experience at where ever you can. Even farm stock or a pet shop is better than nothing. Sorry if I have burst any bubbles!

 

[Javan Rhino]

Maguari has hit the nail on the head hear. No where in the job description is there a mention of working with the animal collection at Chester this is not a Zoological job. This is field work in natural habitats.

Also anyone thinking they can get a job at a huge collection like Chester with zero qualifications and zero experience is very naive. Zoology roles in any capacity get huge numbers of applicants. You really need to stand out of the crowd with experience and qualifications to get even a trainee role.

My advise is working on your cv and get some experience at where ever you can. Even farm stock or a pet shop is better than nothing. Sorry if I have burst any bubbles!

Not at all - I have tried to get into such roles but nobody is interested in taking on (can't afford to volunteer, things cost too much ). I see that it's not working with the collection at Chester as well, I was just talking about keeping jobs because that is the area that frustrates me in needing the quals. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is no reason training on the job cannot be provided. Am I any less educated and able if I don't have a piece of paper telling me how educated I am?

Anyway, let's draw a line under all of this, it's gotten well off-topic

 

[mazfc]

With jobs like this being like gold dust I've no doubt there are a lot of people looking at the advert thinking theycant believe they are getting paid for it, instead of being asked to intern.

It terms of gaining experience I firmly believe where there's a will there's a way, anyone who wants it badly will try their hardest to overcome obstacles.

I'm sure most places must try to balance out practical experience of staff with those with higher qualifications. There is a place for bit of them and I'm sure a balance is best.

 

[Javan Rhino]

With jobs like this being like gold dust I've no doubt there are a lot of people looking at the advert thinking theycant believe they are getting paid for it, instead of being asked to intern.

It terms of gaining experience I firmly believe where there's a will there's a way, anyone who wants it badly will try their hardest to overcome obstacles.

I'm sure most places must try to balance out practical experience of staff with those with higher qualifications. There is a place for bit of them and I'm sure a balance is best.

Yup, I will hold my hands up and say I didn't properly read the opening post. I remember reading the advert a month or so back and obviously forgot what most of it was about - in this case I can see the need with it only being temp. I think when I can drive it will open up many doors for me in terms of experience etc, and it will also help in the case of getting to some other collections (Knowsley, Welsh Mountain or Blackpool being the nearest I think). A quick question about experience in animal care, does it have to be at a certain place, or would you qualify as 'having experience' if you had, say, a large collection of reptiles for about 3 or 4 years (I don't, but I'm starting my private collection with newts and pythons soon (hopefully in the next couple of months, and I'm planning on building up from there).

Everybody, can you please forgive me for my tantrum

 

[OrangePerson]

Not at all - I have tried to get into such roles but nobody is interested in taking on (can't afford to volunteer, things cost too much )

Maybe you have to find a balance between doing something totally irrelevant, that you possibly even hate, part-time, to fund volunteering at something that will help you get the future you want. It's not easy but it depends how much you really want it!

 

[Javan Rhino]

Maybe you have to find a balance between doing something totally irrelevant, that you possibly even hate, part-time, to fund volunteering at something that will help you get the future you want. It's not easy but it depends how much you really want it!

Now the New Year is here I'm going to try much harder to get something, at least get one step forward to doing something that's a part of my dream

 

[zelda]

Fair play, I was just having a moan and went off-topic . Just going back to keeping for a moment though to add 1 point, I know when some places advertise trainee keepers then they won't look twice at people with all of the major qualifications, because they are after somebody that THEY can train in THEIR ways and methods (or at least I think that's sometimes the case). Anyway, back to the topic

I would suggest that places that do that are slightly dodgy. To not want their employees to know the most recent research and knowlege about a subject suggests that they don't want to be questioned about old fashioned methods. Now not wanting people with experience at another zoo I could understand. People thinking that they know everything when they've just picked up bad habits are dangerous. But to not want qualified people for the reason you listed above is odd. The only reason they may not want certain qualifications for an entry level job is if they're scared the people may leave as soon as they get a better job.

And I don't want to sound like I'm getting at you but "I can't afford to volunteer" sorry that's rubbish. People can always afford to do some sort of volunteering. You're still at school? get a saturday job and volunteer on sundays. In holidays work full time and volunteer on your days off. That show dedication as well as getting experience. As Lion man says - not just zoos, any animal care. The key is learning from others and being reliable. A private collection will be valued but only up to a certain extent as they have no idea how good you are at looking after your pets. Work experience gives you references.
I work in a competative field but I volunteered all through school and uni so when I graduated with my masters I was able to walk straight into a job as opposed to looking at volunteering full time for months to get experience. I had to do this as I couldn't afford to be unemployed for a block of time.

If you're serious about not wanting to study (and I do think it's a choice, if you wanted to do it you would take out a student loan, which you only pay back once you're earning over a certain amount) then you need to make up for it by getting experience. You can't just expect to be just given a job and trained if you haven't demonstrated that you're really commited one way or another.

I started this post before I finished reading the thread, so I am aware of your new years resolution and just want to reiterate that I'm not getting you, this is just a general rant at people who don't volunteer. Even as an adult with a family I find time to volunteer. People say they don't have time and that's very rarely the case - they just don't want to enough.

 

[Panthera Puss]

At the risk of sounding like a well-known Monty Python sketch, when I used to volunteer at a zoo I cycled 11 miles there and back, and occasionally had to wade thigh-deep through freezing river water when my route was flooded in winter! The point is, it wasn't a chore as such - I did it because I loved it, and I'd give my right arm (metaphorically) to be doing it now, floods and all. It's amazing what we can do when we want to.

 

[Maguari]

At the risk of sounding like a well-known Monty Python sketch, when I used to volunteer at a zoo I cycled 11 miles there and back, and occasionally had to wade thigh-deep through freezing river water when my route was flooded in winter!

Thigh-deep? You were lucky!

I had to wade through nostril-deep boiling asphalt six times a day to volunteer.




(sorry, couldn't resist! )

 

[Baldur]

Thigh-deep? You were lucky!

I had to wade through nostril-deep boiling asphalt six times a day to volunteer.

(sorry, couldn't resist! )

Seems to me that this thread is at the risk of turning into a debate of who suffered the most for what they believe in!

 

[karoocheetah]

...nostril deep in asphalt??? paff bleeding luxury that would have been when I was a kid!! [sorry also couldn't resist]

Just to add a wee bit - I'm a volunteer with Chester Zoo and they make it clear from the outset that you don't have any hands on work in with the animals - in fact my only task so far was counting and bagging the coins that had been hurled into the various ponds around the zoo over the last 6 months so they could be sent back to the mint for cashing in (believe me no bank would touch them they were rank!) anyway I too work full time but wanted to try to volunteer when I can - I can't answer all of the calls for help that they put out but I do what I can when I can and they are more than happy with that.
Yes having my own car is a massive help BUT it doesn't stop some people - in fact my fellow volunteer on the coin counting task before christmas didn't drive and lived in Manchester - so she arrived by train - used the zoo shuttle to get her from the station to the zoo and I dropped her off on the way home (it was -10°C and we worked until gone 5pm so she'd missed her shuttle bus back to the station and I had a nice warm car) - that is really the spirit of volunteer work - doing something to help because you not only agree with the cause but want to support it.

Go for it JR - it's a foot in the door and if you want something bad enough you can make it happen - there are some grants and support systems out there to help with funding continued education if you want to study a biology or zoology based subject and who knows where it will lead you