Working with wildlife can be a thrilling adventure steeped in the wonders of the natural world, but entering the field demands a strong personal commitment. With proper training and guidance, students can transform themselves into competitive applicants and forge successful careers. This book reveals the best way to become a wildlife management professional.
Becoming a Wildlife Professional is the first comprehensive book to describe the entry-level jobs available for the next generation of wildlife biologists and conservationists. Scott E. Henke and Paul R. Krausman include detailed chapters on how students should prepare for a vocation in the wildlife profession while offering pragmatic advice about applying for and obtaining a job. The core of the book presents more than 100 diverse career options that are available to aspiring wildlife workers, including work in biological field research, forestry, rehabilitation, ranching, photography, and refuge management. It also details each position's educational and technical requirements, challenges, salaries, and opportunities for advancement.
Bringing together useful advice from a range of seasoned experts who actually hold these jobs and have used these techniques to secure employment, Becoming a Wildlife Professional conveys important philosophical messages about the responsibilities and challenges of a career in wildlife conservation and management. This how-to manual is an essential text for wildlife science students interested in making themselves marketable for employers across a wide spectrum of wildlife jobs.
Chapter Author Contributors: Rick Baydack, Jessica L. Blickley, Monika Burchette, Shawn Cleveland, Kristy Deiner, Kelly Garbach, Ashley R. Gramza, Jim Heffelfinger, Scott E. Henke, Fidel Hern+índez, Serra J. Hoagland, Jessica A. Homyack, Winifred B. Kessler, Holley Kline, Lianne Koczur, Michel T. Kohl, John L. Koprowski, Blaise Korzekwa, Paul R. Krausman, Iara Lacher, Mariah H. Meek, Kelly F. Millenbah, Karen E. Munroe, Kerry L. Nicholson, John P. O'Loughlin, Lindsey Phillips, Lauren M. Porensky, William F. Porter, Terra Rentz, Nova J. Silvy, Kelley M. Stewart, Marit L. Wilkerson, Eric Winford. An additional 52 wildlife professionals describe the work of the profession.
1 Why Choose a Career in the Wildlife Profession? PAUL R. KRAUSMAN AND SCOTT E. HENKE
2 Wildlife Undergraduate Education and the University Curriculum RICK BAYDACK
3 Advice for a Student Entering the Wildlife Profession: A Professor's Perspective SCOTT E. HENKE AND PAUL R. KRAUSMAN
4 Skills for Non-Academic Wildlife and Conservation CareersERIC WINFORD, MARIT WILKERSON, LAUREN M. PORENSKY, MARIAH MEEK, IARA LACHER, KELLY GARBACH, KRISTY DEINER, AND JESSICA L. BLICKLEY
5 Wildlife Careers: From A to Z SCOTT E. HENKE AND NUMEROUS WILDLIFE PROFESSIONALS
6 Professional Societies: The Inside Track to Career Success WINIFRED B. KESSLER
7 The Resume: The Most Important Tool in Your Career Kit JOHN P. O'LOUGHLIN, PAUL R. KRAUSMAN, AND KERRY L. NICHOLSON
8 The Professional Interview: Preparing for Success JOHN L. KOPROWSKI AND KAREN E. MUNROE
9 Being a Professional and Acting Professionally WILLIAM F. PORTER AND KELLY F. MILLENBAH
10 Graduate School: A Professor's Perspective FIDEL HERNANDEZ, NOVA J. SILVY, AND KELLY M. STEWART
11 Graduate School From the Student Perspective MONIKA BURCHETTE, LINDSEY PHILLIPS, HOLLEY KLINE, LIANNE KOCZUR, BLAISE KORZEKWA, SHAWN CLEVELAND, AND TERRA RENTZ
12 Professional Diversity: The Key to Conserving Wildlife Diversity MICHAEL T. KOHL, SERRA HOAGLAND, ASHLEY R. GRAMZA, AND JESSICA A. HOMYACK
""Becoming a Wildlife Professional provides a wealth of guidance and information for aspiring wildlifers... To help guide these future professionals, I recommend that all wildlife professors keep a copy of this book readily available, just as most do with copies of their favorite data analysis and techniques texts.""
