Conservationist

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Cultivate land.
• Inspect condition of natural environments.
• Collect biological specimens.
• Collect environmental data or samples.
• Set up laboratory or field equipment.
• Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
• Prepare documentation for permits or licenses.
• Record research or operational data.
• Survey land or properties.
• Advise others about environmental management or conservation.

Typical Working Conditions

• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Working with a group or team.
• Working outdoors exposed to weather.
• Making decisions that impact co-workers or company results.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Meeting strict deadlines.
• Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

Tools & Technology used by Conservationist

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Conservationist

• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Managing Time—Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Managing People—Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Conservationist

• Geography—Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Biology—Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Enterprising—Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is high growth compared to other careers. There will be a need for about 783 new Forest and Conservation Technicians to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: ONetOnline

This career requires an Associates degree.

View the local post-secondary education options for this career from Central Lakes College.

Spotlight on Central Lakes College

• Why consider CLC?
• Virtual Campus Tours: Brainerd Campus, Staples Campus
• Learn more about the CLC Honors Program.
• Attend CLC, and you may never need to buy a textbook.

If you have a physical, mental, developmental, or cognitive condition that requires educational support, learn about support options at CLC.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Algebra I and II
• Biology
• Business English
• Chemistry
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Science
• Mechanics
• Trigonometry
• Wildlife Management

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise