I was hired to a position involving the checking and verification of environmental concerns in large land areas available for purchase and development. These reports had to be completed and submitted before a final environmental impact statement could be produced. At the time I had no work experience in this field, only my college coursework that centered around environmental quality engineering. I would describe myself as enthusiastic, eager and emotionally stable.
I am a Caucasian male, and thinking back over the years I believe this has neither helped nor hurt in my attempts to land the perfect job. My environmental reports position actually had very few applicants and I had been highly recommended by my former employer.
This job mostly involved reading reports, making a series of notes and then going into the field to look at properties firsthand. Sometimes I traveled more than 100 miles and the land I was inspecting was usually being considered for the development of a residential subdivision or apartment complex. I obtained information on water drainage, prevailing winds, nearby industries and their impact on the air and water quality, etc. If I found anything contradictory to what I had already read, I noted these differences in my reports.
On a scale of 1 to 10 I would rank this job a 6. Although it was fun for the most part, I feel that much of what I was doing was useless and was actually costing somebody money that could have been better spent elsewhere.
What I got most out of this job was the feeling I was helping make an important decision, one that would affect people for a long, long time. Therefore I felt I was part of a very long-term process. Although I don’t think it is the perfect job for me, I learned much about what people expect, what the public accepts and what they do not.
I believe that those persons interested in this kind of work should consider the obvious problems that can arise when one is responsible for detailed reporting. One tiny slipup and you can’t be trusted fully in the future. A lot of people are counting on you to provide very accurate information.
I got this job because I had studied environmental planning and ecosystems analysis in college. I took these courses because I felt at the time it would give me credentials to actually teach environmental education someday. If I could do it over again I would probably focus more on the math and science.
On this job I learned to be prompt, assume nothing and report fairly, rather than adding my own personal commentary. Often I found my superiors unhappy with some of the comments I made, as my reports sometimes indicated a bias. I worked hard to eliminate this problem in my field reports.
Outside of school, the most important lessons I have learned about the working world is that everyone comes to the table with a specific set of talents and experiences. No two people are alike, and yet there are certain jobs that only certain people with a certain attitude can perform well. We all have to accept this.
The most bizarre thing that ever happened to me while working for this employer was a completely wrong set of plans for the eventual site work that would be performed on a large land parcel. It took me four days to realize I wasn’t on the property being described and believe me, some heads rolled for this mistake.
I am able to get out of bed and get to work on a daily basis because I have to. Simple as that. And yet I am not satisfied in getting out of bed and commuting to just any old job. It has to be one where I feel I can look back in the evening and say I made a difference. I once spotted an entire acre that was essentially an ancient, artificially created peat bog, right where a cul-de-sac was planned. I prevented tens of thousands of dollars in wasted re-zoning costs on that day.
Sometimes I am dissatisfied that I am moving sideways instead of forward. To me a job is not just a job, it is part of my personality, and I need a constant challenge to remain interested.
My job with this employer was not very stressful; I will not work in a position that is.
This type of work typically pays about $3,000 per month. I think the salary is fair, although raises are few and far between and there isn’t much room for advancement.
I consider myself lucky to be able to take two weeks of vacation time per year. It is a lot more than many folks get and I certainly do not ask for more. Nor do I abuse my sick days offered, because I just cannot do something like that.
This type of work requires good reading, writing and arithmetic. It also helps to have college courses under your belt that fit the actual job duties. But more than anything this position is appropriate only for those who don’t mind getting dirty, learning new things and are able to remember everything experienced in the field.
If someone was considering going into this type of work I would ask them if they truly wanted to spend time on the road, be outdoors in all kinds of weather and if they felt they had the enthusiasm to learn quickly. In my case I had no immediate field supervisor so it was assumed I could perform most of the duties immediately.
If I could wave a wand and create my own future, I would see myself writing texts for high school and college students in the areas of math and science. Five years from now it would be great to be able to earn my living in this manner.
This is a true career story as told to AllEnviornmentalalJobs.com and is one of many interviews with environmental professionals, which among others include an environmental scientist and an asbestos estimator .
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