Why Choose A Conservation Career?

A career in conservation is not only limited to life science and geosciences, but a wide range of disciplines that support action to protect, preserve, restore, and conserve our natural resources. This “Guide To Conservation Careers in Maryland” is designed to present career options for young adults and career changers who want to make a difference, who enjoy being outdoors, and who are passionate about the environment. It is written by current professionals in the field, drawing from their experiences as students, job-seekers, employees, and hiring managers. Paths to a conservation career can take many routes, including academic or vocational training.

Careers may be in local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, or the private sector. Sifting through the options, or even becoming aware of what the options are can be overwhelming. This Guide lays out the variety of pathways available in Maryland to support your learning: the academic tracks from high school to college and post-graduate work; vocational training programs; internships; and more. There are many possible branches to these pathways, and we encourage thinking about both the more “traditional” environmental careers as well as additional career avenues that can and should incorporate environmental concerns: teaching, community planning, engineering, construction, landscaping, energy, business, public health. Making decisions about your future can be daunting. We hope this Guide will provide resources to help you find the conservation-related job that is right for you.

This guide to conservation careers in Maryland is organized into four parts.

• Chapter 1: Why a Career in Conservation? This section explains the objectives of the Conservation Careers Guide. Offered within this guide are the tools and resources presented to the youth to aid in the exploration into the environmental field. It serves to educate the next generation on the many different career paths within conservation and the steps to be taken in advancing towards future employment.

• Chapter 2: Conservation Careers: Find your Fit This section presents a series of fact sheets, with examples of types of careers, education or training needed for those jobs and careers, how to get experience in the field, and professional organizations. Meet current professionals in the field through brief case studies.

• Chapter 3: Learning Skills for Conservation Jobs–Academic and Vocational Programs in Maryland There are numerous options for working in the conservation field that include those jobs that require a 2- or 4-year degree and those that do not. This chapter provides ideas on both degree and non-degree opportunities.

• Chapter 4: Applying for Jobs​ This section provides valuable information about the application process when starting your job search. It also lists various places to find different job opportunities including many programs, organizations, and job boards that can be utilized as tools for finding the perfect job for you.

Download the complete guide here.