Quoted By:
Let's have a thread about /out/ jobs. I'd like to do this thread a little differently than they're usually done by focusing on "jobs" - not on "careers."
For instance, "park ranger" is a career because it requires training in law enforcement and is typically a full-time position. Not just anyone can apply for the job of park ranger. "Field biologist" is another career because a significant amount if education is required as a prerequisite, and although it may feel like part-time to some academic researchers, it's always their main job, and the one they expect to do in the long-term.
Some examples of /out/ jobs that I'm thinking of, and their pros and cons are:
>1. ski instructor
Pros: you can spend all day outdoors, seasonal work leaves you free in the summer
Cons: have to deal with teaching people
>2. guide (mountaineering, rock climbing, fly-fishing, etc.)
Pros: can spend all day outdoors, seasonal work leaves you free in the winter
Cons: hard to get into the field if you don't have connections or a significant amount of expertise (no obvious job training is expected and there's always a strong preference for highly experienced candidates)
>3. salesperson/worker at outdoor gear store
Pros: many stores will be willing to employ you seasonally so you can take the summer or winter off to do /out/ activities, can be a first step into guiding (can make connections with other experienced people, and many stores will host mini seminars where you can get guiding/teaching experience to put on your resume), easy to do even if you don't know what you're doing (job training is expected)
Cons: spend all day indoors
>4. other park staff
Pros: get to spend all day in a park, entry-level and part-time jobs plentiful
Cons: have to live near enough to a park to commute there on a daily basis - might be able to live in dorms in the park but then you're totally separated from the conveniences of city life
Let's get some more /out/ job reviews going...
