How to Become an Assistant to a Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife biologist assistants have a foundational knowledge of wildlife management and biology. They work outdoors collecting data, handling and transporting wildlife, and analyzing data. They typically work for universities, counties or state departments of wildlife or conservation. Gaining some experience working with wildlife is one of the most important steps to becoming a wildlife biologist assistant. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job growth for biological scientists to increase by 21 percent between 2008 and 2018, especially in the biotechnology industry.
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Instructions
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Earn your GED or high school diploma. Wildlife biologist assistant positions require at least a completed secondary education. Some employers may require more education, but typically only a high school diploma or the equivalent is necessary for the position.
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Earn a college degree in wildlife biology or a similar field. Although not all positions require a college degree, you will likely compete against those who have one. Unless you have significant experience working with wildlife, you won't have as good a chance of getting a wildlife biologist assistant job without having a degree. Take courses in allied disciplines, such as math, physics, computer science and engineering in addition to core biology and chemistry courses.
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Volunteer or intern with an organization working with wildlife. You might work on a nature or game preserve or with a wildlife rescue organization, for example. Employers of wildlife biologist assistants seek applicants with practical, hands-on experience. Knowing how to track, move and deal with wildlife, and how to record, organize and analyze statistics are also vital to the position. Biologist assistants may also have to explain their research to nonscientists. Good communication skills are important to being an assistant, and interning or volunteering can help develop them.
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Apply for positions with local universities that have biology or wildlife management programs. Contact your state, county or other local government employment office for open positions. The department of state parks or wildlife, recreation or conservation may offer relevant positions.
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Emphasize your wildlife management and biology experience, whether you were a teacher's assistant in college for a biology professor or if you interned for your city's animal control office. Relate stories during any job interview about how you handled difficult wildlife situations, helped discover trends in local wildlife through research, or any other wildlife-related experience you encountered. Discuss your exposure to any new computer technologies related to wildlife biology in your cover letter, resume and interviews to demonstrate your knowledge of the latest techniques and equipment.
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Tips & Warnings
You might try getting a position with one of the federal agencies within the Department of the Interior or a summer job with the department (see Resources). Your county may also offer summer youth work experience programs in local parks and preserves.
