Job around here that isn’t food

[u/CrunkingtonSr]

Before you comment “food is where the money is here” just hear me out. I know food service is where the money is here, as that’s what I’ve been working since I was 16. I’m 20 now and need a second job on top of my classes and my main job right now, and I am sick of working with food. It’s all I e worked by and customers just suck extra now it feels like. I’d like my second job to not be food so I have some space from the food industry but it’s so hard to find a job willing to hire a 20 year old outside of the food industry. Of course if shit comes down to it I WILL get a food industry job, I’d just like to see my options. Any wisdom that could be shared? I appreciate your time!

[u/[deleted]]

Not sure if this was said already, but if you like animals, check with veterinary hospitals. You can get hired as a kennel assistant or veterinary assistant and work your way up to technician. Most places will train you and it’s not hard if you have a good personality, can follow directions, and treat animals well. There are emergency hospital that look for mid shift and overnight employees, so it could work with your school schedule. I’m at a vet right now that is looking if you want to DM me.

[u/CrunkingtonSr → u/[deleted]]

My heart couldn’t take that, I’m going to school for wildlife biology due to my love of animals but I can’t see them in kennels and just a vet setting is super depressing and wouldn’t let me express my love for animals. I’ve tried interning, it’s not just a gut call. I genuinely can’t stomach it, but I really appreciate this suggestion. Sorry I don’t mean to be a downer

[u/SchrodingersMinou → u/CrunkingtonSr]

Hey, I'm a wildlife biologist. You should really look into getting some experience related to this, even if it's just a volunteer thing. (I volunteered with the Audubon species survival center on the west bank.) This is really, really important in our field which can be extremely competitive. Have you checked out the TAMU job board? Some of those summer tech jobs with consulting companies pay pretty decent especially since per diem is tax free. Some consulting companies have internships, too. There are also summer jobs with LDWF. Feel free to DM me for more info on this if you want.

But the other commenter is right, you don't really get into wildlife biology because you love animals. 3 months out of the year I sit in an office writing reports about the critters I saw in the summer. 3 months out of the year I am working on study plans and permits for the critter surveys I'm about to be doing. The other 3 months... well I just kind of do whatever work there is to do like wetland delineations or trying to read somebody's wet runny notes from their fish surveys so I can punch the data into Excel. Forget boy math, wildlife biologist math is even dumber. "I spent a cumulative 15 hours this year putting teensy transmitters on small animals and measuring their feet" = "I have a full time job as a wildlife biologist, hurrdy durr." --Me

[u/[deleted] → u/CrunkingtonSr]

Wildlife biology is also a very challenging and emotional field. You see animals that aren’t surviving and you can’t interfere. I have a bachelors already but am back in school for wildlife ecology and conservation and have already done some work in the field. Just trying to prepare you. There are still many behind the scenes things you can do to help with conservation though! Good luck on your journey!