Where do I go from here?

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I am in my last semester of getting a master's in marine resources management and have no idea where I am going career wise after graduation. I went into the program I'm in because at the time I was still working summers at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland with the conservation and management of the feral horses on the island. It was a childhood dream job for me and I feel very blessed to have done it. I planned on working in the position seasonally until someone in charge realized how important it is to the park and made it permanent. However, the park got a new superintendent that does not care about natural resources a couple years ago, and my job was defunded to fund something else. Most people would probably get over it and move on, but because that job became my life, literally, it tore me apart. The job was my heart and soul, a main autistic obssession. When I found out it was defunded it felt like my life was taken away. I don't think I'll ever quite get over it. The problem is now I need to find a permanent job with benefits in the wildlife conservation world, but no one seems to want to hire me because my only wild animal experience is with feral horses. All zoos require like two years experience working at a zoo, but I don't have that and can't afford at this point in life to do an unpaid internship. How am I supposed to get experience if no zoo hires me? I'm a quick learner and have so much knowledge to offer. I will never be able to work at an aquarium because they all require SCUBA certification and I don't plan to get certified for my own safety. Where I understand the requirement, can't they have one biologist on staff not certified? I am a very strong swimmer. I'll have a master's and experience in the field, but still I don't seem to be qualified for anything. It is very discouraging. I don't want to work part time minimum wage jobs for the rest of my life. I want to do the kind of job I've studied for for six years of my life. Anyone else having this issue?

You have an excellent background and should be able to find something if you are persistent (and willing to relocate for something good). The National Wildlife Refuge system is huge, and they hire people all over the country. All positions of that kind are advertised on usajobs.gov which you should bookmark and scan. There are lots of conservation organizations too -- National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, etc., as well as local/regional ones (Trustees of Reservations, etc.). Put together a good resume and you'll do well.

Do you have an irrational fear of diving?

Are you willing to move to find a new job?

A friend of mine is a zookeeper and she's the local chapter president of AZAK, the American Zoological something or other. Can you find something through AZAK or some other zoo organization?

Are there any other parks with feral horses that you can apply to?

There are a lot of feral horses out West that state governments use conservation efforts toward. You might be one of only a few ,applying for available positions, with feral horse conservation experience:-)

Good Luck in your search.