We interviewed Washington Department of Ecology Aquatic Plant Specialist Wes Glisson (left) and Senior Environmental Scientist Will Hobbs (right) about their early career experiences and what helped them enter the field.

What experience or job benefitted you the most in getting established in your field?

Wes: Working with other more experienced researchers and practitioners.

Will: Probably not one particular job, but a variety of jobs in the aquatic sciences (e.g. consulting, researcher, museum scientist). A job that allows you to be involved in a breadth of projects while staying focused in your area of interest is probably best.

What would you recommend students do outside of their coursework to best set them up for success in getting a job in the field of limnology/aquatic sciences?

Wes: Talk to professors and see if they can provide an undergraduate research opportunity. Reach out to professionals in the field to see if there are opportunities to volunteer or shadow them for a day.

Will: Gain experience where you can. Summer field technician jobs are great for learning a wide range of monitoring and assessment techniques. If you know you want to work with the State or Feds, try and get your foot in the door.

What experience helped you decide what type of job you wanted to pursue and what kind of entity you wanted to work for?

Wes: It took a while and several jobs to land where I am now. I ended up taking a job in this field and just really enjoyed it. That job then helped me gain more experience and confidence in the field that I took to my current position.

Will: Probably grad school. I knew after spending concentrated time working on research questions that I wanted to be involved in primary research or applied research in the aquatic sciences in some way.

What do you wish you would have known early in college?

Wes: What realistic positions there were in this field outside of academia. Getting involved with organizations like NALMS (North American Lake Management Society) and WALPA can help you meet folks in the field with different jobs outside of academia and learn what their experiences are.

Will: I don’t know that colleges expose students to the range of careers available in their field of interest. This may have improved since I went through my undergrad, but it takes a while to understand the types of jobs that are out there.

In your experience applying for jobs and hiring, what skills/traits are most important?

Wes: Field experience and training were key. Coursework is important, but not as much as hands-on experience.

Will: Personal skills: be organized and professional. You’re probably interested in the aquatic sciences because you enjoy lakes and rivers, maintain your personal connection to these ecosystems – someone’s honest excitement and curiosity goes a long way.

Professional skills: you’re likely going to start in an entry level position – field monitoring skills and data management skills are valuable.

What is one thing you wish you had known before going on the job market or starting your current position?

Wes: This would probably be the same answer as for “What do you wish you would have known early in college?”—just knowing what positions are out there.

Will: It may take a while to find the right job, sometimes they fall in your lap, sometimes you might go a year or more to find the right one; just stay focused on your interests and pick up experience where you can.

When did you start searching for a job?

Wes: I started searching for jobs and internships in the winter of my senior year of college. Once I was in graduate school, I was continuously keeping an eye out for positions.

Will: Don’t wait, finding a long-term job/career is an iterative process, start now.