Does completing a voluntary social justice program improve job prospects?

Job is being eliminated, where to go from here?

• Likely to be losing my job in the coming weeks, and thinking about returning to school, either for a diploma or some other vocational training. Can the hive help me figure out a path to take or explore, given the generalities of what kind of work I would like to consider pursuing? I am interested in jobs relating to natural resource management and/or something relating to the environment. Wall of text ahead.. please bear with me, as typing this all out actually feels helpful, as whiny and self-involved as it might sound. My Educational Background: So I graduated from an ok University-College (do those exist anymore?) in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. The program was quite new at the time (the degree program came into effect after I had completed my first year of just general studies, and I just kind of jumped in), and while "Geography" had been a lifelong interest of mine (reading and interpreting maps, for example), I feel that what I ended up gaining ended up being just too broad to parlay that into any kind of relevant career after graduation.. all very theoretical in the upper levels and I look back and wonder what type of practical skills I actually gained there, though I did do fairly well with regard to grades. Looking back, I feel I was young and rather naive, didn't fully understand my options, felt ushered into post-secondary education because I was "smart" growing up, and that's what I was "supposed to do." But I never felt quite sure of myself. I don't feel like I ever really had the right kind of guidance through family or my social circle to be able to make the right decisions with regard to my future back then, and didn't know how to navigate and make use of the resources available to me on campus or elsewhere. God, stop me if you've heard this one before. For me, a bachelor of arts wasn't the way I should have gone. I know it didn't help that I opted to remain in the "General" stream offered, as opposed to specializing into either Natural Resource Management or Urban Growth Management.. At the time, the urban side of it was what I leaned toward (though this is something I am no longer interested in), but I decided to stay general as I felt that would keep more doors open for myself as I explored career options. Lol. Work History: Since graduation, due to needing to put food on the table, a roof over my head, and generally just wanting to move on with my life in an expensive major city after graduating into the recession of 2008 (moved there to improve job prospects and to pursue a relationship which is still going strong, a bit more on this later), I bounced around a bit between a few different jobs, all of which were office-based to varying degrees of success, but no huge amounts of satisfaction. I spent 4 years at one particular job which, while extremely stressful, draining, and demoralizing, paid rather well as I developed and was promoted quickly, and I was earning well above anything I might have hoped as an entry level job to do with my degree. We lived quite comfortably for a time, but that company ended up having trouble and downsizing, and eventually I moved on. We returned to the small town I'm originally from to seek a simpler, less stressful life in the countryside (no regrets at all with this decision). I have now worked for the same mid-sized, family-run business doing sales/marketing/general office work for the past two years, but lack of work there means that this role is also drawing to a close. So now, here I am, basically laid off and looking for work. I have been applying for jobs, again, mostly office-related as that is where most/all of my recent experience lies. But, looking through posting after posting, I'm coming to realize that sitting at a desk, staring at a screen, tethered to a phone, and writing/blathering away about trying to sell crap to make other people rich just is not how I want to spend the rest of my working life. I'd like to use my brain, body, and time in a different way to earn a living, but at the moment, I don't feel I currently have the experience or qualifications to really feel like I'm spending my time wisely in trying to pursue something different. So what should I do? The field I am gravitating toward involves natural resource management, which definitely relates to my degree, but I feel that I am in need of additional training to get into this field and excel. I live in British Columbia, Canada, where nature abounds at every turn.. I feel like those types of jobs are out there, though I don't often come across postings in the more generalized avenues through which I typically try to seek work. Does anyone have experience in this field, particularly in this part of the world? What are some specific jobs or programs I should be looking at, and what kind of training do they entail? I know you don't know me, but given what I've said above, is there something in this field that I might find fulfiling, long-term? And, if it has taken me the better part of the decade to decide on this as something to go after, how do I narrow things down further and find something I want to specialize in? I don't think I have it in me to complete a masters' degree at this stage of my life, and would probably have to relocate to do that, which is not something I am interested in at this time. I do worry about going for a diploma rather than something further might be seen as a "step back" after having earned a Bachelor's, but I feel like that just might be some weird internalized social programming that I should just ignore. What I am considering: -Forest Resources Technology Diploma - Probably what I am most leaning toward. I've been looking a bit at jobs relating to forest inventory, and this looks like it might be the best pathway toward that side of things. Is this something that might be easy to get into after completion? Anyone have personal experience with such a program or line of work? -Environmental Technician Certificate - Offered nearby, but seems rather brief (25 x 8 hour sessions that involve both classroom and field work). I like the variety of subjects offered here, but then think that might lead again to the problem I described above, being too general. I'm unsure whether just a certificate will be enough to get me something in the field. This one doesn't feel like quite enough. -Fisheries and Oceans.. Something that I know exists as a sector, but I haven't delved into this one much farther, which I guess says something. Probably less likely as a realistic choice for me as it's not precisely where my interest lies, but maybe there's something I'm overlooking. -Geology? Found this terribly dull from past experience, but maybe I'm wrong. There is not much in the way of mining activity in my area. -Ecological restoration was a program I considered in the past. It was a 2 year Bachelor's program, but doesn't seem to be offered in the region where I currently reside. -Something that relates more to agriculture or horticulture? Hydro power generation or other infrastructure? -I would like to find a program that has a practicum/work component involved, as I feel that would really help my chances of finding something upon completion. What I like/love/am skilled at: -Being outside, hiking, exploring, camping, being in the forest/nature. This is where I am any chance I get, and always comfortable when I'm there. I would love to work out in the field and can handle all types of weather. -Water.. lakes, rivers, streams, oceans. I love looking at water, trees, and observing nature taking place. -I have a pretty solid knowledge and understanding of local vegetation, climate patterns, natural processes, and the ecosystem at large. I have a very broad knowledge of physical geography processes of the earth in general, and did well in University in courses relating to that. -Still enjoy reading and interpreting maps, and using other navigational tools. -Passionate about artistic photography, particularly relating to nature and landscape. I've had a bit of success in the past couple years with this, though nowhere near enough to attempt to make a living at it. I truly enjoy creating art, but my style is pretty niche, and not something I'm prepared to pursue as a career much further at this time (I don't believe I have the killer instinct or self-promotional motivation needed to succeed in the art world). But if there are any more traditional jobs in resource management that involve photography in some capacity I'm definitely interested in hearing about those. -I'm good at collecting, recording, and processing data, taking measurements, decent mathematical and analytical skills. What I DO NOT want/am not good at. -I don't want anything to do with law enforcement or firearms. -I do like animals and love seeing them in the wild, I wish them all well, but I don't want to do anything that involves touching them, killing them, saving them from distress, or caring for them in a direct way. -I like driving, especially exploring backroads and finding cool places, but I wouldn't say I'm mechanically inclined. I have no experience operating heavy machinery, and wouldn't see myself enjoying it. I'm fairly handy with things around the house, a bit of hand and power tool experience, but it's not generally my forte. Not really into construction or building things, though I do enjoy moving earth, digging holes, clearing brush, working in the yard. -I think I've ruled out GIS.. too desk/computer-related. The institution I am looking at does offer a post-bachelor diploma in GIS, but from things I have heard from people who have taken it aren't very encouraging as far as employment prospects. I wouldn't mind getting a broader knowlege of it, though, just not something I wish to study intensively. -I'm in ok physical shape.. healthy overall, but not as physically strong as some of my peers (thanks again, desk jobs!). My tenacity and strong work ethic might make up for this shortcoming, though, and I would love to improve myself in this regard. Other details.. I'm 30/male/gay. I have some slight hesitance at returning to school at this age, but it's minor.. the institution I am looking at is where I achieved my degree, and it is one that historically has a higher proportion of "mature" students. This was evident in my own program in the past, so I wouldn't even really call this a worry. I'm in a very happy, healthy relationship with my husband (married 3 years, together for 7), but he's in a very similar boat as me.. we met after I had graduated, while he was still working on the same degree as I have from a different institution. He has had a similar lack of success as me with regard to making use of it, and with that being the case it is difficult to support one another in goals of this nature when neither of us knows any better than the other. And sorry for burying this lede, but he, too, currently finds himself between jobs, though we are both collecting unemployment benefits. And of course that brings me to: money is tight. I have a significant but not astronomical amount of debt, and very little savings, so if there are other more affordable options I could be exploring, finding out about those would be great. I can probably receive some help financially from my parents or other family, but uggh... Anyway, geez, thanks for hanging in there through all of that. Any thoughts on working in this sector, ways to further my education and training, specific jobs to focus on, people to talk to, etc? Or just general encouragement on taking the plunge and going back to school (I know you guys, you're all going to pick up on the subtext of utter trepidation and uncertainty from my rambly little narrative above), and I know I have a lot of research to do yet before I even think of applying anywhere, but this actually feels like an exciting time in my life and a very real possibility for me now, and I don't want to screw this up. Application deadlines are coming up fast. Thanks everyone!

• Answer:

  I have friends who consider themselves "tree huggers" who therefore went for forestry degrees and only after they got into it began to see that those degrees only lead to jobs as "tree cutters." (Quotes are because I realize it's an oversimplification, but those were the words they used so that I could understand what they meant without being an expert in forest issues myself, which I am not.) Because you are very focused on what you can do when you get out of school: do not start by looking at the degree programs in your area or what the schools offering those programs say you can do with the degree. Instead, look at job listings, and find listings where the job description is something you would like to do, and the salary is something you can live on (and pay back student loans). Then look at the requirements for that job--what degree and/or experience does it require? If you're not seeing a theme of numerous listings of jobs where you would want to do the things in the description and the pay is acceptable, then you know that getting another degree is not the answer.