Finding the Right Marine Biology Job

It's heartbreaking to see people complete years of hard work to get a degree, only to learn that the marine biology jobs available don't pay enough, or aren't located where they want to live, or don't involve what they thought.

Here's an exercise I have my students do. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/Bnpq7VaHzN

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

1) Go to a jobs board, an online list of currently available jobs in the field. (Don't worry if you're not eligible to apply yet, there's still value in getting a sense of what's out there).

One I recommend for this exercise is: https://t.co/uuvZRqyWdj

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

2) Just look at what types of jobs are available. Take your time. Read through a bunch of them. Don't rush, read in detail. pic.twitter.com/JuhcDx2PFj

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

3) Once you've done that, go back and read a few jobs that looked particularly relevant to your interests again. Focus on the following elements: pic.twitter.com/aos7vyRqSz

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

A) What degree does this job require? If it doesn't require a Ph.D., do you need to be getting a Ph.D.? Getting a Ph.D. is absolutely required for some jobs in STEM, but not all. pic.twitter.com/uev8x1enE3

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

B) What skills does this job require? Are you gaining those skills in your current education program? Are you spending lots of time and effort working on skills that jobs you want do not require? pic.twitter.com/LwAwjhctWf

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

C) How much does the job pay? Is it enough to cover your needs? (You won't get rich working in marine biology, but you shouldn't be homeless and starving) pic.twitter.com/nS8Ju9KUCc

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

D) Where is the job based? Could you live there happily? Is it a temporary job that would require you to move thousands of miles and then move again in a year or two? pic.twitter.com/cNIbJ2dUIK

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

E) What would you actually be doing all day as part of your job responsibilities? Is it stuff you enjoy and find challenging and rewarding? pic.twitter.com/46NMWWfHHO

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

(Is it possible that the perfect high-paying job that's where you want to live isn't on the jobs board now but will be in years when you're ready to apply? Yeah sure I guess, but there's still value in getting a sense of typical jobs available now) pic.twitter.com/6tZs3VOuPj

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

4) Then we come back together as a group/class and discuss what they found. pic.twitter.com/nEK2xv5tXc

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

I can't create jobs that let you do exactly what you want to do exactly where you want to do it for the salary you want.

But I can make sure that people learn about what the jobs that exist are like before it's too late to potentially consider alternatives.

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023

(Notice that this is slightly more complicated than "to know what jobs are like look at what the jobs are like." It's that, which is important it's shocking to me how few people do it, but that with specific purpose and goals and things to look for)

— Dr. David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter) March 21, 2023