Field Tech Forum

If you didn't read my post in the intro thread, I'm thinking about looking for a job as a seasonal biology field tech, but I have no real experience aside from a rather typical interest of the outdoors and outdoor activity.

What should I be doing to help myself as a candidate for these jobs? Where should I be looking? Any general tips about how to be successful in the work?

omsweetom wrote: ↑December 7th, 2023, 1:57 pm If you didn't read my post in the intro thread, I'm thinking about looking for a job as a seasonal biology field tech, but I have no real experience aside from a rather typical interest of the outdoors and outdoor activity.

What should I be doing to help myself as a candidate for these jobs? Where should I be looking? Any general tips about how to be successful in the work?

Welcome. I think you've come to the right place and I'll do my best to help you out here.

As far as where to get started, unfortunately volunteering is your best bet to start out. Unfortunate in the sense that you might not get paid so you'd need some kind of financial safety net to make that happen at first. If you have a university with a biology department nearby, you might inquire there and see if any of the grad students need techs. Often they try to use undergrads as slave labor, but they have classes and parties and whatever so you might be able to fill in.

But you can always check out the major job websites and see if there's any "entry level" kind of stuff, either employers that are willing to train or jobs that are essentially unskilled. Those would be Texas A&M, basically the king of the job boards (https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/search/) and SCB (conbio.org). There may be others more specific to certain disciplines, but those are the only ones I've ever bothered with.

As far as once you're in the game, it's not as different from corporate work as you might think. In the sense that you have to be diplomatic. You should be nice to everyone - you think everyone is going to be like-minded? I'd say that isn't realistic. In a big crew, there's likely to be (at least) one person you don't really mesh with well or rubs you the wrong way. You may be paired with them for a somewhat long amount of time. You're doing physical work so things will get challenging and it's easier to lose your temper or get short with someone. You have to resist those temptations. Laugh at everyone's jokes, contribute to the social atmosphere, be friendly.

When it comes to working, be impeccable. Never complain about anything, unless you're being abused in some extreme or illegal way. Don't complain about working a little bit extra. This isn't some corporate BS job where you're just being paid to keep a seat warm for a certain amount of time. You're actually doing something, so sometimes it might take a little longer than what was planned for. Never turn down or be resistant to a task, again unless it's putting you in actual physical danger (not the same as discomfort).

There's much more to it, but that would be my short version

Don't hesitate to hook it up, if you know what I'm talking about. Your crew will appreciate that for sure and then be like your real crew. Truth

Write neatly on your data forms! Maybe doesn't seem like a big deal, but your supervisors will appreciate this a lot. It will also make it easier for you - you'd be surprised. sometimes when you scribble something quickly you won't be able to read your own writing and then you've lost whatever information you needed.

If you're sharing a living situation, do your part. Clean and tidy. Stock things that everyone uses like hand soap and TP (without having to be asked). Do nice things - make a meal or a baked treat for everyone. Little gestures like this are meaningful and add up.

Be decent to the girls on your crew! Don't act like a creep. Act like you've talked to a woman before. And for god's sake don't be handsy! Hands off bros! At least at first Yeah but seriously just talk normally to the girls on your crew and don't act like a bumbling doofus or like a pickup artist handbook. Gross!

Take care of the equipment. Pretend like it's your most valuable possession. Your supervisor won't like it if you lose or damage something and they need to replace it. That applies to your field vehicle too.

I'm really appreciative of all the great advice offered so far. Unfortunately, I don't have the type of relationship with my parents that would maker it convenient or comfortable to be spending that much time with them every year. Its not like were estranged or anything, I'm just not particularly close with them. And also not really knowing any business owners or whatever, but still a lot of good things to think about.

Has anybody had luck with month to month apartment rentals without having a job? Is there some kind of unofficial or under the table way to arrange something like that?

Also I'm pretty experienced with camping but not at a professional level like some of you seem to be. Haven't ever done it for long periods of time or lived out of a car, but this might be my most feasible option. Any tips for that?

Skills as the icebreaker and social facilitator are crucial if you have that type of personality. You'll work with a lot of friendly folks, but man, those first few days with a new crew can be awwwkward and a lot of field techs are naturally introverted and just don't have what it takes to get things rolling. If you can suggest some icebreaker get to know you kind of activities, that will go a long way. Not only will everyone appreciate what you've done, but you'll help the whole operation to work more smoothly.

omsweetom wrote: ↑December 14th, 2023, 4:09 pm
Also I'm pretty experienced with camping but not at a professional level like some of you seem to be. Haven't ever done it for long periods of time or lived out of a car, but this might be my most feasible option. Any tips for that?

Travel light my future nomadic bro. Only the essentials. You don't want to be digging around in a big pile of stuff. Have a system and know where all your shit is. Minimal cooking and kitchenware - be prepared to make cheap, easy, prepared meals. No gourmet or super restrictive diets.

Have your sleeping rig locked down. Take out the backseats if you need to. Did you know you can take them out? Put 'em in storage or sell 'em off to some lowlifes needing household furniture

If you're living out of your car, then you'd better take care of it! Check the tire pressure every week. Also check the tread and don't drive on worn tires. Get the oil changed when you're supposed to. Change the air filters yourself - don't let them charge you $100 for a job that takes 30 seconds. Don't let the gas tank run down below 1/4 - the gas acts asa lubricant in the tank. Know how to change a tire

Know how to amuse yourself. Learn to read situations and bail if it looks sketchy.

I'll think of more, I've got tons of these