Fancy Scientist: Animals, Science, Lifestyle fancyscientist

I love hearing success stories from people who have finally landed their dream jobs, especially after challenging and twisty career paths. I always like to say, your current situation is not your final destination, so I believe to strive toward your dream relentlessly.
Additionally, most professors do not know how to advise for non-academic jobs. Have you been frustrated that your university has no experts in the field you wish to pursue and you feel lost? 
Most aspiring wildlife professionals look forward to landing that dream job after graduating college, but especially from graduate school they expect little difficulty in getting one. But in reality, that’s not always the case. How do you cope when you haven’t reached the wildlife career you’ve been working towards so hard?
In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I interviewed Francisco Llauger, someone who had these kinds of struggles (similar to mine after graduate school), but is now finally working with herpetofauna at the Houston Zoo— his dream job. 
From talking to lots of you on Zoom, I know that many of you have experienced or are currently experiencing what Francisco has been through. But after some detours, with the right mindset and attitude through the help of the Successful Wildlife Professional program, Francisco has finally landed the career he worked so hard for! 
Specifically, we talked about:
The importance of mindset! How to equip yourself with the skills and mindset you NEED for the career you want that is not being taught in academia;Going from graduate school to a job outside of his field and making the transition back;The challenges and turning point he experienced while pursuing a job; andWhat made him decide to join the Successful Wildlife Professional Program, what it’s like to be in the program, and the positive impacts it brought himAnd MORE!
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.
Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ 
Get a free chapter of my book “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know” to see how I can help you in your career: https://stephanieschuttler.com/getting-a-job-in-wildlife-biology-book/ 
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

When I give advice to young wildlife professionals or those aspiring to go into this career, I always tell them to reverse engineer it. To “start with the end in mind,” (a quote from Stephen Covey), but what if you don’t know what the end looks like?
Or what happens if you thought you wanted something and you went after it, but then you realized maybe you want something else. And if you decide to pursue that other thing, what does that mean about you?
How do you know who you really are and what you really want? If you are on the right track? 
I have some free tools to help you – I have the Job Tracker, but you may still be confused on what want or what the end looks like. I’ve talked to SO many students who are interested in multiple options and directions and don’t know how to choose. And who are we really when it comes to our careers?
These are some big questions that I am going to explore today. Really finding out who you are and what you really want, how to know if you’re on the right track, and maybe this episode will give you some permission to really go after what you.
If this is the first episode you’ve ever watched or listened to, this one is going to be a little bit different. It’s an episode that is definitely relevant for those who are interested in wildlife careers, but if you are not, there are still many lessons that will help you.
It’s a very personal episode for me as I have gone through a lot of major professional and life changes this year. I’m experiencing a reset in many areas of my life and these are some of the questions that I have really been thinking about lately. Who am I professionally? What do I want?
What does it mean about me if I change what I decide to go after? This podcast will definitely give you some perspective. It will give you lots of unconventional advice, but it’s great advice. This is an episode all about figuring out who you really are and giving you permission to go after what it really is that you want.

Full show notes here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/91-identity/
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

Have you ever thought about starting an environmental career, but instead chose a more “safe” and “secure” route? Or maybe you are currently tempted by it or you simply didn’t know how to go about a wildlife career and took a path that was more easily laid out? 
Is there a part of you that still wonders “what if?” but worries it might be too late or are too scared to step out of your comfort zone?
We only get one life to live and so much of our lives are dedicated to our work – simply by the hours put in. What if I told you it isn’t too late. If you feel at all pulled to make a change then I’m here to tell you that you can. But maybe you don’t know how…
In this episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I interview web developer Melina Shack about her experience transforming from computer scientist into a career in wildlife, ecology, and the environment. Perhaps just like you, Melina didn’t know how to start the transition or even if it was possible. But it is and she is currently starting an environmental career.
Melina is a student in my Successful Wildlife Professional program and had no idea about how to go about changing careers, but she felt a pull that that was the right move for her. She had always been interested in careers in the environment and ecology, but she didn’t know how to get there, and she took computer science because it was a lucrative, safe, and secure route. In this interview we talk about how she is making that transition through the help of my mentorship and being in the Successful Wildlife Professional program.
Melina has just started this transition after being accepted into graduate school (with a scholarship!) several months ago. We talk about the steps she has taken to make this transition and what it’s like her first semester in graduate school. 
Specifically, we chat about:
What it’s like for her to start graduate school and experience her first semesterWhat got her to finally make the transition into a career in the environmentWhat it’s like for her to start graduate school and experience her first semester in a different fieldHow to go to graduate school as a working professional – having a full-time job and enrolling in a Master’s programThe difference between thesis and non-thesis Master’s programsand MORE!

Get a free chapter of my book “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know” to see how I can help you in your career: https://stephanieschuttler.com/getting-a-job-in-wildlife-biology-book/ 
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

It’s no secret that the wildlife or conservation field can be competitive, and many of you have always asked me, “How do I get my foot in the door?” or “Is there any chance that I will get a permanent job in the future?” And my answer is always yes. If this is what you truly want, you can get it, but it will require strategy. Gone are the days of just getting a degree and a job quickly, which will require other things you might not know about and even thinking outside the box. 

Scott Putnam loves to give this kind of advice to students and entry-level job seekers. Scott has worked as a Regional Fisheries Biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for over thirty years. He spearheads monitoring anadromous fish in freshwater and their migration to and from saltwater, which requires remarkable fieldwork like snorkeling in beautiful rivers for hours. And you may have heard Scott’s name before. If you listened to podcast episode #86: Getting a Wildlife Career with NO Wildlife Experience: Interview with Ron Lewis, you’ll recognize that Scot is the person who hired Ron. Ron spoke so highly of Scott and knew he had so much great advice to give that he connected us both for this interview to help all of you out. 

In this podcast, I interview Scott about his career as a fisheries biologist, from volunteering to working his way up. You might think Scott had his fisheries career set from the beginning, but that wasn’t the case; he took a side trip as an enforcement officer in conservation and a business management position along the way.

So how did Scott build his career as a regional fisheries biologist, and what tips does he have for aspiring biologists? Trust me - this podcast is GOLD. Scott reveals many great career tips - many that you have likely never heard - and stories of his fun adventures in fieldwork.

Specifically, we discussed:
What does Scott Putnam do as a Regional Biologist in the Department of Fish and Game, and how did he get where he is today?What it’s like to work in the US governmentWhat it’s like to work as a fisheries biologistWhat it’s like to work in conservation lawIs there a difference between fisheries and terrestrial wildlife? Can one easily transition between the two? How the field has changed over three decadesHow does someone navigate the hiring process, especially for government jobsHow to advance in your careerHow do you quit a position without burning their bridges?What kind of education do you need to get jobs - is a master’s necessary? How to get your first permanent positionHow to stand apart from everyone else in job applications and thinking outside the boxWhat skills to have that they won’t teach you in schoolAnd MORE!

Get a free chapter of my book “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know” to see how I can help you in your career: https://stephanieschuttler.com/getting-a-job-in-wildlife-biology-book/ 
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

You may have heard me on social media talk about how I am writing a kids’ book and unless you are new to the podcast, you will already know that I wrote a book called Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know. I am so excited to announce that my kids’ book, My First Book of Earth, is now available for pre-order and will soon be available everywhere on August 2nd.
With this official news, lots of people have been asking me, how I did this. Today I am going into detail about that – talking about the entire experience – from setting it up, writing, and getting it published with a publishing company.
For the second part of the podcast, I’m also gonna tell you about my experience writing my other book, Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology, which is a book I self-published in 2020. This is a book I wrote entirely by myself – with no publisher – and has done well since its release selling hundreds of copies.
Writing both of these books has been such a fun experience and great learning process. I really hope this podcast inspires you to write a book if this is something you have been thinking about. This is something you really can do!
I am going to break it down for you and also talk about the advantages of working with a publisher and self-publishing. Specifically, I talk about:
How I was approached by publisherHow long it took me to write both booksMy process for writing for kids and for adultsMy process for writing when working with a publisher and on my ownThe challenges that come with writing a kids’ book including maintaining scientific accuracy without using jargon and sticking to a word limitHow the books were designedHow I was inspired to write a bookAn overview of how to self-publishHow I used the Best Self Journal to write my bookWhat you need to know about marketing your book during the pre-release phaseand MORE!
Get a free chapter of my book “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know” to see how I can help you in your career: https://stephanieschuttler.com/getting-a-job-in-wildlife-biology-book/ 
Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 
I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/
Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

I know that so many of you out there are struggling to get jobs in wildlife biology. I see all of these posts in the wildlife Facebook groups, and when people join my own Facebook group, Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology, I reach out to them and ask them what they’re struggling with. I truly understand how tough it is out there to get a job.
There is more competition than ever before, and the requirements have changed. What used to get you a job is not good enough now. People are frustrated, tired, feeling defeated, and honestly just quite sad.
So I’m doing something that I’ve never done before. If you are sick and tired of not having a job in wildlife biology, if you’ve been applying and applying and applying and can’t get anything, or if you are training for a job in wildlife and you’re scared, then you are going to want in on this four day workshop that I am doing for the very first time.
At 8:00 PM Eastern time starting June six, I am going to be condensing and sharing with you the four most important things to have, do, and be for wildlife biology careers. This also pertains to ecology, conservation biology, biology, zoology, and all of the “ologies.” This is all free. It’s based on my nearly 20 years of experience. You are going to want to get in on this workshop.
For today’s podcast as a lead-up to the workshop, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about the biggest mistakes that I see that people do when they are trying to get a job.
No matter where you are in your career – if you are at the very beginning stages or if you are applying for jobs, frustrated, crying, and punching pillows, then you’re going to want to listen to this episode. These are the top nine mistakes that I see people do who are struggling to get jobs in wildlife biology, ecology, conservation biology, and related fields.

Get a free chapter of my book “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know” to see how I can help you in your career: https://stephanieschuttler.com/getting-a-job-in-wildlife-biology-book/ 

Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology