So, you just started out as an ecologist, congratulations! Ecological consultancy is a fun and rewarding career. It offers you a lot of variation in your working week taking you to some wonderful and weird places. As you embark upon this brilliant adventure, we are here to help you avoid these common mistakes new ecologists make.
If you have studied Certificate in Ecological Consultancy with us, you are probably aware of many of the pitfalls already. But it’s always good to recap. If you didn’t study with us, don’t forget that we can help you, with experienced ecologists to help you succeed in ecology.
Not recording enough field notes leads to other mistakes new ecologists make
Field notes are really important. At the end of a long day in the field, you will probably be convinced that you know the habitat and landscape intimately. But without good, in-depth field notes, diagrams, maps and photos, you will soon realise that your memory isn’t as reliable as you thought!
The amount of detail that we have to record and remember means that without our field notes to refer back to when report writing, we could easily make mistakes. We also sometimes carry out a site visit, and don’t get a chance to write up our report straight away. So, having field notes to refer back to is invaluable and can save you a time consuming (and embarrassing) second visit.
Pretending you know more than you do
When you’re just starting out, it’s ok to not know everything, just like with any other profession. It’s always better to admit that you don’t know something, as long as you commit to finding out. So, instead of taking a guess you could say something like: “I’m not sure about that, so I’ll check and get back to you”. Or “I want to make sure I’m being completely accurate, so I’m going to double check and get back to you with an answer”.
Using this kind of language, you stay professional and honest. It also ensures you don’t make any mistakes that could erode your credibility with clients and other ecologists.
When it comes to ID, nobody knows everything. Even the most experienced ecologists have to check some things from time to time. So don’t be ashamed to admit when you don’t know something and use it as a learning experience.
Not putting your own health and safety first
Putting your safety first really should be rule number one. It’s easily done; we care so much about collecting data, investigating areas and finding tracks and signs that we can forget about our own safety during the process. This is just because we are passionate about our jobs, and the wildlife we are fighting to protect.
However, during the course of our day-to-day responsibilities, we can easily find ourselves in dangerous situations. From bat roosts at height, to river surveys, walking across rough ground or working at night, it only takes one small mistake for one of those situations to become serious very quickly.
Always remember to carry out a risk assessment before you start. Then, if necessary, change your plans to ensure your own safety. This may include bringing someone else along with you, re-evaluating your safety equipment, wearing appropriate clothing or rescheduling a site survey if weather conditions are making it unsafe.
Always put yourself first and remember that the site, the wildlife and the survey can always wait. If you’re concerned about earnings, remember that injured ecologists aren’t able to work at all! So it’s better to delay something and stay safe than put yourself at risk.
Trying to do everything too quickly
Many newly graduated ecologists feel they have something to prove. This means they are often rushing into surveys, hurrying to do habitat assessments and racing to finish reports. Unfortunately, instead of proving your competence this often has the opposite effect and can easily lead to mistakes being made.
Experienced ecologists aren’t fast because they are rushing, they’re fast because they have had a lot of practice, they know the details to look out for, and they already had their own processes in place to get the work finished. As a new ecologist, you still have this to work out. So, as a new ecologist, give yourself permission to slow down.
Slowing down will enable you to pay attention to detail. You can work out your own processes and ensure that you aren’t making mistakes that come from a lack of practice. Be realistic about how long things will take you and rest assured that you will get faster with practice.
Thinking that learning stops when you get the job
Congratulations on getting a job, or setting up your own consultancy! However, this is by no means the finish line, it’s an exciting beginning. Ecologists continue learning throughout their careers, whether it be about certain species or habitats, or the ever-changing landscape of legislations and guidelines.
So, while you have worked hard to get where you are now, you will now need to continue to learn, on the job. This will be part of the fun of the job.
The best ecologists are continually attending conferences, training courses and webinars to further their learning. They will be reading books and papers, visiting places to discover new species and exchanging information and interests with other ecologists.
Avoiding The Mistakes New Ecologists Make
Now that we have seen some of the common mistakes new ecologists make, ensure that you remind yourself of these, as you are going along. It’s easy to forget when you are busy meeting the demands of your work. But remember, how you conduct yourself now will have a significant bearing on how clients and other ecologists view you in your career going forward. Don’t put yourself under too much pressure. Be humble, stay curious and never miss an opportunity to learn from someone more experienced. At Ecology Training UK we have a wide range of online and face-to-face courses to help you continue learning, develop new skills and grow your confidence with the help of industry experts.
FAQ
What are the challenges faced by consultants?
The biggest challenges for ecological consultants are finding a steady stream of clients and managing workloads. We also have to navigate continually changing regulations, and new legislation that requires constant learning and upskilling. Many ecologists also struggle with long working hours during summer months.
What are the four pillars of consultancy?
The “four pillars of consultancy” are parameters that you should be working towards as a new ecologist. These are; a proven track record, technical fluency, subject matter expertise and earned client respect. As a new ecologist you have a great opportunity to build these pillars within your own career, and avoid the mistakes new ecologists make.
Are ecologists in demand in the UK?
Yes, ecologists are in high demand in the UK. Much of this is driven by the new mandatory requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain, especially in England. Ecologists with good fieldwork skills, knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain and good data handling skills are in particular high demand.
