hi,
my name is nicole and i was wondering if you would be able to answer a few
questions for and interview. here is my list of questions:
1. What is a typical day?
2. What do u like the most/least about your job? Why?
3. What do u think is most difficult about your job?
4. If you could change anything about your job what would it be?
5. How did you decide to enter this career field?
6. What type of schooling does one need to enter this field?
7. Do you have any advice for someone entering this career?
Thank- you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
Nicole
Hi Nicole,
I would be happy to answer your questions. If you are interested in more
answers to your questions, please visit the WhaleNet search page, and type
in "careers" - you will find many pages about this subject. The search page
can be found at: http://whale.wheelock.edu/Search.html
1 - There is no such thing as a typical day! Some of my days start by
waking at 4:30AM to beging the search for whales 180 miles offshore and
ending at last light around 9:30PM - then compiling the data from the day
before you go to bed and start again the next day! Other days I'm in the
office doing analysis, training interns or writing our newsletter! During
most summer days, we're on the boat from about 7:30 in the morning until
6:00 at night, educating the public about whales and their habitat.
2 - The thing(s) I like the best about my job is being on the ocean and
getting the opportunity to see and interact with whales. I just love them!
The thing I like the least is when passengers on the boat don't appreciate
the whales and when people are disrespectful to the ocean or the whales.
3 - The most difficult thing about my job is the seasonality of it - we are
on the boat for about 7 months of the year, and then I have to figure out a
creative way to earn money in the winter!
4 - If I could change one thing - I'd be paid a lot more! :)
5 - I decided a long, long time ago that I wanted either to study primates
or cetaceans (particularly humpback whales). I grew up in Michigan, and got
the chance to visit relatives who lived in Marblehead, MA. They surprised
me with a trip on a whale watch - changed my fate forever. Only five months
later, I moved to Gloucester, MA to be an intern with a research group. I
never left!
6 - There are many diverse backgrounds for entering a career in cetacean
research. I have a BS in Zoology, many others have studied Marine Sciences
or Marine Biology. I know others who have backgrounds in Animal Sciences or
Environmental Sciences.
7 - You have to really love it. My best advice to anyone is to find your
passion and stick with it. Don't let anyone deter you from your calling.
There are probably hundreds of thousands of people in this country alone
who are miserable in their jobs. They live for the two weeks of vacation
each year so they can go and do what they truly enjoy. Imagine going to
work every day (or almost every day) knowing that you're going to enjoy
what you're doing...That's what I would wish for everyone.
Good luck - hope you find your passion!
Sincerely,
Lisa Foerster
Director
Center for Oceanic Research and Education
www.coreresearch.org
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