How can I find out about jobs with marine mammals?

Often a good source for job announcements is the personnel department of a specific agency. Science and The Chronicle of Higher Education list academic positions at junior colleges, colleges, and universities. Some sources of job announcements in marine mammal science appear at the end of this brochure.

Many jobs are not announced, rather are filled by volunteers at an organization, by a graduating student of a colleague, through an informal interview at a scientific conference, or from a recommendation by a colleague. In addition to what you know, who you know is very important in finding a marine mammal job. It is valuable to keep an active network of marine mammal colleagues. Attending scientific conferences is very useful for maintaining the network and identifying job opportunities. Electronic bulletin boards, such as MARMAM, WHALENET, or OMNET, announce upcoming jobs. When looking for a job, make that fact known in these informal networks of marine mammal scientists.

Many job opportunities are a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Controlling the right time is difficult but you can obtain the appropriate education, pre-position yourself in the right place, and wait for the right time. For example, chances of obtaining a career designing educational exhibits on marine mammals are greatly enhanced if you have an M.S. degree and are a volunteer in the exhibits department of an oceanarium.

Good luck in pursuing a career in marine mammal science.