I am an Environmental Protection Specialist for the environmental agency in the state where I live. I work in the recycling and planning program review grants and requests for money, and I also inspect composting sites. I help oversee the creation and maintaining of county plans, so that these places will be sure to have somewhere to dispose of their trash. I also do educational programs at times, and have had the chance to go to court and testify against people that were not following our environmental laws.
A description of a typical day
I usually come to work, check my e-mail and then do a variety of things, depending on the season. Sometimes I'm reviewing grant applications, ordinances to make sure municipalities are following the rules. If I'm really lucky, I get to go out in the field and visit composting sites. I also spend a lot of time on the phone explaining to people why it's bad to burn leaves, especially in the area where I live. My job is different every day, depending on what I have to review, or what I have to deal with, so I never manage to get bored.
What you need in the way of training/education/experience to do this job
First off, a bachelor of science degree in any one of the science disciplines is necessary. Then I had apply for a civil service position and start off as a trainee, and I worked as an inspector in our Waste Management Program for three years before being promoted.
Why you like it and (if you dare)
Because I get to give out money to people, and what I'm doing makes a difference. Plus, my office environment is fun to work in. 85% of the time my job is low stress, which makes the other 15% easier to bear. As I said before, it's constantly changing, and I never spend more than a couple of days at one time doing the same thing.
Why you dislike it
When people don't get the money they were expecting, they can blame me personally. I also have to deal with politians sometime, and that isn't pleasant. Also, due to the politians, I sometimes have to enforce policies that were created by people that have no idea about the environmental issues, and are therefore actually harmful to the environment.
I also have to about once a year or so, go out very early in the morning and inspect trash trucks to make sure they are following our rules. I absolutely HATE to do that.
What sorts of things can go wrong at your job?
Losing paperwork, dealing with consultants who turn in bad work product and then lie to their customers, blaming you for the problems, and dealing with irate residents that are positive that you are taking away their personal freedoms because someone farther up the chain from you made a decision they didn't like.
What kind of person thrives in your job
Someone with a thick skin, and patience. I didn't have them before, but have learned them since starting this job. It's also very secure, given that I'm a civil servant. People like to threaten that they will get me fired, but it won't really happen.
Anything else you can think of that would give her an idea of what it might be like to choose your career?
For all that it can be frustrating, it is rewarding as well. I know I'm making a difference, which I don't think many people can say. I have personally been responsible for a tightening up of state's policies on burning, which in the long run will be beneficial to the environment. There aren't many people that can say that.
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Date: 2003-04-24 05:51 am (UTC)What your job title is, and what that means
I am an Environmental Protection Specialist for the environmental agency in the state where I live. I work in the recycling and planning program review grants and requests for money, and I also inspect composting sites. I help oversee the creation and maintaining of county plans, so that these places will be sure to have somewhere to dispose of their trash. I also do educational programs at times, and have had the chance to go to court and testify against people that were not following our environmental laws.
A description of a typical day
I usually come to work, check my e-mail and then do a variety of things, depending on the season. Sometimes I'm reviewing grant applications, ordinances to make sure municipalities are following the rules. If I'm really lucky, I get to go out in the field and visit composting sites. I also spend a lot of time on the phone explaining to people why it's bad to burn leaves, especially in the area where I live. My job is different every day, depending on what I have to review, or what I have to deal with, so I never manage to get bored.
What you need in the way of training/education/experience to do this job
First off, a bachelor of science degree in any one of the science disciplines is necessary. Then I had apply for a civil service position and start off as a trainee, and I worked as an inspector in our Waste Management Program for three years before being promoted.
Why you like it and (if you dare)
Because I get to give out money to people, and what I'm doing makes a difference. Plus, my office environment is fun to work in. 85% of the time my job is low stress, which makes the other 15% easier to bear. As I said before, it's constantly changing, and I never spend more than a couple of days at one time doing the same thing.
Why you dislike it
When people don't get the money they were expecting, they can blame me personally. I also have to deal with politians sometime, and that isn't pleasant. Also, due to the politians, I sometimes have to enforce policies that were created by people that have no idea about the environmental issues, and are therefore actually harmful to the environment.
I also have to about once a year or so, go out very early in the morning and inspect trash trucks to make sure they are following our rules. I absolutely HATE to do that.
What sorts of things can go wrong at your job?
Losing paperwork, dealing with consultants who turn in bad work product and then lie to their customers, blaming you for the problems, and dealing with irate residents that are positive that you are taking away their personal freedoms because someone farther up the chain from you made a decision they didn't like.
What kind of person thrives in your job
Someone with a thick skin, and patience. I didn't have them before, but have learned them since starting this job. It's also very secure, given that I'm a civil servant. People like to threaten that they will get me fired, but it won't really happen.
Anything else you can think of that would give her an idea of what it might be like to choose your career?
For all that it can be frustrating, it is rewarding as well. I know I'm making a difference, which I don't think many people can say. I have personally been responsible for a tightening up of state's policies on burning, which in the long run will be beneficial to the environment. There aren't many people that can say that.