Fish and Wildlife Agency Employment Outlook

Because of the great rewards they offer, competition for seasonal jobs with the FWS tends to be stiff. Along with persistence, knowledge of where and how to apply are the best advantages in landing a summer job with this agency.

With the new administration, which appears dedicated to conservation, morale within the Fish and Wildlife Service is definitely looking up. The apparent attitude of previous administrations – that certain animal species might best be sacrificed to economic development – has been exchanged for a commitment to protecting the nation’s biodiversity through “ecosystems management.”

Nevertheless, applicants should bear in mind that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a small agency compared with the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service. In total, the Fish and Wildlife Service employs about 9,000 men and women, so the number of seasonal jobs is lower than in other agencies.

NOTE: If you enjoy working with animals and wildlife then be sure read our pages on that topic in this section of JobMonkey.

Federal guidelines give veterans of the armed forces and returned Peace Corps volunteers preference in hiring. As a federal agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must give equal consideration regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, physical handicap, age, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor. Although all applicants are considered for openings, local applicants are sometimes favored, especially in rural areas of high unemployment. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to begin by looking for jobs at nearby refuges.

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