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Sarah, Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental: Advize Career Interview

A career in environmental consulting offers a dynamic and challenging path, as evidenced by a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental.

The professional's journey began with diverse experiences, including juggling multiple jobs during graduate school and prioritizing paid work over unpaid internships.

The current role blends fieldwork, including wildlife surveys and environmental compliance reviews, with business development tasks such as proposal writing.

A typical workday is unpredictable and multifaceted, requiring adaptability, teamwork, and continuous learning.

While communication with clients and managing an unpredictable schedule present challenges, the work offers constant mental stimulation and the satisfaction of contributing to environmental protection.

The industry is collaborative and diverse, yet success requires a go-getter attitude, a commitment to continuous learning, and the ability to withstand physically demanding fieldwork.

A key takeaway is the importance of self-advocacy in negotiating pay and career progression, especially in a field where underpayment is common.

Undergraduate students should prioritize relevant fieldwork experiences, even if unpaid, for a stronger career foundation.

The professional's journey highlights the importance of self-advocacy, even in a male-dominated field where exceeding expectations is sometimes necessary to gain respect.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Sarah Toback

Staff Biologist

Blackhawk Environmental

University of California, Los Angeles- 2015

Macquarie University- Master of Conservation Biology

Environmental & Related Sciences

Environment

Research and Development (R&D)

Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member

Watch all of this Advizer's videos below

Career Path of a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Starting at UCLA, the interviewee worked at the campus gym for four years, prioritizing paid work over unpaid internships. After graduation, a year as an au pair in Australia preceded graduate school, where the interviewee juggled multiple jobs including research, childcare, and catering before beginning a career in environmental consulting as a biologist in 2019.

Career Path of a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Main Responsibilities Of A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental

As a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental, Sarah's role encompasses "a lot," including fieldwork such as "wildlife and plant surveys" and report writing, but also extends to business development through "proposal writing for new projects." This blend of field biology and business development showcases a diverse skill set within the environmental consulting field.

Main Responsibilities Of A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental

A Day in the Life of a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

A Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental described a dynamic workday, stating that "every single day is different," ranging from fieldwork like surveying federally endangered bird species to office work such as environmental compliance reviews and report writing for various projects. This variety highlights the unpredictable and multifaceted nature of a career in environmental consulting.

A Day in the Life of a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Most Important Skills For A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental

A Staff Biologist's career requires significant flexibility, as "every single day is different," demanding adaptability. The ability to collaborate as a team player, despite often working independently on fieldwork, is crucial for successful project completion and client satisfaction.

Most Important Skills For A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental

Favorite Parts of Being a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Sarah enjoys the daily "challenges" inherent in the Staff Biologist role at Blackhawk Environmental, finding constant mental stimulation from having to "think on [her] toes" and utilize resources to learn new things, even during routine surveys. This continuous learning keeps the work interesting and engaging.

Favorite Parts of Being a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Sarah's biggest challenges as a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental include effectively communicating findings to clients—often developers or oil and gas companies—"who aren't necessarily environmentally minded people"—and navigating the unpredictable schedule, which sometimes involves "finding out at 9:00 PM that I need to be up at 3:00 AM for a survey."

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Environmental Industry As A Staff Biologist

Sarah enjoys the environmental industry's diversity, noting it's "not just a boys' club," and appreciates the collaborative nature of the work, where "people who have different specialties are...always coming together to help each other out." This teamwork-oriented environment is a significant positive aspect of their career.

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Environmental Industry As A Staff Biologist

Who Thrives in Environmental Careers According to a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

Blackhawk Environmental's staff biologist highlights a "go-getter attitude" and commitment to "continually learning" as crucial for success, coupled with flexibility to adapt to changing schedules and the physical ability to endure "harsh conditions" of fieldwork. The willingness to embrace ongoing professional development and tolerate demanding outdoor work environments are key traits for thriving in this industry.

Who Thrives in Environmental Careers According to a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

What A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Environmental Industry

Sarah, a Staff Biologist, wishes they had known the physically and mentally demanding nature of the job, including "hazardous situations," before accepting the position, advocating for a higher starting wage that reflects this reality because "people tend to get really underpaid, especially when they're first starting out."

What A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Environmental Industry

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Staff Biologists at Blackhawk Environmental

Entry-level environmental science roles often begin with internships, some paid, some unpaid, offering "a great way to find out if you like consulting." Many consulting firms also hire recent graduates directly, provided they have prior fieldwork experience from undergraduate research or internships.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Staff Biologists at Blackhawk Environmental

Significant Career Lesson From A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental

Sarah's most significant career lesson is the importance of self-advocacy, emphasizing the need to "speak up and tell someone what you want" regarding projects, pay, and training opportunities. This proactive approach, learned over several years, ensures career goals are met and prevents being "swept up and kind of lost in the motion of things."

Significant Career Lesson From A Staff Biologist At Blackhawk Environmental

College Experiences Helping a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental Succeed

Sarah, a Staff Biologist, reflects that undergraduate experiences did not fully prepare them for their current career, necessitating a "year of living in Australia to get sorted out". While a job developed "interpersonal skills", the interviewee recommends undergraduates prioritize "research or volunteer opportunities in their specific field", even if unpaid, for better career preparation.

College Experiences Helping a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental Succeed

How Identity Has Influenced the Career of a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental

In a male-dominated field, the Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental shared that they've had to be "a little more forward" to be taken seriously by older male clients and colleagues. This sometimes requires demonstrating that they "deserve to be there" through exceeding expectations.

How Identity Has Influenced the Career of a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental
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