job/apprenticeship help please

[1234]

thank you every one for the input
i think im going to go down the volunteer route, build up some experience, try and get to know the right people and then look into a paid trainee role or possibly go to a college/somewhere that run practical courses

could some of you lovely folk check this email for me please, i just want some advice/input/recommendations before i send it to a couple of country parks/wild life trusts


Hi
I’m wondering if you have any volunteer/unpaid work opportunities on offer.
I would be looking something along the lines of trainee wildlife ranger/park keeper but would be happy to help out with anything outdoors and hands on orientated.
I could offer you someone who is genuinely interest in conservation, someone who’s willing to put in hard graft rain or shine and someone who is eager to learn and absorb as much knowledge from the experience as possible.
I’m available from 1st September 2010 and can work 5 days a week 9-5 (in other words full days, can be flexible with days and hours)and would ideally like at least 4 weeks possibly more.

ATB
1234 ( would put my real name in obviously )

 

[locum76]

that could work, if you happen to get the project manager/ administrator at the right time. I'd try the local volunteer centre who can deal with stuff like that on your behalf.

This website has some interesting volunteer opportunities too:

http://www.environmentjob.co.uk/index.cfm?page=latest

 

[locum76]

I'd write the email a bit more like this. It's by no means perfect.

Dear Sir/ Madam.

Please allow me to introduce myself.

My name is {1234} and I am currently looking to add to my skills and experience in the outdoors to try and develop my career. For that reason I would like to know if you have any volunteer opportunities available in your organisation.

I would prefer a role along the lines of trainee wildlife ranger or park keeper but I would be happy to help out with anything outdoors and I am especially interested in hands on work.

I am genuinely interested in conservation, I am willing to put in hard graft come rain or shine and I am eager to learn and absorb as much knowledge from the experience as possible.

I'm available from 1st September 2010 and can work 5 days a week 9-5 (in other words full days, although I can be flexible with days and hours). Ideally I would like at least 4 weeks of work if not more.

Sincerely

{1234}

 

[Matt.S]

http://employment.btcv.org.uk/display/jobseekers

Wings

I can second this.

 

[Tengu]

Thats a good start.

You really will need to study for some qualifications; something like Maths and English OCR level 2 (a bit lower than a GCSE, thats the minimum grade to get into the Civil Service) Your English is just fine, the Maths is pretty easy.

This will prove you are literate and numerate

 

[Jus_like_that]

I agree on the college option, find one you want to go to, (NOW as the term starts soon) and as long as you start before you're 25 the courses like countryside management/forestry management are free apart from the chainsaw qualifications, but as soon as you start they'll be looking at getting you on work experience and most who take you on will pay you a small wage if you;re willing to work although they're not supposed to.

Good luck and don't give up!

ATB

Adam

 

[ged]

Most of it's been said already. You've expressed yourself well and you're making the effort. That would have earned you an interview with me.

Unfortunately I sell pens and pencils so I can't offer you anything except encouragement. Stick at it. Treat getting a job as if it's a full-time job. To some extent I'm afraid it's a numbers game. Selling most things is, and you're just selling your services if you can think of it that way. If you write 10 letters and go to one interview you have perhaps a one percent chance of getting the job. So write 1,000 letters and attend a hundred interviews. The maths is still against you, so that won't give you a 100 percent chance, but it's a much better chance. You can use the Internet, so perhaps you can try to do a little research about your potential customers before writing. If they see that you've done some work learning about them it might help. But don't try to impress them too much with it, that could easily backfire. Let them ask most of the questions but have a few of your own ready.

If you can, find out the name of the person who has the job of taking on staff. A letter addressed to that person has a much better chance of landing on a desk instead of going into the bin.

Hand written applications get a lot more attention from me than CVs copied from the Internet and printed on A4 copier bond by laserjet printers. By all means attach something with the boilerplate history, but do write something by hand. Personally I don't care if the paper has lines on it, nor if it's Basildon Bond or narrow feint, but not everyone is like me.