Advice for Gamekeepers seeking a new role

Advice from Tim Bowie of Mea Opus, the Rural Recruitment Experts

At Mea Opus we have a wealth of experience across the rural sector, and we also know how challenging seeking a new job can be.  We offer unlimited, complimentary advice regularly to keepers, stalkers and ghillies looking to take the next step in their career and we love what we do.  We are pleased to share through the NGO members magazine a few thoughts which we trust will help you in your job search.

Many Game and Wildlife Managers are unaware of how good they are and are possibly stuck in unfulfilling roles – as well as not knowing how best to navigate a move up the career ladder.

Be realistic – know your strengths and consider the experience and skills you have.  Would some training be helpful such as DSC 2 or for a particular piece of kit related training?  Write down all the qualities you bring and map them out prioritising those which are most relevant to the job you are seeking.  Understand the difference between skills and experience.  Be honest about gaps and never fib!

What kind of role do you want and what is realistic? Do you want to join a high volume commercial shoot, or is your desire for wild birds or the uplands? What experience do you have in terms of numbers, days, level of responsibility etc.  Try to break this down and summarise it even if these are scribbles on the back of an envelope!

Now you can draft your CV.  The internet is awash with advice, but in summary two sides is enough.  You don’t need to add a photo (you are being hired for your employability not your looks!), nor your date of birth or full address.  At the top, include between four to six bullet points summarising why you are an exceptional individual.  For example, you might say “Outstanding wild bird keeper having increased spring pairs from X to Y in past two seasons” or “Strong communicator, having hosted six school visits over the past year”.  This can sometimes be hard to put on paper, so ask a partner or friend for their input in identifying a few key points.  Then, summarise each previous job with a title, location, employer, dates and a few brief lines emphasising the essential details.  Ensure you check the spelling and grammar and once you are happy, save it as a PDF for sharing.

So now you have secured an interview – what next?  Like eating an elephant, do it in bite size chunks.  Confirm via e mail your interview appointment time and place a few days before, never arrive late.  It’s okay to be nervous, so don’t worry, good candidates have been to very few interviews so have less practice. Personal presentation is key – look the part.  Be clean and tidy, dressed smartly and make sure your vehicle is the same.  Do your homework about your prospective employers – a smart one will ask what you know about the business.  Be interested, enthusiastic and present.

Plan your questions and have two sets for when you meet or speak with clients.  Think about what those questions say about you?  Be clear about any ties you need to consider such as notice periods or family commitments (children’s schooling or your partners job).  Have your “red lines” i.e. those points that for you aren’t negotiable and be realistic about your expectations about the likely pay and rewards.  Do not waste great opportunities!

To summarise, we would be delighted to help, but can only do so if you have registered with us online. Registration takes a few minutes and ideally you need to have your CV to hand. Good luck and we hope to be able to help you on your journey into an exciting new chapter.

Tim Bowie

Director of Mea Opus

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