Careers in forestry/environmental field

[DC3893]

I'm 20 and headed back to school in the fall, there is an environmental studies associate program that I'm really interested in and once complete I'd be transferring to pursue a bachelor's.

But, I've been having some people tell me that career opportunities in this field aren't easy to come by and aren't growing. Is this actually true?

[beenthere]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

Go for it, if that is what you want to do.
A degree isn't a punched ticket to a job (which some think is the case). You do need to have "being employed" in mind all the time you are after the degree. Join the societies available, get on work projects for the department clubs, rub elbows with professors where possible, i.e. don't be a wall flower. Look for summer employment in your field of interest, and be willing to go somewhere (and not be tied to home town, and good buddies).  Peers will hold you back, if you let them.

Wish you good luck in school. If the desire is hot enough, you will get where you want to be. Along the way, you may find other things of interest that you want to reach out for. Go for it!
And nothing will be "easy" in persuit of any career, unless your father owns it or a close relative. ;)

[WhiteLightning]

The best advice I could give you is to work your butt off in school, and be willing to travel for internships/summer work experience. I had no connections in the biz before I started school, but I got lucky and got internships all over the country for a couple different companies. Once you get the experience and maintain a high GPA employers will definitely give you a good look.

[RynSmith]

+3 on being willing to travel for jobs/internships and my other big advice to anyone in natural resources is a mastery of GIS technology.  There will always be state and federal jobs as long as there is public land...