Planning To Work As A Park Ranger? You'll Ideally Have These Attributes
If you're not the type of person who wants to spend his or her workday at a desk in an office, it's ideal if you can identify a job that primarily takes place outdoors. One job is that of a park ranger, and there are many different levels of this position that may appeal to you. Whether you seek a position as a park ranger at a national park, a state park, or even a community park, you'll get to enjoy being outdoors for the majority of each shift. This job has its challenges, though, and you'll need to possess the following series of attributes in order to excel.
Strong Physical Endurance
A park ranger may use a variety of vehicles on his or her shift, including trucks, cars, all-terrain vehicles, and bicycles. Regardless of the vehicle that you use, you'll also spend a lot of time walking because there are plenty of areas in a park that can't handle vehicular traffic. Given this part of your job, you'll need to possess a high level of physical endurance. You may walk for multiple miles over the course of your day at work, and it's important that you can do so without struggling.
Comfort With Solitude
There are some people who struggle to be alone, which can make an office environment a good choice. If you're the type of person who doesn't like to find himself or herself outside of a group of people, a job as a park ranger likely isn't for you. This is a job in which solitude will be a theme of your day. While you'll work with other rangers at times, the reality is that the park may be so vast that the rangers need to spread out. Many of your routine patrols will take place solo — something that can be perfect if you're someone who enjoys solitude.
Good Directional Sense
If you've always found yourself to be someone who has a good directional sense, this attribute will help you in your role as a park ranger. While signage and the use of a GPS can help you to navigate the area, it's an asset if you have a good directional sense. For example, when you walk into a wooded area and spend a few minutes walking around, you should naturally know the direction of the road from which you came. This attribute won't just help you — it will also be helpful when you pass along information to people you encounter in the park.
To learn more about the jobs available in your area, contact your local employment agency.