re: Possible Career change to Mr Green Jeans

Sounds like the work you are interested in with WL&F requires more of a biology type degree. If you went the enforcement route there are some specialized divisions that you can get into like task force and such but you better know some people in high places. Also, you may get assigned to work in an area that you pick but step on the wrong toes and your arse can be sent across the state.

from everything I heard if you are part of the "in" crowd you can move up quick. If not then you will remain at the bottom. Ive known people on both sides of this.

Yeah the Biology type work is where I would want to go however having an IT degree may create a barrier to entry. Wasn't sure how flexible the requirements were.

As far as being part of the 'in' crowd that would leave me in the 'out'. Don't have any connections. I usually get along with people and have had success in my career however I am not sure how far that would take me in this field.

It's been pretty interesting these first couple of weeks. Although it's taking some time getting used to taking classes again

I may be able to shine some light on this faya brah. I got my undergrad in Wildlife at LSU in 04'. During school I worked as a student at LDWF HQ in fisheries. Awesome student job (didn't pay worth a crap, but fun)! I had every intention on being a biologist and was completely okay with not making a lot of money. No jobs outta school and ended up in the private sector as a consultant.

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I suppose I will need to begin investigating plan B and consider getting involved in the Coastal Restoration efforts. I find this fascinating on many levels and also have a personal passion due to living on the water while growing up and watching the erosion occur. I believe they have a building on the LSU campus that specializes in this.

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A friend of mine is majoring in coast and environment at LSU. He loves it.

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I just started the graduate program here and it seems like it will be a pretty good path.

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Went back for my Masters in this same program while working full time, graduated last May. First, you need to go back to school if you are considering either of these paths as a career and I would recommend at least a Master's to open up more options in the future. If your ole lady is the bread winner, shoot for a state or fed job, they are much more relaxed than private industry. For Coastal Restoration, you should focus on engineering side of it. CWPPRA, CPRA and DNR will be doing a lot of restoration in the coming years, so this could be a good opportunity to get in now. I do a little bit of coastal restoration work now and it is pretty cool, but there are a lot of politics involved.

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computerguy

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Well, there is a freeze on us for hiring new Agents, even though we need more, its just the way the current administration is at the moment.

Just had a handful of people quit across the state due to monetary issues with the Dept. as its been stated in this thread before, we dont get paid shite. But thats not what its about, the vast majority of the people that work here work here bc they love what they do, not b/c of the money.

Anyway the hiring process is a bit long, you first ghave to apply, and take the civil service law enforcement exam and you need a certain score for that (75/80 I think). If you make it passed that and get selected for an interview then you go to BR and do an interview, there may also be a 2nd interview after that to even further narrow people down. Then you go to the PT test day where you run, do pushups and situps and must meet physical fitness standards. After that there's a psych evaluation and drug screen...then after all that if you are still selected you go to the academy in BR at Waddill. Its 6 months of military style boot camp, where you get POST certification classes, fire arms, swimming, tracking etc. then if you make it through that you graduate and you're on FTO for 6 months with another Agent, then you're let off of that and put on your own on probation for another year.

You're issued a truck, rifle, shot gun, sidearm, boat(sometimes) and a 4-wheeler(sometimes).

There is NO ticket quota to write, just as long as you're productive nobody cares. You make your own hours for the most part, I send my projected schedule in with the hours/places I wanna work sometimes I get it sometimes I dont.

ETA: There are education requirements but they can be subbed for prior LE experience and/or military.

daylower

This sounds pretty good, everything else was doom and gloom.

For me this is interesting and sounds like something I would enjoy. Also like that they do physical fitness as part of the qualifications. I stay in shape and if this has any weight i believe it would be a benefit to help me get in. However I have 0 experience in law enforcement.

Can you shed some light on how you select your hours, destinations?

How competitive would is it to get a job near Baton Rouge? Are you assigned a particular area, or are you designated for a large region? If I end up in Louisiana I will live in Baton Rouge or the metro area.

How is one considered "Productive"? I see you don't have a quota so I assume that they don't use that as a strict metric of production. Is it a common sense thing and the experienced guys can tell who is working and who is slacking?

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This sounds pretty good, everything else was doom and gloom.

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Well theres def doom and gloom in this line of work, like I said especially with the current administration. We've lost out on a lot of money, and its bc of Jindal.

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For me this is interesting and sounds like something I would enjoy. Also like that they do physical fitness as part of the qualifications. I stay in shape and if this has any weight i believe it would be a benefit to help me get in. However I have 0 experience in law enforcement.

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I had 0 LE experience, and so did several guys in my academy, but I'm prior military.

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Can you shed some light on how you select your hours, destinations?

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All based on the current season and whats going on, during the hunting season you work a lot of late nights or very early in the morning, like 230AM-3PM for duck hunters and such. However now that hunting season is closing and boating season is coming around you will find yourself in a boat if theres any water around you b/c the state gets federal money for boating safety, which basically means the state isnt coming out of pocket to pay you, which being in a boat definitely gets old.

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How competitive would is it to get a job near Baton Rouge? Are you assigned a particular area, or are you designated for a large region? If I end up in Louisiana I will live in Baton Rouge or the metro area.

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You'll be asked during the interview if you are willing to move if need be, but when the spots come open they will be posted for the parishes that have an opening. Mostly you just need to get your foot in the door then try for a transfer after a few years.

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How is one considered "Productive"?

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Be where you're supposed to be when you are, make a couple cases and you'll be fine.

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Ouch. yeah, this is where i may have issues since I am going to be locked into a city and transferring wouldn't be an option.

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I told them I was willing to move, but I had family issues and had limitations on where I would be willing to go.

You should know before being hired if there is an opening in that area. When I went through the process there were 3 openings for the BR area. Always tell them you would be willing to go wherever they send you. if you arent then they wont hire you. Get hired then deal with that.
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Yeah that is how i would approach it. The good thing is that i am currently employed with no current worries about getting laid off so I would have the liberty to wait out the right situation, whatever that might be.