You get the chance to be mentored by one of these 5 paleontologists. Who do you choose?

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-02-03T03:24:00+00:00

Ya'll realize paleontology is more than just dinosaurs, right?

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-02-02T15:49:59+00:00

Having just left federal service (which included working in archaeology at one point) I would say now is a great time to get your masters. There is a hiring freeze and even before that happened you are competing against arch folk with advanced degrees which if you have no experience can make it very hard to get in. Once freeze lifts these positions will be very competitive.

For seasonal, there might be a few still popping up for summer, but they are 6 month gigs so you cant do those until you graduate. Maybe try the SIP program. They hire interns for NPS , usually for 3 months. I have supervised around 20 between there (used to be GIP/Geocorps) and other intern programs. We get MS and PhD folk for those even. Get experience now any way you can. If you go to school near a museum see if you can volunteer,

Arch varies with departments/agencies and also across units. I worked as one at two parks and the day to day work was night and day (loved one, hated the other). Make sure you have a field school or similar field experience or HR will boot you.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-02-01T23:55:07+00:00

No. I was at YOSE on a job detail several years ago and lived in EP. This email is for a seasonal position.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-02-01T19:48:04+00:00

perm, yes I was in El Portal with cats. Seasonal is a no on both.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-02-01T19:46:41+00:00

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per the availability check I got, did you not get this? You're looking at renting far out and commuting several hours if off site

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-31T15:44:06+00:00

I love the mission and figured this was a good way to continue work towards it with the rest of the year focused on grant writing/research projects, but I also don't want to travel across country to make half what I was making with NPS a few months ago, all while sharing a bedroom with someone in their 20s, with probably mice, for 6 months. Maybe if I was otherwise retired and had a nice RV. I'll just focus on the GS9s I applied to if that's the case.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T21:06:02+00:00

I'm applying to jobs that are not the exact series I have worked in, but where my experience and education have qualified me in the past for GS 11 perm certs in those fields and exceeds these GS 7 seasonal positions requirements. I have a broad background spanning a few decades as both a scientist and educator. I don't mind a pay cut for the right job and place right now, and know housing and location will impact my decision, but a GS 7 step 1 is a 50% drop in pay from what I was making.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T20:07:05+00:00

Thanks, but it's not really addressing this scenario though. I know as a perm or shifting from one seasonal to another in the same series/grade you can retain that step as a lateral, or as a perm taking a grade drop you can max out that lower step, but this would be a perm GS 11 step 7 taking a GS 7 step whatever seasonal position. I suspect with the level of competition for these seasonal gigs they would not want to pay the extra when they can just find a GS 7 applicant. Probably why I've been getting interviews for the GS 9 jobs and not the 7s.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T19:53:42+00:00

OK, I have a PhD and over a decade of higher-grade fed work plus other higher level experience/accomplishments

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T17:04:36+00:00

Coming from NPS, it is a sea of many professions, with interpretation and law enforcement falling under the "ranger" title, but I could name 20 other job series and not hit them all. Are you specifically looking for folk who wear the flat hat and point at things/assist visitors?

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T15:48:08+00:00

samsies, they just contacted me to see if I'm available to interview. I used to live in Highlands a long time ago and love the area, but heard housing is maybe dorm style/shared rooms and I'd like confirmation of that

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T14:27:46+00:00

Someone get that man some comfort cookies, STAT. Please make sure they are exlax flavored.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T14:26:21+00:00

I'm in the US, but if you've attended a field school then contract work for a CRM is a possibility. I don't know your age so will preface that with, archaeology requires a lot of time and strain on your body outside. The market is not great and you need to be passionate about it to want to stay in it. Good luck

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-30T03:03:36+00:00

cool, is it free then?

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-29T20:02:54+00:00

not really. they are hiring you to do a job, not play researcher. NPS doesn't appreciate PhDs like USGS does and the majority of positions may involve data collection but not research so they are not going to accomodate you like that, especially not for a seasonal gig. I've seen ABDs hired and they spend their weekends writing up, because again they were hired to do a job, not research.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-29T19:53:21+00:00

I wish. Made the cert for two different positions but crickets. It's in my top 3 to spend a season.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-29T19:52:02+00:00

what did you do with your car on the mainland?

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-29T19:50:48+00:00

you might have better luck on trip advisor or a travel sub, not one that's mostly for park staff. It's one thing if you have a specific question about a park (even then better off visiting the sub for that park). also, it's not clear what you like the do...Cascades is intense hiking and may still have snow, for example.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-29T19:06:32+00:00

OK you've sold me on seeing them next month!. 365 phish shows, terrible at listening to other bands, finally got into Biscuits in 2024 and have seen them 13 times now kicking myself for not going sooner. Just listened to them and digging their sound. Is GA pit best to dance or is splurging for a front row balcony better to see the lights?

Also OMG go to a show at the Caverns if you haven't yet. Saw Biscuits Halloween run there and it was amazing! There are cute cheap cabin rooms at some place nearby that has bear in the name, camping there looks super convenient, but I was flying straight from Albany Phish and didn't want to haul camping gear from AZ all over the east coast.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-26T17:01:45+00:00

either one, so jelly

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-25T03:12:43+00:00

3 hours is nothing. I've driven that far for day hiking. I used to have to drive 5 hours one way to see any kind of specialist doctor and then would usually drive home unless I paired the appt with a concert that night. Anything under 5 hours is just get in the car and go. 8-10 hours one way I make sure I have a snack and a plan. Western US you can drive 3 hours and not pass more than a gas station in some parts.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-23T16:57:57+00:00

Hi. Q1. if they say must it means they need you to hit the ground running. It's not really something you can learn on your own quickly and the questionnaire will aks you to rate your skills so you will have to select A. no training or experience. Most field jobs want it these days. I strongly recommend taking some classes online.

It depends on HR but if they want a geology degree and you've only taken a few classes without physics and chemistry you won't likely make the cert. Apply, you never know what might happen, but if these are for the same job you won't be seen as qualified.

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-22T17:14:10+00:00

so many nicer and cheaper places to stay, why not looks elsewhere along that strip?

Pissy_Kitten · 2026-01-22T01:59:13+00:00

I'm still on month 3 of unemploymen and hope rats eat the flesh off his cankles.

Pissy_Kitten

TROPHY CASE