Marine Biologist seeking employment within BelizeWhat type of job are you looking for? I am a Marine Biologist from the UK. I have been living within Glovers Atoll for 4 months. I was completing my masters thesis which involves studying the feeding ecology of Southern Stingrays, and now my studies are complete I am seeking employment within the marine field. What nationality are you? British What languages do you speak (and at what level)? Fluent English, basic Spanish and French. I can understand Creole fully. What country or area are you looking to work in and why? Within Belize as this is where I have family. What countries have you worked in? Within the UK, Greece and I have volunteered within Belize. What countries do you have a visa to work in? None at present. What field do you currently work in? I am currently unemployed, but would ideally liked to be based within the research side of the marine environment. What fields have you worked in before? I have worked within a fishery and shellfish market, and have done much volunteering. Within the UK I have volunteered for CCW completing dolphin and porpoise monitoring surveys, and within Belize I have volunteered for the Fisheries department aiding the completion of their conch and coral health surveys. What qualifications do you hold? BSc Environmental Studies and MSc Marine Biology Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? I think a combination of skills gained through formal education within the field. Education needs to stem from hands on practical experience directly related to real life scenarios / environments. Describe the benefits of working with others Working as part of a team enables not only personal communication and social skills to develop, but also allows for the development and employment of the best techniques in order to successfully achieve the overall objective through a combination of efforts. Describe the benefits of working alone Working alone allows people to reach their working limits with regards to dedication and time management. Distractions from possible co-workers aside, one can focus directly upon the task ahead and know work will be achieved to the best of ones ability. What was your worst working experience? Whilst collecting data for my thesis, my research permit expired and so data collection was delayed by several weeks. However, through time management, overall data collection was not jeopardised. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? The most important lesson I have learnt is to over estimate the length of time it may take to complete a task within the field due to ever changing weather conditions and species limitations. Furthermore, I understand the importance of respect for the natural environment, and also cultural respect with regards to local communities. What unique skills do you have? I always ensure a task is fully completed to the best of my ability. I am not afraid to ask questions or to ask for help if this benefits my work. I am always the first to volunteer for projects as I love learning new skills. I am capable of working and completing tasks alone and as part of a team, always ensuring work is completed to the highest level. I am punctual and enthusiastic, and do not like to let myself or others down. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? The marine environment is my passion. As previously stated, I have gained considerable knowledge regarding the biology of Southern Stingrays. Marine mammal, fish or coral based research / monitoring would be ideal. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? The most interesting aspect is the unknown. The marine environment is completely unpredictable. This makes everyday different from the next and allows for exciting and new experiences to be achieved almost on a daily basis. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? Controversially, the same answer as above! Unpredictable conditions allow for excitment, but can also limit the level to which a task can be completed. How can potential employers contact you? email: aly_mcgahey@hotmail.com | 
