The UK’s 15 national parks offer a wide variety of job opportunities in beautiful natural settings. From rangers to hospitality staff to volunteer positions, working for a national park allows you to spread your passion for the great outdoors. Follow these tips to land your dream role with one of Britain’s iconic protected landscapes.
Tailor Your CV
The first step to finding work with a UK national park is creating a compelling CV. Emphasise any relevant experience such as conservation, education, customer service or hospitality. Even if you don’t have direct expertise, highlight transferable skills from past jobs or education. Use a CV for students template, or a template suited for the roles you’re applying for.
List accomplishments that show your abilities, like increasing visitor satisfaction scores or achieving fundraising goals. Quantify your experience with numbers whenever possible. Make sure to include interests like hiking, camping or wildlife viewing. This demonstrates your enthusiasm for national park work. Check for typos and grammar errors and keep your CV concise.
Search National Park Job Boards
Once you’ve spruced up your CV, start your job search on national park career sites. Organisations like the National Park Authority and the Wildlife Trusts list open positions on their websites. The Association of National Park Authorities also has a jobs board aggregating openings across UK parks.
Regularly check these sites for new opportunities across various roles. Look for seasonal positions in the spring and summer. Full-time and permanent jobs tend to be posted year-round. Subscribe to email alerts so you never miss a fitting vacancy.
Apply for Volunteer Programmes
Volunteering with a national park is a great way to gain relevant experience and expand your network. Many parks like the Peak District and the New Forest rely on volunteers to maintain trails, lead educational programmes and assist with visitor services.
Even without direct prior experience, highlight your willingness to learn. Expect to commit to regular weekly or monthly shifts. Make sure to express your motivations and interests in conservation and recreation.
While unpaid, volunteer work demonstrates your dedication. It enables you to meet staff and show your abilities first-hand. Make a strong impression as a volunteer, and you may be top of mind when paid roles become available.
Attend Career Fairs and Open Days
Keep an eye out for career fairs, open days and recruitment events held by national parks. These are prime opportunities to engage directly with recruiters and ask questions about open positions.
Come prepared with multiple copies of your CV. Dress professionally and be ready to briefly pitch your interests and qualifications. Collect business cards for following up after the event.
Even if no roles are actively advertised, use these events for networking. Introduce yourself to park staff and inquire about how frequently they hire. Staying engaged can help you respond quickly when jobs are posted.
Consider Seasonal Opportunities
Don’t rule out seasonal or temporary roles as a way to get your foot in the door. National parks often hire additional staff during their busiest visitor seasons in summer and early fall.
Seasonal jobs like park rangers, tourism guides and hospitality workers are commonly available. Be prepared to provide availability for multiple months at a time. Highlight flexibility and enthusiasm to take on varied responsibilities.
While temporary, seasonal roles build your experience within a park. Hard work and dedication during a short-term position can position you for more permanent openings down the line.
Broaden Your Search Beyond Parks
Expand your search to related organisations that frequently partner with national parks. Conservation charities, education centres, outdoor activity providers and tourism bureaus often collaborate with parks on projects and initiatives.
Building connections with groups like the Wildlife Trusts, Field Studies Council or local tourism boards can lead to national park work. Indeed and other mainstream job boards will have more postings from these entities.
Your passion for the national parks comes across just as strongly working adjacent organisations. Gaining broader experience makes you an even stronger candidate for your ultimate national park job.
Highlight Your Passion and Enthusiasm
Above all, emphasise your genuine enthusiasm for national parks, nature and the outdoors. Hiring managers want to see commitment to the mission of conservation and public enjoyment.
Weave details on your favourite parks, fondest outdoor memories and motivations into your cover letters and interviews. Provide specific examples of your awareness and appreciation of the landscapes.
Your authentic passion for the work and surroundings shines through. With tailored preparation and persistence, you can turn your love of the national parks into a fulfilling career in a beautiful setting.
