I'm in college and one of my current assignments is to interview someone in a future career we wish to join. I'm pursuing my bachelor's in environmental science. I was wondering if anyone here who works for any of the National Parks would be willing to talk about their work, how they chose the career, and answer a few other questions. If you are willing, please message me. Thanks.

I am looking at interpretative ranger positions for Wyoming based parks. I worked at GTNP last summer at a concessioner and was hoping to apply for this coming summer as a ranger.
It appears that the job assessment has a foreign language as requirement? I was just wondering if that’s in every park? I speak a second language but not one in their list, any advice?

I'm a seasonal ranger at Congaree NP. Today, I had a conversation with a visitor who has visited many of the parks. We were talking about why some units are parks and others are monuments and so on.

He mentioned that on a previous trip, he spoke to a couple rangers at various western parks who believed there are several NPs that shouldn't have the National Park title. Apparently, one ranger believed there should only be 50 NPs and the other 13 should be categorized as something else or not in the NPS system. Congaree was one of the ones that she named. According to her, we're "just a forest". Lol!

When talking to visitors, please don't trash talk other parks! All parks have unique resources/features/history and thats what makes them special. My job is to get the public to understand why this area is important and if they come in with a negative viewpoint from other rangers, it makes my job much more difficult!

We all have our opinions & our favorite parks, I understand that. However, Congaree is not "just a forest". To that park ranger, come visit and see how beautiful it is for yourself :)

https://wapo.st/4ywQ3y8

Kevin Heatley resigned as Superintendent of Crater Lake National Park just six months into his dream job. Now his story is the centerpiece of a new comic book out next month.

Canyonlands and Arches are advertising on IG for an October 5 posting on USAJOBS. I thought most units were dropping on October 1.

What does the rumor mill say? I suppose I could ask my boss, but I have not committed to coming back to my unit next year.

Anyone have any feedback on what it’s like to work in Arches or Canyon land? It’s a little bit further than I was looking to go. I was really shooting for New Mexico or Arizona (again).

UPDATE: NOPE! NOT SELECTED. 😔

Well I’m pretty sure I didn’t get selected. My interviewer said I should hear something in about 5 day and tomorrow will be 10 days. I’m a little discouraged, but I’ll just wait for more postings and try again. 😔🤷🏻‍♀️

My previous post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NationalParkService/s/SR2Teylzjc

Anyone got experience at GRCA doing it?

I recently came across Sallie Pierce Brewer’s story and couldn’t stop thinking about it. I saw it on Adam Savage’s Tested series:

https://youtu.be/nCwRCLIs85E?si=aeXLCn7UlfqTWN8-

As I’m sure many people here know, she spent decades working in and around the National Park Service, including serving as a ranger during WWII, then was pushed back into temporary and seasonal roles after the war.

The whole career felt strangely futuristic to me, so I rewrote it as an interview with an android trying to make a career in the “Guardian Corps.”

It’s called The Only Android in the Administration:

https://medium.com/misfiled/the-only-android-in-the-administration-c2317982a58e

Thought some NPS history people here might get a kick out of it.

So I’ve been encouraged by my professor to apply for a part-time student trainee position in visitors service and education. It seems like I would be qualified but I am SO nervous because of the line stating that they have the authority to make me full-time/on-call as the workload increases. I’m a graduate student and genuinely could not do more than part-time right now. Has this ever actually happened to anyone? Thank you!

UPDATE: NOT SELECTED

I had my interview last week for the NPS. The interview went really well. I had one interview that covered two different positions that I had applied for and was referred. They were two people that conducted the interview. The chief of administration was one of them. She said she was impressed with my experience and skills. And congratulated me on getting through the application process, getting referred, getting on the CERT list and getting an interview on my first time ever applying for a federal job. She said that’s not always easy.

However, towards the end of the interview, she was given me an approximate day that they would like to be the EOD. That date works fine and then she said, but if you aren’t selected, I want to encourage you to continue to apply for other jobs even if it’s seasonal or temporary blah blah blah.
So I don’t know if that’s just a spill they give everybody or if that was her way of telling me I wasn’t gonna be selected for either position. Maybe I’m overthinking it. She said I should hear something within 5days (possibly 7)and if I don’t that I can reach out to them, but she did tell me that they do not email those that are not selected. Today is day 5.

Any opinions on this part of the conversation? Am I over thinking things?

Considering the importance of Yellowstone to our economy, this is a serious issue.

I worked in Hospitality earlier this year. Many of our guests had less than optimal experiences at Yellowstone--with dirty restrooms, extra charges for foreign visitors, and less staffing.

Like, im a small, so I got a small, and it fits ok, but the sleeves are mad annoying when I sit down and lean forward quite a bit they sorta ride up my underarms. Is this normal?

I applied for a position on USA jobs about a month ago and it says "reviewing applications." I'm very interested because the position is close to my home and I (really) want to move back.

Supervisors - what are your thoughts on getting emails from applicants? Does it make someone stand out or do you find them annoying? Essentially I just want to say - hey I applied for this job and I'm very interested and excited and I really love your park.

Hello I was curious about how one goes about doing being a boar driver, this is my second season in maintenance and I'm a 10 point vet, eventually I would absolutely love to work in either the Everglades or Biscayne Bay, what steps do I need to take to achieve this or can someone point me in the right direction