In it's simplest of forms; Nuisance Wildlife Management is resolving human/wildlife conflicts in the most efficient, humane and professional way possible. This very unique career field involves many facets of wildlife management. One day could find you working to solve a beaver problem that is flooding a neighborhood and the next you are finding a new home for a family of squirrels that are living in an attic.

Human/wildlife conflicts can range from coyotes capturing urban pets, birds nesting and roosting on residential and commercial buildings to rodents and other mammals living in structures. Almost any wildlife species can be a source for a wildlife conflict. Some people might not think that ducks could do any damage, but when they are living in your swimming pool, that can be a big nuisance!

With the encroachment of civilization into suburbia and abundant food sources that come along with this growth, it has created the perfect environment for wildlife. In a city or suburb, there are few if any predators. Cars and the occasional bird of prey are generally the only concern for wildlife in urban environments. The animals lose their fear of humans and come to co-habitate with them quite nicely.

So...with all of this nice wildlife habitat, why wouldn't the wildlife feel as if the welcome matt is out? Wildlife thrives well and can get out of control!

That is where we as Nuisance Wildlife Managers come to the aid of homeowners, private companies and governmental agencies. We assess the conflict; provide recommendations and solutions and finally prevention strategies to prevent another occurrence of the wildlife problem.

A typical day in the life of a Nuisance Wildlife Manager

There really is not what you would call a "typical day" in this career. Every project is different and every situation has its own uniqueness. This makes for a challenging work environment and holds your interest to the project at hand. You have to be part investigator, part animal controller and part client service representative.

A day may involve setting up cages for a raccoon that is in an attic. Then you are off to remove a starling nest out of a dryer vent. Next, will find you searching for a black rat snake that has invaded a basement and you're off again to the next challenge of removing moles that have destroyed a nicely manicured lawn.

Your day may change by the hour with an emergency call that comes in to remove a squirrel from a fireplace. Make no mistake. It's not boring!

During the busier seasons of spring and fall, days may be longer than usual and sometimes up to 10-12 hours depending on work load.

What does it take to be a Nuisance Wildlife Professional?

It takes someone who has a desire to learn. Someone who possesses discipline, integrity, honesty, some knowledge of wildlife and a general knowledge and the skills to do small home repairs.

The ability to climb ladders; work in small spaces such as attics and crawl spaces and sometimes at heights. If you are afraid of heights or working with animals, this would not be a good career move for you.

How do you enter into this field?

It can be difficult to find a position with a governmental agency in this industry. The positions that do come available are usually quickly filled.

Federal agencies such as Wildlife Services section of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have field and support staff positions working with human/wildlife conflicts. Wildlife Services agents help farmers and ranchers control predators and protect their herds.

State agencies may be the Division of Wildlife or the Division of Natural Resources. Each state may have their own unique name they call their agency. Generally a state Division of Wildlife does not get involved directly in wildlife control, but will assist with information to the landowner.

City agencies such as Animal Control will normally control the dog and cat issues in a town or city.

Private companies are the backbone of support for resolving human/wildlife conflicts. Wildlife Management Professionals are the ones who resolve wildlife problems every day and are the core responsible industry. Some companies are one person operators and some have a fleet of service vehicles. A All Animal Control is one such company that offers franchises of their Wildlife Management System in all areas of the United States.

What does the future hold for Wildlife Management Professionals?

The future appears very bright for this industry. With the growing population in the U.S., more encroachment will occur and habitat will be lost. This all translates into more human/wildlife conflicts and a growing problem in America.

Advice for career seekers

If you are considering this type of work, some preparation is in order.

First, it would be good to have an educational background in wildlife biology or biology in general. Wildlife damage management course work would be preferred and as much hands on or internship programs will help make you a more immediately valuable member of any team. Employers are looking for people who can communicate well, are organized and who work well with the general public. Self confidence is a must as this translate into your clients trusting you to be their Wildlife Expert! But most of all, a professional attitude and demeanor is very important as you will be working with live animals and the publics' perception of how you deal with them.

Finally

Working in the Nuisance Wildlife Management field has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done. When you are able to make a difference in your client's lives and improve their quality of life, they are happy beyond compare. Your home is often you most valuable asset and it should be protected and free from wildlife and the diseases they can carry.

I ask that you investigate the opportunities in this field and find what the right fit is for you. This can be a very rewarding career and very enjoyable as well!

Michael, 39, is a section leader for a large US plant that manufactures jet engine components. In many aspects, the career is rewarding. After 17 years, Michael is in line for a major promotion. Not only does the work offer potential for advancement, but it also affords security in terms of salary, benefits and the promise of an attractive retirement plan.

Security and potential are important to Michael and his family. But they're not the only terms that motivate. Michael knows his high standards influence his team's oversight. Their work means safer jets and safer air travel. Year after year, the section earns company awards and bonuses for workflow management, workplace safety and production. There's a real value in his work as a mechanical engineer, and most measure Michael a success.

He likes to think so, too. Still, in quiet moments, he wonders…is this really the work for me? Is this what I envisioned? He sketches his thoughts to paper. They take shape as a shelf -- the one he can't buy. He needs the shelf to finish the neoangle tile shower he and his wife have constructed as their month-long do-it-yourself project. His thoughts wander again, and this time, map the equation for the conversion angle. He wonders where he stashed his drafting paper, his compass … he believes he can create the shelf that he envisions.

But the thoughts are quickly discarded, stifled by the ring of the telephone. With a slight sigh, Michael answers. It's his boss, who apologizes for calling on a Sunday afternoon…

"No problem," Michael says, "that's what I'm here for."

There's a problem with the production cycle, his boss explains. Under the plant's new defense contract, there's a life cycle clause … basically the manufacturing cycle must produce the part as specified … and Mike's team, well, they re-engineered the original patent … the modification is a problem--"

"That's because it doesn't work," Michael interrupts, "or it won't work for long -- see the rotational axis…"

Somebody needs to make it work, the boss demands. He reads Michael the clause.

"A life cycle issue. I see."

"Good. Or it's a life cycle crisis, because Mike, this is a $23 million contract!"

"Sure, Bill, I get that part. It's the other part I don't get. You're saying that we need to upcycle the part, and a slight modification is okay … as long as it's true to the design. Any big change that calls for patent reapplication is a no-go. Even if it's better?

And safer, he thinks.

"That's it, Mike. I knew I could count on you!"

"So we don't care about a better mousetrap?"

The boss chuckles. "No, we care about the contract. Save the improvement for the boardroom."

…is this really the work for me? The thought briefly invades again. It's discarded by the sound of Michael's family -- and sudden anxiety that his job may be at stake.

"Mike? Are you there?"

"Sure, Bill, just thinking."

"Well, just think about the contract -- imagine the play it will have on your promotion. And well, buddy, about that better mousetrap … we can apply for patents, too."

Is this what I envisioned?

"We'll get together on that, once you get the crisis out of that life cycle. Any questions?"

"Is this the work for me?" Michael asks.

"I don't get it, Mike. Of course-- it's your job! That's what we pay you for."

"Just thinking out loud, Bill. But now that I've heard your answer, I didn't realize … for some reason I thought of my work differently, more valuable … "

"It is valuable! Like I said, that's a $23 million contract - with options for renewal!"

For Michael, this scenario isn't just a crisis in the business cycle. It's a life crisis. There's more at risk than career security. Michael's suddenly face-to-face with a values choice--the choice he makes speaks to his regard for his values and how he will continue a life path aligned with his values. The choice concerns his day-to-day decisions and his sense of esteem and personal fulfillment. Does he walk away or play the game?

The choice isn't easy. Yet it's much easier when your values are clear, making your decisions values-driven. Our values really do make life meaningful for us, and further tell us when to say yes … when to say no. Values also give us the armor to plough through even the toughest crises, discomfort and stress. They justify our actions so we can move forward without regret. Bob Pinkston phrased it with this apt paradox: "I've realized that values orientation means my decisions are sometimes harder, but they're easier to make." http://www.lifemanual.com/its-up-to-you.php

Revisit Michael's crisis. Consider how his values will lead him to a decision he can make without regret. What option would you choose, and what values would support it?

Michael's Value-Driven Options

- Option 1: Adjust the production process as the contract specifies. It's not very comfortable, but I also have an equal obligation to respect the contract and my employer. Career risk is a threat to my family's security, which is a very important value to me. And my decision could put my whole team at risk … are there alternative steps that might make me more comfortable and lead to a better resolution? Set goals … perhaps we can set goals as a team, too.

- Option 2: Quit! This isn't what my life is about. It's not what I thought my career was about. Hey! With the proceeds generated by my employer's termination clause, patent a shelf for neoangle showers. They're all the rage … nobody sells this kind of shelf, so I have a lucrative, exciting opportunity. We can do this as a family … our intimacy is an important value to me. I can also apply my real engineering skills, a potential that's important but not available to me at the current job. That's a value, too. I've forgotten about that one. Perhaps it's time to set new goals aligned with my real vision….

- Option 3: Consider all the consequences. Discuss the issue with my family and the team; my decision affects them and me. Besides, if my team thinks I'm selling out, it undermines our cohesiveness. I can also discuss this dilemma with the plant leadership -- perhaps we need to explore our company values … maybe the contract isn't a good fit. Maybe it can be adjusted. And my family is due for a check-up -- our values can determine the risks we're willing to take weighed against our security, fulfillment and our future.

It should be apparent that each decision is sound. With a values-oriented focus, the values important to Michael affirm each choice. Or they may even lead to another … what other options exist in this scenario or another … what values are paramount to your life, career and life choices?

Values do more than just sustain us through challenges and tough decisions. They define the challenge, clarify action steps and often, give rise to results that embrace new potentials, possibilities and goals. They move us from the 'sound and fury' of reaction and rationalization to promising comfort arising in reason.

Congratulations. After much thought and research, you have discovered which career is right for you. The thought of it fills you with passion, enthusiasm, and inspiration. This career will give you the opportunity to use your favorite and best talents to make a great contribution. This is the type of work that Joseph Campbell referred to when he said, “Follow your bliss.”

Ahead of the Pack

You’re ahead of many others who have not discovered their “bliss.” You feel grateful that you discovered your right livelihood, but now you face a dilemma. There are risks. Do you quit your present job or business and plunge ahead into your dream job or business? Will you be able to pay your bills? What will your family and friends think? Is this career practical?

Heart and Mind Conflict

Your heart says, “go for it.” Another part of you is scared and urges caution. Fears you didn’t know you had start appearing. You wonder, “What if I fail?” When you listen to your heart or that part of the mind that says, “go for your dreams,” fears often come up. The self-preservation part of your mind raises concerns. Both parts of yourself are attempting to support you. Both parts need to be heard and considered. Before making your final decision, you may experience intense inner conflict between these parts of your mind.

You may feel like a war or boxing match is going on inside of you. I once experienced this inner turmoil before I resigned from a secure job to begin full-time self-employment. I had a steady salary, excellent benefits, and was less than three years from receiving a retirement pension. Some of my friends and family cautioned me against leaving my job to follow my dreams. I decided that leaving was best for me.

The Choice Is Yours to Make

I am sharing my experience to let you know that I have experienced this dilemma, not to influence you to do it the way I did. The ideal is to start a part-time business and build it before leaving your job, or to go from a job to a job. However, what is right for one may be wrong for another. Only you can decide when to leave your job and whether to do it slowly or quickly. It depends upon your personal makeup, circumstances, and finances.

Questions to Consider

How can you decide whether to pursue your passion? Here are some questions that can help.

1. What will be the costs for you and your loved ones if you don’t pursue your dreams? What are the costs of leaving your current job or business?

2. What are the benefits of pursuing your passion? What benefits will you lose if you quit your present employment?

3. What if you fail? When you come to the end of your life, would you rather have tried and failed than to have never tried?

4. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

5. How will you feel about yourself if you pursue this inner calling? What will your feelings of self-worth be if you don’t try?

Steps to Overcome Fear

Also consider the following:

1. Begin moving toward your goal, no matter how slowly. Start it as a hobby, or as volunteer work, or part-time employment. Take the first step even if it’s a small one. Emerson told us, “Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.” Action is powerful! According to Goethe, “Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it.”

2. Read the biographies of others who took risks, overcame failures, and succeeded.

3. Place inspiring quotations and pictures in your home and office.

4. Listen to CDS that lift your spirit and motivate you.

5. Reflect deeply on how you want to live the rest of your life.

You were born for a purpose that you are worthy of fulfilling. The world needs your talents and contribution.

I leave you with a powerful quote by Helen Keller that had a positive impact on me when I was battling the fear of following my passion. I hope it will inspire you to pursue your dreams. “The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.”

Pre-employment screening services can provide a service to employers that they would find difficult to provide for themselves. There are many aspects of business that can be carried out adequately by companies without paying for internal or external professional services. Pre-employment screening is not one of those, and though many employers try, the consequences of failure can be very high.

This is an increasingly litigious society, as ordinary people come to understand the financial benefits that lawsuits of all kinds can bring them. Injury or harm due to irresponsible or negligent hiring is one of these areas where employees can take legal action and gain financial reward for doing so.

Computer fraud is becoming more commonplace as the computers themselves become more and more powerful, requiring highly specialized and trained employees to run them. Such employees frequently have access to very sensitive company information and the potential for corruption is high. Industrial espionage is a real threat, particularly to progressive and innovative companies, and those with access to certain types of information must be trustworthy.

Many small businesses have failed due to the cost of poor hiring decisions, and multi-million dollar lawsuits can be just as damaging to large corporations. Suitable and sufficient pre-employment background checks can avoid these damaging consequences, and reduce the possibility of large claims being successful in the event that any harm occurs to personnel in the workplace due to the actions of themselves or other employees.

Every employee you take on is a stranger to you, and the purpose of pre-employment screening is to help you to get to know him or her better before you make a decision. This will not always indicate the suitability or otherwise of candidates, but you will have carried out your duty of care to your existing employees should you offer the position. If you fail in this duty of care you are morally and legally liable in the event of anyone coming to harm in your workplace due to your negligence.

It is no longer sufficient to carry out an interview followed up with a few phone calls to confirm references, and there have been sufficient incidences of workplace violence and internal computer fraud for such simple pre-employment procedures to be considered inadequate. Ignorance of an employee’s background and behavior is not an excuse if insufficient screening has been carried out.

This sort of background checking is best carried out by those experienced and trained to do so. It is a professional job and the number of companies using professional pre-employment screening services has risen sharply over the past few years. It is not a job for the average company management employee, and it is unrealistic for any business to consider it so.

The legal knowledge required alone is worth the professional fee. Legislation such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Americans With Disabilities Act (AWDA) can be complex for the average manager to understand, and many states have made their own additions to the federal Acts.

The purpose of the FCRA is to ensure the fair dissemination of information about people to others requiring it, and that the information provided, and the use to which it is put, is properly regulated. Part of this requirement is to ensure that prospective employees have given permission for certain types of consumer information to be provided to agencies requiring it. Professional screening agencies can make conforming to this legislation easy for you by taking it out of your hands.

With so many people looking to lose weight and get in shape, from celebrities to athletes to the average Joe, personal trainers are in big demand. Personal trainers serve as coaches, counselors and teachers, teaching people how to exercise and be physically fit. Because personal trainers are in high demand, this is a career field full of options.

Career Paths

There is a wide variety of career paths available to personal trainers. Among the possible career options are:

Independent business owner.

Personal trainers have the option of starting their own business and acquiring their own clients with which to work. With this option, a personal trainer sets their own hours, sets their own pay rates, and they choose with whom they will work. The downside is they are also required to run a business, including applicable taxes, marketing and scheduling.

Corporate fitness.

Many companies have or are starting workplace wellness programs, and they need personal trainers to work with the employees. A personal trainer can work in corporate fitness as part of a company that caters to corporate clients or they can seek out corporate clients as independent business owners.

Spas, resorts and cruise ships.

Many businesses that specialize in making people feel pampered and indulged include fitness programs in their services. Those fitness programs require personal trainers to work with the clients. In this situation, the trainer works for an employer, so hours are preset and the employer determines pay. On the bright side, however, a trainer does not work nonstop, so there is time to enjoy the surroundings.

Health clubs.

Health clubs exist to help people learn to be physically fit and to provide a place for people to exercise. Personal trainers are a vital part of a health club’s staff. They are essential to every program the health club offers.

Becoming a Personal Trainer

Personal trainers are required to have a certain degree of specialized knowledge to be successful in their careers. Included in the necessary knowledge is the following:

Nutrition.

Personal trainers are often required to assist their clients in making wise food choices. For the person who wants to lose weight, completely changing their eating habits is often necessary, and the trainer needs to be able to help them make better decisions about what they are eating. Program design. Personal trainers need to be able to design a fitness routine for their clients that is efficient and effective. The program should also provide quick, noticeable results so the clients stay motivated.

Are you looking for a Job? think about work from home; working at home is the dream and now the opportunity for many people. The Benefits of working from home are that you will feel free of choosing your schedules, work at your own time, have some extra money and be more time with your family.

Each year the number of people working from home is growing and the tendency will continue while more and more people want to take advantage of the technology. Life is in a constant change, every day is more accelerated, that is why we need to be prepared to assume the new exigencies of the labor market and to adapt our home to make it our place of work.

Working from home will be the most habitual way of work in this century, thats the reason why is very important to take advantage of the opportunity. The times where you had to beg to get a Job are ending now you are in charge of where you want to work.

When you choose a Job from home is very important to know with who you are dealing with. You can find great opportunities but you can also find work at home scams, that is why you should be aware about the emails that you receive offering you work at home opportunities, make your research and get all the details before you pay anything, if it is a legitimate company they will not have any problem to give you all the information that you ask for.

If what you are looking is for more freedom and flexibility of your time, work at home jobs is exactly what you need. Do not be afraid to make a change in your lifestyle to spend more time with your family and make more money than you ever imagined. Believe me you will never regret, each day you will feel more confident and sure that you have taken a great decision for your life.