I'm going to be laid off in six weeks. the job doesn't start up again until mid-April and unemployment would only pay $100/wk. I could always do McDonalds until it starts up again and skirt by on $2500 in savings (rent is only $300/mo), or move back home (paying to race back should an interview come in).

I'm a fairly qualified candidate for a Park Ranger job, guessing somewhere around 20th in the State based on interviews landed. It shouldn't take forever to land a job, but the competition is tough and dependent on openings, so who knows. Could be a month, could be a year. I currently have about eight applications out right now. If hired, the State would pay for Police Academy along with hourly pay during that time.

The next semester of Academy starts up in January. Out-of-state tuition is $4500 plus whatever incidentals (not sure yet if dorm life is included).

What I'm starting to seriously consider is taking out yet another student loan and paying for Academy myself. I would be busy in the offseason, plus I would have about four months of time to do nothing but work out (the Academy physical requirement is tough). I have been told by a Ranger that having gone through BLET (Academy) and with my strong background, that I would be the #1 candidate out there. Essentially, spending $4500+ would speed up getting hired by some rough guess of months. The theory is that I would recover the tuition+ through being hired full-time at a sooner date.

Not quite sure yet. I'm hoping that the applications out right now are simply being put on hold until the fiscal year ends in September.

The "What's Bugging Me" part: I have a great resume and it's still tough as heck to land this job which doesn't pay well, is inherently dangerous, works weekends and has a terrible work schedule.

that's just the downsides that come out in slight frustration. it's working outdoors, protecting nature, a lot of different roles, and you never know what you'll be doing from one hour to the next. And find the right park and you get to focus on whatever aspect of the job you like the best.

anyway, I talked to a couple Rangers about it today. The boss said he's known people who went to Academy and got hired on right away, though the other said Law Enforcement isn't near as big a focus as Environmental Education. Also dorms aren't paid for with tuition, so we're talking about $7000 to pay for it myself. That's a year+ to recover that cost, and I'm confident I'll have a job before then.

Apparently my 1:4 Interview:Application rate is really good. The boss added that often if you're Top 3 for Position A, then they won't interview you for Position B because a decision hasn't yet been made if you'll be hired for that first position.

Sorry if this ended up being some thinking out loud. I'll talk to a higher-up about it all tomorrow, but I'm thinking my best bet is scraping by at McDonalds for the winter and strengthening my Environmental Ed background (which isn't much of a cost).

I'll look into oil stuff again. Can't do CDL driving because of my back and work as a grunt burns people out very quickly. Nice to get some money in my pocket, sure, but then I'm back to where I am now and a year older. So I am focused on career-type work. But I know oilfields do have gauge-watchers and gate-keepers. Lots of competition for those, but once you land one they pay really well. I lived right by a huge shale/oil operation in Texas and one guy told me outer Mongolia has a booming mining industry with jobs that pay gobs of money.

I'm still applying at various parks, and currently seeing if I can slide into the energy industry. And next week I'm hoping to get some appointments with some temp-to-hire agencies. I used to know someone who landed a temp-to-hire data entry job. She absolutely hates the work but is now making $55,000 per year, so she's pretty entrenched.

Had an interview two weeks ago for a Park Ranger job where I think I was one of only three or four to be interviewed. The city surrounding it is pretty ghetto, but the job represents an ability to save a considerable amount per year. Minus that, my future as a law enforcement ranger is probably done.

But have another interview in a week. What I thought was a basic park maintenance job is more similar to a Ranger job minus the law enforcement and interpretation (teaching). Much more ideal for me. Definitely crossing my fingers on that one.

my immediate reaction is to worry what would become of not making it in ND, if it turns out you've quit a decent job to last only a month or two up there because of how insanely demanding the work is.

With someone of your intelligence, what about school in petroleum engineering? I looked up a site that said entry-level makes about $90K. For a single guy who keeps eating bologna sandwiches that could mean a lot in the bank.