Need Some Advice. . . .

[Ideation 8,216]

Ok so a few of you know the score, I've been around shoots and game shooting all my life, and two seasons ago, I ended up getting a job keepering a syndicated / private shoot. Not huge, about 4000 birds. I've really enjoyed it and done quite well, raising the return percentages quite significantly and beating the shoot record etc.

 

Now it's coming to the end of my second season. . . . and I'm not sure what to do.

 

I absolutely hate my other job, which I try to go to as little as possible, and juggle with the keepering etc. But it's necessary as the keepering doesn't come with a house.

 

I think that the keepering is right for me, at least it's something I'd like to make a go at.

 

The place I am at now is talking on expansion etc, but I don't think it'll come soon enough for me.

 

So what I'm trying to figure out, is do I have any chance of getting a job without going back to college and doing a qualification? I'm willing to move anywhere in the U.K.

 

Or do I just bite the bullet and do the college course?

 

And with a few years experience helping on a shoot, a couple of years single handed keepering and the qualification. . . . do I stand a good chance of landing a decent enough job?

 

Or is it just a pipe dream, and I'm going to have to emigrate?

 

Cheers all,

 

Jai.

[gonetoearth 5,144]

All depends on the job you go after. Sorry say. Part time and full time is a world of difference as you only have part time experience your chances of gaining position will be hard Unless you have contacts but never say never and i wish you all the luck in the world , regrets i have a few

[Born Hunter 17,783]

Speak to Dan, he knows that end of the industry as well as anyone and better than most.

[whippet 99 2,613]

the answer is written in your bible.......

[RubyTex 1,957]

I would say a college course would put you in better stead than those who don't have one but the amount of massively experienced keepers out there looking for work might work against you. I don't have a college qualification just a few years part time 'voluntary' experience and i've not had many replies back (for underkeeper roles). I looked into colleges but cost put me off / i was skint at the time so couldn't afford to go! I'm 24 this year so need to get my own arse into gear...

 

Exhaust your contacts to see what might come up, and good luck

[shovel leaner 7,650]

I keeper a similar number of birds for a syndicate . 4,500 , 12 x 150 bird days . I work as a keeper full time for 7 months . I start in July and finish , the end of January . The syndicate pay me £11,500 and then i get tips . I then work for myself for the other 5 months , Pest control , fencing , building work , whatever i can get .If your syndicate arnt paying you something similar they are taking the piss . If they are , whats the problem ?

Forget college , you are getting hands on experience . The industry is full of college graduates with no experience . If you keep doing what you are doing , and keep on improving returns , and stay in the same job for more than a couple of years , your chance of landing a better job will be a lot better than all the certificates in the world . ATB

[gonetoearth 5,144]

I keeper a similar number of birds for a syndicate . 4,500 , 12 x 150 bird days . I work as a keeper full time for 7 months . I start in July and finish , the end of January . The syndicate pay me £11,500 and then i get tips . I then work for myself for the other 5 months , Pest control , fencing , building work , whatever i can get .If your syndicate arnt paying you something similar they are taking the piss . If they are , whats the problem ?

Forget college , you are getting hands on experience . The industry is full of college graduates with no experience . If you keep doing what you are doing , and keep on improving returns , and stay in the same job for more than a couple of years , your chance of landing a better job will be a lot better than all the certificates in the world . ATB

. Bet you dont just do seven months

[tomshep 41]

Hello mate all I would say (and I know f*** all ) is to speak to your current boss first be honest and up front with them and tell them what you need you never know what they will say. If they carn,t help you could try righting a letter explaining your situation and putting in your cv and send to as many shoots or estate offices as you can. A good friend of mine did this many years ago and is still in the job now. Best of luck Tom

[shovel leaner 7,650]

 

I keeper a similar number of birds for a syndicate . 4,500 , 12 x 150 bird days . I work as a keeper full time for 7 months . I start in July and finish , the end of January . The syndicate pay me £11,500 and then i get tips . I then work for myself for the other 5 months , Pest control , fencing , building work , whatever i can get .If your syndicate arnt paying you something similar they are taking the piss . If they are , whats the problem ?

Forget college , you are getting hands on experience . The industry is full of college graduates with no experience . If you keep doing what you are doing , and keep on improving returns , and stay in the same job for more than a couple of years , your chance of landing a better job will be a lot better than all the certificates in the world . ATB

. Bet you dont just do seven months

 

Of course i try to keep on top of predators , in my own spare time , and any new pen building is done out of the seven month time i bill the shoot for my time . But im always out and about on the shoot and i love it . If money was my prime motivation , i would not do keepering .

[danw 1,748]

Ok so a few of you know the score, I've been around shoots and game shooting all my life, and two seasons ago, I ended up getting a job keepering a syndicated / private shoot. Not huge, about 4000 birds. I've really enjoyed it and done quite well, raising the return percentages quite significantly and beating the shoot record etc.

 

Now it's coming to the end of my second season. . . . and I'm not sure what to do.

 

I absolutely hate my other job, which I try to go to as little as possible, and juggle with the keepering etc. But it's necessary as the keepering doesn't come with a house.

 

I think that the keepering is right for me, at least it's something I'd like to make a go at.

 

The place I am at now is talking on expansion etc, but I don't think it'll come soon enough for me.

 

So what I'm trying to figure out, is do I have any chance of getting a job without going back to college and doing a qualification? I'm willing to move anywhere in the U.K.

 

Or do I just bite the bullet and do the college course?

 

And with a few years experience helping on a shoot, a couple of years single handed keepering and the qualification. . . . do I stand a good chance of landing a decent enough job?

 

Or is it just a pipe dream, and I'm going to have to emigrate?

 

Cheers all,

 

Jai.

I wouldn't waste your time or money going to college mate keepering is not and cannot be learned in a class room you have a head start already in that you run a successful and improving shoot and realistically another 3 years where you are will be more beneficial than 3 years at college, if I where you I would get a professional to sort your cv use best quality paper and envelopes and get applying for everything even places not advertising just on spec and see where it leads any advice or help you need just pm me I'll do all I can to help

 

p,s you will get a lot of folks start and tell you that the money will be crap and that just isn't true and good money can be made on the right estate

[shovel leaner 7,650]

 

Ok so a few of you know the score, I've been around shoots and game shooting all my life, and two seasons ago, I ended up getting a job keepering a syndicated / private shoot. Not huge, about 4000 birds. I've really enjoyed it and done quite well, raising the return percentages quite significantly and beating the shoot record etc.

 

Now it's coming to the end of my second season. . . . and I'm not sure what to do.

 

I absolutely hate my other job, which I try to go to as little as possible, and juggle with the keepering etc. But it's necessary as the keepering doesn't come with a house.

 

I think that the keepering is right for me, at least it's something I'd like to make a go at.

 

The place I am at now is talking on expansion etc, but I don't think it'll come soon enough for me.

 

So what I'm trying to figure out, is do I have any chance of getting a job without going back to college and doing a qualification? I'm willing to move anywhere in the U.K.

 

Or do I just bite the bullet and do the college course?

 

And with a few years experience helping on a shoot, a couple of years single handed keepering and the qualification. . . . do I stand a good chance of landing a decent enough job?

 

Or is it just a pipe dream, and I'm going to have to emigrate?

 

Cheers all,

 

Jai.

I wouldn't waste your time or money going to college mate keepering is not and cannot be learned in a class room you have a head start already in that you run a successful and improving shoot and realistically another 3 years where you are will be more beneficial than 3 years at college, if I where you I would get a professional to sort your cv use best quality paper and envelopes and get applying for everything even places not advertising just on spec and see where it leads any advice or help you need just pm me I'll do all I can to help

 

p,s you will get a lot of folks start and tell you that the money will be crap and that just isn't true and good money can be made on the right estate

 

I agree Dan , Jai needs to sort out the money where he is , there is no reason why he cant make a living off that size shoot . Employers are looking for a good track record , someone who can settle in a job and not be moveing on every other year .

 

P.S. Different jobs have different packages , a lot include a house + bills , and underkeepers or assistants dont get a massive amount , but some single handed jobs or headkeeper jobs pay very well , and there are all the little perks aswell . The problem Jai may have is that a lot of commercial shoots or bigger estates will not look at you if you havent been to sparsholt or the like . And most places now want certs for chainsaws , quads , spraying ,etc etc

[Ideation 8,216]

Thanks for all of the advice so far lads, it's much appreciated

[danw 1,748]

quad,pa6 and chainsaw can all be done cheaply and easily at most agri colleges and very often you can get the quad course for free I get a voucher for a free course every time I get a new quad (if you need it Jai I can check the expiry on the one I got in june if its in date your welcome to it).

S L is right to a point about the commercial lads taking sparsholt kids but in truth they do this cause they can pay them penny's and treat them like shite, infact I would say some big commercial shoots have sickened a good many fine young keepers to the job,If I where you I would steer clear of really big commercial shoots if possible because it is as far from gamekeeping and what your currently doing as you can get imagine this when we where putting 60k to wood that took 3 tonne of food per day to feed them

[Ideation 8,216]

Yer, I think you are right Dan, I'm not really aiming to be working on a mega shoot, with a hundred thousand birds. Just somewhere I can be employed fulltime, earn a decent enough wage, and just crack on with it.

[Ideation 8,216]

P.S Thanks for the offer of the ticket.