Comments for Yesterday...and Today

Comment on “Was It Worth It?” by Gene Finke

Gene Finke — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:11:07 +0000

Bob, you are right. It was worth it.

Comment on Landing a National Park Service Job: My Own Story (Part Four) by Bob

Bob — Thu, 30 May 2013 19:17:51 +0000

Hi Louise,

Thanks for reading. I’m afraid I can’t tell you much more than what I wrote in these blogposts and the above comments. Remember, I’m not a hiring official or even someone who has had hiring authority. I was just trying to relate my own experience. I would encourage you to volunteer at an NPS site if you have one nearby, and closely monitor the USAjobs website. Good luck in your future endeavors!

Bob

Comment on Landing a National Park Service Job: My Own Story (Part Four) by Louise

Louise — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:51:34 +0000

Hello Bob,

I am a geoscientist working in academia. In six to ten years, I would love to semi-retire and work as a seasonal interpretative ranger in one of the parks. I have an advanced degree in my field, and I am knowledgeable about (and fascinated by) many aspects of history, human culture, and nature. I have led field trips, taught classes, and volunteered in schools, so I have a lot of “interpretive” experience under my belt. (And I’m told I’m good at it.) I would be about sixty when I started but I am fit and in excellent health.

What are the chances of me getting a job like this? Is there any sort of training or preparation I should work on over the next few years to better my odds?

Thanks!

Comment on Landing a National Park Service Job: My Own Story (Part Three) by Bob

Bob — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:50:52 +0000

Hi Sean,

Thanks for the comment and the compliment.

Bob

Comment on Landing a National Park Service Job: My Own Story (Part Three) by sean

sean — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:57:21 +0000

Yeah I found out from my sister that to get a job, you pretty much have to rate yourself ‘expert’. I have a bachelor’s in history and political science, have volunteered at a local historical museum for several years and volunteered in a Park last season. I was very hesitant to rate myself ‘expert’ on many of the questions because I was worried my application would be considered “exaggerated” and be tossed out. Instead it may have gotten me the job this season. And I love your blog. Keep it up.

Comment on A Bit Of Jewish History by Keith Muchowski

Keith Muchowski — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:14:00 +0000

I am glad you all enjoyed staying in Queens, Bob. So many people think Manhattan “is” NewYork that they miss a great deal in the outer boroughs. I have explored a few of the cemeteries in Queens and Long Island and must concur that they are indeed fascinating and contain a great deal of history. One of the best, as it were, is Cypress Hills National, which was one of the fourteen original national cemeteries created by Lincoln in 1862. It straddles the Queens-Brooklyn border. Last year a friend came from Texas for a week and when I asked prior to her visit what she most wanted to see, she said her grandparents’ graves in Long Island. We took the LIRR out there on Friday and went to Ellis Island the following day, where I volunteered before transferring to Governors Island. It was all very moving.

There used to be people buried on Governors Island but Winfield Scott Hancock had the remains transferred to Cypress Hills when he was headquartered there as commander of the Department of the East. I am going to try to explore some of these sites even more over the spring and summer.

A friend and I saw Jonathan Sarna speak at Baruch College last year He gave a great talk. As you might imagine, Special Order Number 11 is a big part of the current show at the Jewish Museum. The exhibit focuses a lot on Judah Benjamin as well. Here is a good documentary worth tracking down if one is looking for more:

http://www.jewishsoldiersinblueandgray.com

Comment on Landing a National Park Service Job: My Own Story (Part Four) by Bob

Bob — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:47:29 +0000

Hi Amelia,
Thanks for commenting. I wish I could give you some positive, helpful advice, but the truth is that it is harder than ever to get into the NPS or to advance in the NPS. Everything I wrote in these four blogposts is still true only now the NPS is dealing with the sequester budget cuts. In addition, the Pathways student program I mentioned in “Part Three” definitely has a veterans preference component, and there are a lot of Iraq and Afghan war vets out there. Things might be different in future years if the economy turns around. Also, I’ve heard it said that there will be a wave of retirements in the next several years. Having a degree in biology might be more helpful than the history degree that I have for certain positions, but I don’t really know. If you are young, all I can suggest is hang in there, keep applying, and best of luck.

Comment on Landing a National Park Service Job: My Own Story (Part Four) by Amelia

Amelia — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:22:43 +0000

I graduated college with a degree in biology last year. I’ve been applying to jobs with the park service and forest service- interpretive ranger, trail crew, park guide, etc for about a year now without much success. I have gotten 3 email backs for Forestry Tech positions, then after a few emails they seem to drop off the face of the planet. This is literally all I want to do workwise. I have lived at the Grand Canyon working for a vendor there for 2 years and have my resume tailored to show all the travel and outdoor experience I have. Any advice for getting in? I have been applying all across the country. I will move anywhere, take any temp position, I’ll do whatever it takes.

Comment on Who’s Buried In Grant’s Tomb? by Bob

Bob — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 02:29:28 +0000

Thanks for the offer; that would be awesome!

Comment on Who’s Buried In Grant’s Tomb? by Keith Muchowski

Keith Muchowski — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:58:28 +0000

I’m glad the two of you had a good time. If you are ever in New York during the summer and are so inclined I’d be happy to show you around Governors Island National Monument, where I volunteer in the Interpretation Division. So much Civil War and other history there. Looking forward to the start of the season Memorial Day Weekend.

Keith