The Unseasoned Weekly: February 25
What to do after the town hall incident in Coeur d' Alene, let's talk federal terminations, apply for a position as a Search and Rescue coordinator.
- Words from the other side of outdoor seasonal work-
The Check In
An on-the-ground knowledge of Idaho is part of the UVP (“unique value proposition”) I leverage whenever I am seeking full time, 9-5 work.
I was born and raised in the northern part of the state. I’ve worked both outdoor seasonal and engagement roles in communities from Lewiston to Driggs to Riggins to Boise to Salmon. I have a strong network across the region and a pretty good understanding of the variance and fabric of our communities. I even thru-hiked 500+ miles across the northern half of Idaho one summer!
I now live in a rural, central part of the state. A working understanding of Idaho is a less-tangible but important skillset I bring to the workforce. My Idaho background has taken me far in the interviews and the roles that require it.
No one can know everything about a place. But I do know Idaho well enough to know that when Idaho hits national news, it is rarely for anything positive. Many friends have asked if I’ve seen the video of Teresa Borrenpohl being forcibly removed from a Republican legislative town hall in Coeur d' Alene. I have.
I speak to it here because I bet you’ve seen the video or press too. And ultimately, while this Unseasoned platform is about work, our work is inherently political. It’s always true, but we’ve seen it emphasized especially in the last few weeks of firing of federal workers, the freezing of non-profit funding, and the gutting of workplace protections.
The video of Borrenphol being dragged from the Coeur d’ Alene high school venue is chilling for all and especially triggering for anyone who has experienced or narrowly escaped assault.
My question is, however, what comes next for us?
I’m concerned that many of us - especially in red states - only watch the video. We feel the horror and the sickness in our stomach. And then we move on. And maybe we think we forget it, but the next time we need to speak up for our values in a work meeting or we are invited to a town hall or school board meeting by a neighbor, our nervous system remembers that feeling. We make an excuse and avoid pushing back. We diminish our capacity to exercise our first amendment rights, even if nothing has yet directly happened to us. And this silencing is undoubtedly the goal - conscious or subconscious - of the men who removed her from the room.
My invitation to us today (especially for white people like me, especially white people isolated in conservative communities like me) is to remember that queer people, Indigenous people, Black people and so many others have navigated violence in public spaces for a long, long time. Especially when protesting and dissenting.
I don’t mention this to negate the experience of Borrenphol or anyone who has experienced harm at the hands of those more powerful. She also very well have been using learned techniques for mitigating risk during dissent. Ultimately, unidentified security guards should not be ziptying women’s hands in public venues while a sheriff looks on.
But what if it does happen?
I remind us that we have decades-deep toolkits available to us, if only we look beyond our own small spheres. How does a LGBTQ+ Pride event in Northern Idaho understand risk and create protection for attendees? What strategies did the Stand Rock Sioux employ against the Dakota Access Pipeline? How can we fairly compensate the labor that building these strategies required?
Grassroots movements may be new or emerging to you or I, but they are not new or to the world around us. What if for every horrible or heartbreaking news article you viewed, you also added a small tactic of resistance to your skillset?
How is the national news cycle affecting you this week? What are your tactics of resistance?
My replies and DMs are always open.
Rooting for you,
-Emerald
PS: A reminder: I am offering my friends/family discount on career support services to anyone affected by recent layoffs. This includes helping translate government resumes to the non-profit and private sector. Reply to this email and I’ll put you on my calendar.
- Questions for Your Next Journal or Hike -
On Reflection
New: Career Support for Outdoorsy Professionals
Are you ready to level up your resume, cover letter, or interview skills? I’m excited to now offer career support services tailored for professionals with outdoorsy backgrounds.
Let’s refine your resume, edit your cover letter, practice interviewing, and craft a compelling application that showcases your unique experience. Reply to this email or schedule a free 15-minute consultation to get started. And if you know someone who could benefit, referrals are always welcome!
- Dispatches from the Unseasoned Community -
Heard on Social
A run-down on what occurred last week on Idaho’s public lands:
Join us this week to learn with our community of over 4,000!
For Paid Subscribers: The monthly challenge is onto Week 4 and will be winging to your inboxes Thursday! February is all about translating your outdoor seasonal clothing into a both functional and aesthetic wardrobe for your year round life.
In four weeks we’ll go from closet full of company logo button-downs, nothing to wear :( → feeling myself :) All without buying a thing.
Week 4: Style Bootcamp. Let’s take everything we’ve learned and construct three *perfect for you* go-to outfits.
This challenge is available only to paid subscribers. $5/month gives you full access, with the opportunity to cancel or pull back to a free subscription at any time.
- Tips for your next application -
How I’d Apply
Lane County is hiring a Search & Rescue Coordinator in Oregon.
Unique Value Proposition (UVP):
Most outdoor seasonal roles involve training in emergency management techniques. What do you do if a guest is critically injured during a trip you are guiding? How does your trail crew keep one another safe during a wind or thunderstorm event? Many of the techniques an outdoor seasonal sees as, “Just another day on the job,” are also the foundation of emergency management for cities and counties.
This type of role might be an extra great fit for someone who gravitates to wilderness medicine and/or swiftwater rescue techniques.
Sample Resume Bullet Point (River Guide):
Wilderness Rescue: Led first response activities to address an on-site critical incident including delegating response roles, ensuring quality patient care, and communicating between office resources and search and rescue transportation, resulting in the timely evacuation of two injured guest from a wilderness environment.
Flags / Interview Questions to Ask:
“Can you tell me more about the evening, weekend, and holiday schedule for this role?”
Anytime a full-time role requires non-typical hours, I recommend asking questions to better understand the way these hours are structured and what your “on-call” expectations will be.
Hiring Manager: While not the hiring manager, Matt McRae, who works as the Long Term Disaster Recovery Manager, may have insight into the county’s workplace culture. Remember to be respectful and concise when asking for an informational call. Quick Tips: no more than 20 minutes, come prepared with questions they can answer easily!
Continuing Ed: With your wilderness medicine or even wilderness EMT certification, do you have the opportunity to volunteer on your local search and rescue?
Prioritizing volunteer roles during your off season or shoulder seasons can be a great way to build valuable skillsets for when you move on from outdoor seasonal work.
Open Jobs Grab Bag
Get a Foot In: Palouse Land Trust (Moscow, ID) - Community Lands Steward
Early Career: 4FRNT (Remote, Western US) - Marketing Manager
Go Pro: Environmental Policy Innovation Center (Remote) - Director of Water
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