The Top 10 Outdoor Industry Job Boards
LOOKING FOR THE BEST ONLINE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY JOB BOARDS?
There are plenty of people who shiver at the thought of working inside all day (myself included). Luckily, today we live in a world where a typical nine-to-five office job isn’t the only career opportunity available, and this blog covers ten outdoor industry job boards where you can look for alternative sources of income.
Outdoor Industry Job Boards: An Overview
If you love being outside and are interested in making it your office, a job in the outdoor industry might be right for you. There are plenty of outdoor job opportunities available, you just need to know where to look! If you’re looking for websites like CoolWorks, this post is for you.
Here is an overview of all of the different outdoor industry job boards this post will cover:
10 Outdoor Industry Job Boards
Below I’ve listed 10 different outdoor industry job boards that can help you find work in an outdoor setting. Keep in mind that the jobs listed can differ in many ways. You’ll have to dive deeper to see what is the right fit for you!
Let’s jump in!
1. CoolWorks
CoolWorks is an outdoor job board that features seasonal job opportunities in different National Parks. The website is laid out nicely and allows you to browse opportunities by location (state, region, or national park), season, job category, or jobs that provide housing.
The website also offers a blog for resources, a guide to finding the right job for you, and the ability to join the community. Categories of positions include everything from jobs in administration, the food industry, camping, content creation, general labor, spa and resort, skiing, and more.
CoolWorks has a LOT of job postings on its site. If you’re beginning your research into what kind of seasonal opportunity interests you, this website would be a great place to start.
PROS: Plenty of resources and job positions available, great options if looking to work in a National Park
CONS: Can be overwhelming, no long-term opportunities
2. Occupation Wild
Occupation Wild categorizes its job board as “outdoor, adventure, and travel,” so it’s a little bit broader than CoolWorks. Occupation Wild also includes a year-round category for your job search, which may be helpful for those looking for something longer-term.
This website also has a blog, podcast, and membership program as a way to hear about other people’s experiences. They also offer the ability to browse by category, and you can find jobs by season, national park, or conservation/trail guide opportunities.
One thing that’s cool about Occupation Wild jobs is that they also have international opportunities listed, although they’re limited.
Like CoolWorks, Occupation Wild serves as a job board that has multiple job listings spanning across the US. This would be another good platform for beginner research, although the site is less organized than CoolWorks.
PROS: Includes seasonal AND year-round job opportunities, including international work.
CONS: The platform is not super organized
3. Outdoor Industry Jobs
The best thing about Outdoor Industry Jobs is that it has plenty of opportunities and allows you to narrow down your search. On the homepage, you’re able to choose from drop-down lists of industry sector, job category, state, and job type.
Industry sector categories include action, bicycling, fishing, fitness, hunting/shooting, lifestyle, outdoor, snow, and water sports. Job category ranges from accounting to warehouse, depending on what you’re looking for.
It seems that the majority of the jobs that are posted are full-time jobs with slim pickings for seasonal work. They also offer a section on commission-based jobs for independent representatives.
This is a great site to browse outdoor opportunities while applying what you specialize in.
PROS: Ability to narrow down search effectively, lots of category types, great for those who know what type of job they’re looking for
CONS: Not a ton of seasonal or temporary opportunities
4. WanderJobs
WanderJobs is an “adventure jobs” platform that is fairly easy to navigate and has a rather groovy webpage. On the top of the page, you can locate jobs by clicking on “map.” This site offers plenty of international gigs mostly in Europe, the US, and Australia.
The category section is a little unorganized, but they offer some job categories such as Lodge & Resort, Hostel & Inn, National Park, Outdoor Adventure, Travel Jobs, Work Exchange, etc. It’s a little bit harder to find job listings because the category section includes blog posts as well as postings.
The menu at the top of the page also gives you the option to check out their blog and podcast. I probably wouldn’t recommend using solely this site to research outdoor careers, but it’s still a good resource for research nonetheless.
PROS: Blog and podcast resources available, good site for supplemental research, plenty of international gigs.
CONS: Hard to navigate where jobs are offered, category section is unorganized.
5. Adventure Job Board
Adventure Job Board makes the outdoor job hunt easy on the reader and provides up-to-date listings on the homepage. The website even provides the deadline for applications on the job listings.
One of the benefits of this site is that it offers upcoming employment that is timely and relevant. The downside is that you have to scroll to the bottom of the page (which takes a while) to browse by category.
Some categories I saw on the site were Outdoor Education, Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Conservation, Maintenance, and Food and Beverage Service. The postings are listed all throughout the US but aren’t organized in alphabetical order. Many categories also had zero listings. It seemed as if there was an unequal distribution of the types of jobs that this board offered.
This is a great site if you’re looking to find employment outdoors within the next few months… if you’re willing to sift through the postings, that is.
PROS: Updated and timely job listings, the website provides application deadlines on job listings
CONS: Category section located far down on the bottom of page, unequal distribution of types of jobs, not a ton of filtering ability
6. BackDoorJobs.com
This website promotes Wilderness Inquiry jobs. The website doesn’t seem very reader-friendly, but once you get accustomed to it, it has a lot to offer.
You’re able to search directly for a job, or you can use the drop-down menu to find adventure jobs by location (US, Worldwide, or by state), or job type. Job categories included are Wilderness Therapy Jobs, Sustainable Living and farm Work, Camp and ranch jobs, Resort and hospitality, and more.
Whenever you click on a category, a list of employment opportunities is displayed alongside the business that is hiring. Each listing provides a description and some even state compensation rates. At a glance, this website provides helpful information on outdoor industry companies that are hiring so that the reader doesn’t have to do all the research on their own.
Unlike other sites, BackDoorJobs.com only provides information on short-term employment. While the website interface is a little challenging at first, this is a great resource to use for looking for outdoor careers.
PROS: Plenty of filtering options and job categories, businesses listed, great job descriptions
CONS: Interface is not super reader-friendly, only provides short-term opportunities
7. Conservation Job Board
The Conservation Job Board narrows down job seekers’ search by displaying only job opportunities in conservation. On the homepage, relevant job listings are posted, but you can also filter them by date or deadline.
On the left side of the page, job categories are listed to showcase variations of positions within the conservation field. Some of these include Admin and leadership, Fisheries, Forestry, Marine Biology, Policy and law, Wildlife, and more. If skimming these categories doesn’t do it for you, you can also search by state or job type (internship, short-term, long-term, etc.).
Underneath the job categories, you can also click on “Graduate Programs” to find schools that have conservation programs.
This job board serves as a great starting point, but I noticed that there were postings that weren’t listed. If you’re interested in conservation work, other great sites to search are Conservation Legacy and American Conservation Experience.
PROS: Focused on conservation work, a few good filtering options, categories displayed, graduate program resources available
CONS: Doesn’t list all of the conservation work available
8. Camber Outdoors
The Camber Outdoors website is beautifully displayed and easy to navigate. On the top of the page, select “Job Board” to the right, and you’ll be directed to company and job listings.
What makes Camber Outdoors stand out among other outdoor job websites is that it places companies that are hiring at the forefront. This is especially helpful if you’re the type of person who wants to know company culture before beginning a position. Better yet, under the company listing, it displays how many jobs are available for hire.
If you’d rather search by job title, you’re able to do that as well. You have the option to filter not only by the company, but also by job functions, topics, and location.
While you can find jobs on this site where you would be working in the field, you can also find office jobs working for outdoor recreation companies. By picking a job description you’re interested in, you’ll be directed to the company’s webpage for the direct application.
PROS: Easy interface readability, provides information on companies that are hiring, plenty of filtering options
CONS: Not a lot of positions that are offered are working directly in the outdoors – just for an outdoor-related company
9. Get Outdoor Jobs
This website is for both job seekers and employers searching to fill job opportunities. You’re able to filter by job category and type as well as location to narrow down your job search. You’re also able to search by title or company name.
One benefit to this site is that it posts job opportunities in real-time, many of which are extremely recent. The job listing includes information on job type (part-time, full-time, internship, etc.), company, location, and salary. You’re then able to click the job posting to view more details and can be directed to a different site to apply.
Job listings range from writing to finance to executive positions, so you’re able to filter based on the type of position you’re looking for! If you choose to filter by location, only the locations that have job opportunities are available to view, making sure you aren’t wasting any time on the site.
PROS: Only features opportunities that are available; up-to-date listings; features blog posts on the platform for extra support; option for employers to place their listings on the site
CONS: Some positions are listed more than once; many listings are for outdoor companies but work is done in an office setting; no way to filter positions that require outdoor work
10. OutdoorEd.com
On the home page of OutdoorEd.com, featured jobs are posted and categorized by region, company, employment type, and starting date. You can also use the Job Search button. If you’d like to search for a company instead, the site also offers that as an alternative.
One thing that I dislike about this job board is that at first glance, you’re only shown the region in which the position is located instead of the city. That means you’d have to click on every job title that interests you within the region to see if it’s located within your vicinity.
However, you can click on a region and display all of the job listings. Still, the listings are brief and you’re prompted to click on the posting to get more details.
The website does offer plenty of resources, such as blogs, events, news, and an outdoor orientation community. You’re also able to search by map and specific job categories if you wish (camps, associations, conservation organizations, etc.)
This site provides plenty of job opportunities, you just have to do a little digging!
PROS: Good categorization, browse by region, good resources, and community
CONS: Difficult to find specific locations for job listings, takes a lot of time on the interface to find a job that fits personal needs
Outdoor Industry Job Board FAQ’s
Now that we’ve covered ten fantastic outdoor industry job boards that will help you land your next gig, let’s talk about some frequently asked questions!
What is considered the outdoor industry?
The outdoor industry is companies and organizations that place their attention on all things outdoors. This can range from an emphasis on exploration, conservation, or even selling merchandise that is specifically used for being outside.
Do job boards still work?
Job boards are a great resource to figure out what jobs are located near you. Job boards that focus on a specific industry, like the outdoor industry, can be extremely helpful in narrowing down your job search.
Are online job boards worth it?
Job boards are worth it for both the job seeker and the job provider. The company that’s hiring will benefit from an increase in potential candidates, and job seekers can benefit from them because the job search is streamlined.
Wrapping Up: 10 Different Outdoor Industry Job Boards
So there you have it! 10 outdoor industry job boards that provide job listings in the outdoor industry. Each site differs a little bit, but each offers its advantages and disadvantages.
Hopefully, this list gives you some ideas on where to look for job postings! Many of these boards feature outdoor jobs in the USA, but some offer international opportunities! There is an abundance of opportunities available to you to work the outdoors and escape the nine-to-five work week.
Good luck on the job search! You got this!