Career Advice for an Arborist

When you become an Arborist, you provide landscaping services such as planting, plant maintenance, and tree removal, often using climbing equipment.

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How to Become an Arborist

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Arborist

Should you wish to work as an Arborist you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Arborist

  • Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Horticulture, or Biology.
  • Familiarity with climbing equipment and chainsaws.
  • EAC European Tree Technician.
  • NVQ/SVQ in Tree Work or Trees and Timber.
  • QCF or AA Technicians Certificate.
  • ISA Board Certified Master Arborist.

Key Responsibilities for an Arborist

  • Discussing landscaping and maintenance requirements with clients.
  • Testing, assessing, and maintaining soil conditions.
  • Planting new trees, pruning, and branch trimming.
  • Using specialised pesticides and tree fertilisers.
  • Removing unwanted or dead branches and trees.
  • Operating equipment such as chainsaws.

What to expect as an Arborist

Working as an Arborist, you will need to be physically fit, work outdoors, and leverage expertise in tree and soil biology. You may treat diseased trees, cut tree limbs, use handsaws, and work for a private or government employer. You should be comfortable working at height and lifting heavy objects.

Recommended Arborist Jobs

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How to get Arborist Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Arborist job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Arborist application. If you have not held an Arborist position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Arborist role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Arborist CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Arborist application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Arborist in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Arborist 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Arborist and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Arborist experience.

How to get Arborist Experience

What does it take to be an Arborist? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Arborist jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Arborist through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Arborist Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Arborist part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Arborist or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Arborist freelance work

If you have impressive Arborist qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.