GREMM | Join the Team

How to find work with whales

Many people have an interest in whales and dolphins and competition in this field is fierce. To give yourself the best chance of success, keep in mind that qualities such as scientific aptitude, the ability to communicate scientific concepts, and teamwork are valued more highly than passion or enthusiasm for these animals. It is therefore important to hone your skills.

To work with whales, it is helpful to:

Have a solid background in science;

Develop varied and relevant experiments;

Possess good writing and oral presentation skills, whether in French or in English;

Have a good command of spoken and written English and perhaps another language such as Spanish.

- How can I find work with whales?

Studying whales or dolphins is a vast field and the number of universities offering specialized programs is limited. It is best to speak with an academic advisor and visit a few universities to learn more about their programs. Depending on what you are interested in, a bachelor’s degree will suffice, or you might decide to pursue a master’s or a PhD.

Jobs related to the world of marine mammals are diverse and can include research, laboratory techniques, veterinary medicine, nature interpreting or popular science. It is important to learn about the workplace and to know where your interests lie in order to make an informed choice.

- I live in Europe. Can I come and work in Quebec?

It should be noted that in order to work or even complete a volunteer internship in Quebec, you must hold a work permit (working holiday visa or other). Be sure to check the requirements before you apply. For practical reasons, we generally give preference to candidates who are already in the province or who already have a work permit.

- Do you accept unsolicited applications?

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, we do not keep unsolicited applications on file.