Ecologists representing various paths and position types will discuss specific strategies for successfully building a career in ecology. Invited guests will offer advice for achieving professional goals and establishing yourself at research universities, liberal arts colleges, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and K-12 institutions in small informal groups. Ecology is a broad field with many opportunities and therefore the means to achieving a successful career are often unclear. Established ecologists representing various career paths and types will discuss specific strategies for success in ecology. Invited guests will offer practical advice on careers at research universities, liberal arts colleges, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and K-12 institutions in small, informal groups. After a brief introduction to the session and the invited guests, rotating small groups will discuss several general topics, including: effective networking, acquiring funding, publishing productively, and balancing different professional responsibilities. Small groups will provide an intimate and informal setting for attendees to interact with experienced professional ecologists. There will also be an opportunity for attendees and experts to discuss topics of special interest, such as conservation and restoration, ecology education and outreach, finding positions for married/partnered pairs, and science policy. A major frustration for many aspiring ecologists is not only navigating the morass of career options, but accomplishing their goals for personal contributions to ecology via conservation, discovery, theory and outreach, which will also be addressed by invited guests and attendees. This session should appeal to students and postdocs, whom we expect to motivate the discussions. Confirmed guests include: Ellen Damschen (Washington University), Wendell Haag (US Forest Service), John Orrock (Washington University), and Michael Vanni (Miami University).