Panda Updates – Friday, December 17

Oftentimes when people hear that I am an animal care professional, they follow it up with “How did you get that job?” It is a profession that doesn’t necessarily have a perfectly mapped out plan, but if you’re interested, here are a few tips!
 
Most animal care professionals have a Bachelor’s degree, often in the sciences, although other areas can also translate well into this field, such as psychology. So, consider your degree if you want to start a career at a zoo.
 
If you want to work toward a full-time zoo position, it is usually required that you have some exotic animal experience. The most common way to get this is to volunteer or intern at your local zoo. It’s also a great way to find out what species you might want to work with, what your team would be like, and even how a typical day is run. 
 
Once you’re ready to apply, get a friend or mentor in the field to look over your resume. And a good cover letter never hurts.
 
Being an animal care professional is a demanding job, but it is also rewarding, and for many keepers (like me), it is a dream career.

(Photo: Heather R.)

Trish J.
Keeper I, Mammals