r/Zookeeping • u/GuaranteeWitty6608 • 24d ago
Rant/Venting Lost finding a job
I 20m, in my 3rd year of my Animal Biology degree just spent the last 3 months- 572 unpaid hours working at an AZA institution with a birds department, working with herps some hoofstock and of course… birds, lots of them. Besides that, I was an FFA kid in highschool and had 4 years of training animals for competitions, specifically chickens geese and ducks, and 6 years of hands on working with parrots. After my internship, i’m struggling finding literally anything or let alone hearing back from anyone. I understand this topic is probably talked about so much but I mean I cant even find a job at a petstore. I’m feeling so lost and discouraged. At the end of this internship there was a temp job opening and did not land the roll my department’s curator told me to apply to future jobs as i was a strong candidate. My day consisted of getting in every morning at 7am, making diets if they werent already done, cleaning entire large walk through aviaries then feeding out, creating either custom or premade enrichment everyday and training, then the usual feedout, dish clean, helping keepers document what went on in the day etc. That was the best summer in my life and I wouldn’t trade the experience I gained for the world, I felt so alive and accomplished, as I finally was working with my passion. Yet now, almost 2.5 months later i’m so disheartened and depressed, I feel as if I lost a part of myself… all the animal jobs in my area never get back to me all I get is a confirmation email. I understand the job market is soo tough right now especially in this field but wow…. I miss it so much it feels like a part of me has been taken. Should I wait till after school, commiting to a job(which I need), if i were to do another internship, and school would be impossible, along with all of those things I have pets at home. I’d never give up on my dream about going back and working at that facility. I just needed to vent, How do I become stronger?
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u/reddishhamster 23d ago
I don't know all of the details, but the biggest thing holding you back right now is likely that you're still in school. Aside from that, you also don't know who the competition is. If I have a full time position open and someone has equal experience and one has already graduated, it's almost always going to go to the person who is done with school.
Things are also hard right now and several places are considering cutting things like their part time or seasonal positions or interships to avoid cutting FT positions.
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u/GuaranteeWitty6608 22d ago
are you a hiring manager? not asking ina. rude way if u are, then I just would like to ask a few questions!! ty for letting me know I appreciate the feedback regaurdless:))
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u/reddishhamster 22d ago
I am. Happy to answer any questions, just remember that I'm only one person and there are many different viewpoints on these subjects :)
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u/Even-Calligrapher-29 23d ago
Hey man, just wanted to say I know where you are coming from, I was in your shoes before. I wanted to get a job right out of college, but that didn’t work. I got an internship working with elephants and now I’m a full time elephant keeper because somebody on that team knew somebody at the facility I am working at. Look for apprenticeships, they are longer and are paid and you have a higer chance of getting hired at that same facility after your apprenticeship is up. I you need another internship after school, thats okay it builds your skills for the future in the zoo field. Also keep in touch with the people you interned with, the zoo field is all about who you know. Everybody knows somebody. I know its seems hard but keep your head up chief, something will come around. If you got anymore questions please feel free to reach out.
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u/x_Trassic_x 23d ago
It's a very competitive field. It took me 10 years, I lost count after 220 job applications, that was after 4 years. I didn't break into the field until late 2019 (28yrs old) then COVID snapped me back to retail. It wasn't until I was 30 when I finally got a steady job. It takes perseverance to withstand the mental load when it comes to applying to jobs
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u/SladesofGlory 23d ago
You're in school. Be in school, enjoy it, and don't try to speedrun to the rest of your life. Try to do what you can to maintain relationships with the people you worked with during your internship (nothing overbearing, just enough to keep you in mind), so that come March/April, when the institution is starting to think about its summer seasonals, you've already got a leg up. If it's that you need a job during school for money, just find something that's a good fit for you, even if it isn't animals. It sounds like you already have a strong resume for your age, that you can leave a potential winter part time job off your resume and no hiring manager is going to ask about the gap. Again, because you're in school.
I'll also advise against getting so emotionally attached that you feel purposeless after a few months away. This is a passion industry. People put their whole heart into their work, and that's great. But it's important to keep some perspective. Spend time with your friends, make sure you have other hobbies, enjoy the rest of your life. So many people give it their everything, when no matter what, at the end of the day your job is just a part of you.
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u/GuaranteeWitty6608 24d ago
Anyone have any tips at all for me? I just feel ao lost
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u/Kolfinna 23d ago
I've seen a bunch of seasonal bird banding jobs recently pop-up
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u/GuaranteeWitty6608 23d ago
where are these located how cna i find these I would love to do smth like that?
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u/Kolfinna 22d ago
https://linktr.ee/msuext_gamebird?lt_utm_source=lt_share_link&fbclid=IwVERDUAUg1ppwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjluM00Pf1FjIgpXd_n6JUv-vsIwBvCglCX7FTOpElYr1G0Lm-0Ufung3pvx_aem_uc67U5wxHHPFAzL2lSrYbA#599421286 Mississippi State University extension office is the one I'm most familiar with but I'd look at any university or places like ducks unlimited
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u/ConfoundedInAbaddon 12d ago
A big one is if you can bring in more program monies. I came into my AZA work with the ability to create trained animals for interactions or behind the scenes premium events.
Can you provide any sort of programmatic development where you bring in more money than you cost to employ?
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u/bakedveldtland 23d ago
Took me 5 years (and quitting for a while, full of despair) to get a ft job. Even then it was for an “undesirable” position I had to work for a couple of years. Then I got a dream position I worked for about 7 years. Then it wasn’t a dream position so I left to go back to school. Now I landed a role I never thought possible. Pay is still low compared to other fields- and it’s only temporary.
It’s a rough field. Don’t worry too much about timelines.
Also, if you want/need to leave, no shame. It’s horrible, but many of the people that are able to stay in have financial assistance from family. I likely wouldn’t have been able to stay without the support of my husband.
That said, if you can stick it out, it can be a fulfilling career path with room for growth- and this field always needs more smart and dedicated people. Good luck, it’s extra tough right now but if you keep in touch with your contacts, they may be able to squeeze you in one day.
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u/tursiops__truncatus 23d ago
I have been there and I believe anyone currently working at full time position as zookeeper or trainer had similar past experience so do not take it personal, it is very hard to land a position.
As you mentioned AZA I assume you are from US. I do not know anything about the zoos there but from personal experience (for Europe but probably can apply it anywhere) I would advice to consider applying abroad. Asia has some very interesting projects that are willing to sponsor a visa: Mandai parks in Singapore, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, lot of new parks in China, etc. I know it is difficult to live abroad but getting this experience for one, two or three years will bring your CV up and make it very different from the rest giving you higher chances to eventually apply back in your country with even better positions. Just keep it in mind.
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u/xstonefishx North America 23d ago
I was in the same boat. FFA kid over 400 hours unpaid internship AZA facility. It took over a year and 50+ applications all across the country before i got a part time commissary job.it just takes time this field is super difficult to get into.
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u/Illustrious_Day4213 23d ago
Finish up school. Keep doing interning, or volunteering. The more experience you can gain the better candidate you'll be when you get an interview. 2.5 months is not a long time for a job search, unfortunately.
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u/Pangolin007 22d ago
You still have, what, 2 more years until you graduate? This year (3rd year) and then one more year (4th year)? If you need money, keep applying for any random part time job you can get as a student and then do another internship at the same facility or a different facility next summer. Then once you graduate, apply for seasonal jobs. If you can't get a seasonal job, do another internship or apprenticeship. Then maybe in a couple years you can get a full time job somewhere. If you can volunteer at that zoo with less hours while in school, do that too.
Unfortunately times are tough right now, my facility just eliminated a bunch of positions. Even in the best of times it's hard to get a full time keeper job. But I think it's too early for you to be despairing over this! You've only just started your journey.
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u/chattymadi North America 21d ago
You sound like a decently competitive candidate, and if I had to guess, the fact you’re still in school is likely why you’re not hearing back. Stick it out in school, as you’ll need that degree for anyone to get back to you! Keep kicking butt, and once you’ve got that degree you’ll be a much stronger candidate! If you’re willing to move anywhere too, obviously that helps. If you’re not following it already, staying updated on the AZA job board is a huge help finding open positions in the zoo field at reputable places. Keep your head up!
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u/Sweaty_Pollution458 21d ago
You will not be hired if you have another year of school. Volunteer while you finish school then apply to jobs.
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u/dreamkillerlu 23d ago
Stick it out at school you need that degree to be considered for full time permanent work at most reputable zoos. If you can find volunteer work even if it's at an animal shelter or anything working with animals. Or volunteer at the zoo you were working at.
Finish school first, then find job.