What do you want to do? |
Because there is such a wide variety of animal related fields available it is a good idea to decide which type of work is more suited to you and what areas you are most interested in.
Do you want to concentrate on domestic animals such as cats and dogs, or are you more interested in exotic animals? Do you wish to work hands on with animals, study them or teach people about them?
Also think about whether you want to work in an animal welfare related area (caring for sick, orphaned and abandoned animals) or whether you are more interested in conservation issues i.e. conserving species of animals and plants and their environments. There is additional information on Careers in Nature Conservation here.
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Here are some important issues you should consider before embarking on a career with animals: |
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Working with animals is often very routine and can be physically demanding but the work can be very rewarding. |
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Animals do not have a 9am till 5pm day! The hours working with animals can vary considerably and can be quite unsociable. This type of work can involve working weekends and Bank Holidays. It is also necessary that you have good timekeeping skills. |
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If you have allergies to any animals/fur/feathers then you may want to consider whether being in close proximity to animals is going to adversely affect your health and prevent you from carrying out your job effectively. |
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Hands on work with animals can be dirty and smelly. You may often have to work with sick or injured animals and even humanely kill them. |
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Low pay |
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· Positions working with animals are often low paid compared with other employment sectors. |
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Communication & customer care skills |
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· Working with animals also involves a great deal of interaction with the public, owners, customers or other professionals. As your career progresses and you gain more responsibility you will
· probably need to build up team management skills or be responsible for training other members of staff. |
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| Do your research |
| Once you have done the basic research, it is advisable to contact a range of organisations to establish the necessary level of qualification required for your chosen field. A word of advice: you will stand a much better chance of succeeding if you have had some practical experience with animals and have attained some relevant qualifications. As with most jobs the greater the experience and qualifications the greater the opportunities. |
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| Further information |
| The following text contains a few examples of job opportunities and information that may help you in your choice of career. This list is by no means exhaustive, so it is recommended that you contact a broad range of organisations for further details. Good luck! |
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| Veterinary Surgeon |
| What do vets do? |
| Vets treat a huge variety of animals, ranging from domestic pets to farm and zoo animals and those requiring assistance in the wild. Most vets work in general practice, while others work in the State Veterinary Service, universities, research establishments and the pharmaceutical industry. |
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| What do I need to become a vet? |
| Good grades in three science A-level subjects, usually Chemistry, Biology and Physics or Math’s (usually 3 A’s). Work experience in a veterinary practice, farm, kennel, cattery, riding stables or zoo is desirable. Training involves a five-year course at university. |
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| Zoologist |
| What do zoologists do? |
| Zoologists specialise in the scientific study of animals including their anatomy, physiology, classification, distribution, behaviour and ecology. People may specialise in different areas, e.g. a person who specialises in ecology is an ecologist. |
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| What do I need to become a zoologist? |
| A minimum of 5 GCSE grades (A-C) and at least 2 A-levels (Biology and Chemistry are the best combination). A BSc degree in zoology or applied zoology, such as agricultural zoology or animal psychology is also needed. You may need to contemplate specialising and taking a higher degree. (MSc or PhD). |
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| Zoo Animal Keeper |
| What do keepers do? |
| A typical keepers’ day will involve the cleaning and washing of animal enclosures, the preparation of food and the care of animals that may be ill or injured as well as dealing with queries from the public about the animals. It involves hard, manual work, long hours and demands good communication skills. |
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| What do I need to become a keeper? |
| Entry qualifications can vary from collection to collection. Many require five GCSEs and natural sciences are an advantage. Another suitable course which will help entrance is a NVQ in Animal. Once employed in a zoo, the keeper can obtain a Level 3 NVQ in Zoo Animal Management by taking a distance learning course. A recommended course is that run by Sparsholt College, Advanced National Certificate in the Management of Zoo Animals. Sparsholt also run a more advanced HNC course entitled ‘Higher National Certificate in Zoo Resource Management’. More information on Careers in Zoos is provided below. |
