What Does a Teenage Zoo Assistant do?
As a teenage zoo assistant, you’ll mainly perform the same tasks as a normal zookeeper would, the only difference being that you are under direct supervisor of a head zookeeper, or senior staff. The majority of your time will be spent on feeding the animals and looking after their wellbeing on a day to day basis. By doing this, you are most likely going to be feeding the animals, training them, grooming them, and performing minor medical tests. You’ll spend a lot of time working with animals as you can see, so it’s helpful to be an avid fan of animals and to be a very passionate animal lover. This is because of the fact that if you dislike animals, you won’t like this job at all, as you will be interacting with them for the entire day.
How Much Does a Teenage Zoo Assistant Get Paid?
As a zoo assistant just getting started, you can expect to earn somewhere between $15-$20 per hour. The biggest issue with this type of work is that it’s very hands on, and you will get dirty throughout the day. You will be working with animals, and perhaps even cleaning up after them. Of course, if you love animals, you will overlook this easily. But this is a great experience building job in biology, especially if you’re pursuing a career in the field of biology. It will drastically improve your chances of finding a job in biology, if you mention this on your resume. If you stick to this job, you’ll work your way up the ladder, and even perhaps become one of the main zookeepers.
How Can I Get Started as a Teenage Zoo Assistant?
- Make sure that you speak to your parent(s) before trying to become a teen zoo assistant. Doing so we’ll ensure your safety and they’ll likely be able to help you in your efforts.
- Before you begin, you’ll need to learn a bit about animals. Research a bit online, and gain some general information on animals and biology. You can do this with numerous online resources, just search around on Google. Beyond that, you should also understand what a zoo assistant does and this resource will help with that. You can also find more helpful information by checking out the Association of Zoos and Aquariums website here.
- Now that you’ve got some knowledge about animals, you can apply to your local zoos. You don’t need to apply to the brand-name zoos around you, like SeaWorld, for example, but there are tons of small zoos out there. Apply to both, and talk about how enthusiastic about animals you are and talk about your knowledge that you just gained from the previous step. If you want to find a large list of jobs, this website is best for that. Keep on applying until a zoo accepts you, and move on to the next step.
- Once you’ve gotten accepted, you’ll need to do some more research. You don’t want to go not knowing what you’re doing at all. Ask about which animals you will be taking care of. Once again, you should go onto the encyclopedia to research about their diets and habits. Your zoo’s website should also have some information about them. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your employer questions. It will show that you are serious about becoming a teenage zoo assistant and you will be readier for the job.
- Congratulations, you’re officially a teenage zoo assistant. It may seem hard at first, being with animals for the entire day, and having to clean up after them, but it will be worth it in the end. It’s extremely impressive to future employers when they view your resume, and you will have an easy, clear-cut path to becoming a professional, full-time zookeeper. This is a great experience to have, and those who are good with animals will have a very successful career.
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Helpful Resources
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums: This website has a lot of great information. Not only will it teach you more about Zoos and Aquariums, but they have a large list of jobs located on this page.
