Career Advice for an Animal Keeper

Working as an Animal Keeper, your main responsibility is to care for and ensure the well-being of animals under your supervision.

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How to Become an Animal Keeper

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Animal Keeper

Should you wish to work as an Animal Keeper you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Animal Keeper

  • GCSEs or equivalent qualifications in subjects like biology, animal care, or zoology.
  • A relevant diploma or degree in animal management, zoology, or a related field is advantageous.

Key Responsibilities for an Animal Keeper

  • Feeding and providing appropriate diets for animals.
  • Maintaining clean and safe living environments for animals.
  • Monitoring and observing animal behavior and health.
  • Assisting with veterinary procedures and administering medications.
  • Designing and implementing enrichment activities to promote mental and physical stimulation for animals.
  • Educating visitors about the animals and their conservation needs.

What to expect as an Animal Keeper

As an Animal Keeper, you can find employment opportunities in various settings such as zoos, wildlife parks, animal sanctuaries, and conservation organizations.

Recommended Animal Keeper Jobs

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How to get Animal Keeper Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Animal Keeper job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Animal Keeper application. If you have not held an Animal Keeper position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Animal Keeper role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Animal Keeper CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Animal Keeper application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Animal Keeper in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Animal Keeper 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Animal Keeper and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Animal Keeper experience.

How to get Animal Keeper Experience

What does it take to be an Animal Keeper? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Animal Keeper jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Animal Keeper through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Animal Keeper Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Animal Keeper part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Animal Keeper or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Animal Keeper freelance work

If you have impressive Animal Keeper qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.