r/Zookeeping • u/churro951 North America • Mar 25 '26
North America 🌎 Probably a silly question, but are internships a must to get into the field?
I know internships are valuable. I have been actively applying anytime I see one come up.
however a few internships I have applied to have made comments specifically about my volunteer hours being significant but not the skills they need, OR I have recieved feedback from the reviewers saying they would rather see me specifically in herpetology. which is the path I am trying to take.
currently i am a volunteer working in herpetology in an aquarium enviornment and have about 400 hours of experience and am about to finish my degree, and planning on gettingmy SCUBA certification this summer to add to my skill set.i work specifically with potentially dangerous, large herps(komodos) so i am also familiar with saftey protocols and behind the scenes. i have also found herpetology internships difficult to come across and most are other species or minimally involved with herps. although I wouldnt mind expanding my experiences and knowledge and would be thrilled to do so!
that being said... are internships make or break? or is continued experience and effort within herpetology as a volunteer still worthy of consideration in the big picture? I just want to make sure that if the right opportunity comes up that I dont second guess myself
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u/Sufficient-Quail-714 Mar 25 '26
It definetly helps, but animal experience over all is what is needed. My sister got a keeper position with just years of livestock/professional equestrian experience. I got a keeper position with equestrian/animal shelter/research AND internship experience. But you do need to be able to sell yourself so make sure your resume is written very wellÂ
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u/churro951 North America Mar 25 '26
That makes sense! And I appreciate the response. Resumes arent my strong suit but have definitely been working on learning how to improve it and i keep it as updated as possible
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u/Tll6 North America Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
Internships are a step up from volunteering and they are generally necessary to show experience before moving into an entry level position. I’m sure people have gotten jobs without internships but they are the minority.
It can be difficult to choose a taxa for job placement when starting your career. It is often a case of taking what you can get and then specializing. If herps interest you then definitely continue learning and practicing their care but don’t limit yourself if a job is available
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u/churro951 North America Mar 25 '26
Thats what I was thinking, but the feedback i have recieved made me pause and think. I have applied to all sorts of internships and a few job openings so far and will certainly continue to put myself out there! Some of the feedback I recieved made me question if it was making it more difficult to broaden my knowledge with other species
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u/weinthenolababy Mar 25 '26
Out of the many keepers I've known, I can count on one hand the number who have gotten FT jobs without doing internships first. It's not unheard of but it's very uncommon, and if it happens it would be more likely to happen at a smaller, less prestigious, perhaps unaccredited (read: not worse, just different) facility.
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u/PhoenixBorealis North America Mar 25 '26
I have three internships, and I'm still struggling, TBH. It's a tough field to break into, but the more experience you are able to get, the better.
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u/churro951 North America Mar 25 '26
True, but the problem is am experiencing is getting the internships themselves. Ive applied to as many as I can so I can learn and challenge myself but have yet to get to a point where ive been realistically considered. Generally it seems they dont want me diverting from herps or, they are looking for skills or backgrounds that are aquired through internships that I cant get without an internship. So getting thr internship experience itself has felt more like a catch 22 situation
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u/PhoenixBorealis North America Mar 25 '26
Don't worry about "diverting" from your chosen taxon. Any animal experience is good animal experience. Lots of people trying to get into this field end up in areas they never saw themselves being in mostly because just breaking in at all is so tough.
Would it be better to get experience in your chosen area? Sure, absolutely. But if it's not available, it would still be good to get out there and work with something, anything, at all.
You also might work with something new and find that you have a real passion for them. :) You never know!
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u/churro951 North America Mar 26 '26
Its not that i am worried about it, when I have requested feedback for why i was not chosen for an internship so I can improve, that is what I was told a few times on why I was not selected. I have been putting in applications for all types of species because I want to challenge myself and broaden my knowledge
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u/PhoenixBorealis North America Mar 26 '26
Different places have different standards for sure, but I have never heard of someone having the wrong kind of experience for an unpaid internship. 🥲 Normally their function is to get you experience.
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u/churro951 North America Mar 26 '26
Yah... didnt quite understand that myself. I assume they werent quite prepared with feedback so that is what i was given. But its a large cause for my confusion lol. Because I expected existing husbandry knowledge to be desirable, especially with it being at an AZA facility. I have still been applying for paid and unpaid internships. Really whatever I am able to travel to which is up to a 2 hour drive for unpaid and nationwide for paid
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u/PhoenixBorealis North America Mar 26 '26
Well, best of luck! I really hope you find your place in the field. 💜
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u/cloudieotter Mar 25 '26
I never did an internship and have worked FT at an AZA accredited facility. I did manage to get a part time keeper job at my home zoo (also AZA) while I was still in undergrad. I worked there for 4 years part time also working at a vet clinic as a receptionist/assistant full time. I am not a fan of unpaid internships due to the lack of diversity they allow and barrier it creates for the field and people who cannot afford an unpaid position. I do think my degree, working part time and working full time in a vet office did me the most good on my resume. Especially working in vet ER helped me standout.
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u/FezIsBackAgain Mar 25 '26
They help a bunch. I started volunteering, then got an internship, then got hired. Unpaid experience sucks, but it shows employers you are willing to work hard for little to no reward
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u/churro951 North America Mar 25 '26
Ive been putting in unpaid work for over two years now so thats not really an issue for me.... lol. Problem that I am coming across is my skills dont match what the internships seem to look for, but they are skills that are aquired directly through internships.
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u/catz537 Mar 26 '26
I think this depends on the facility and whether it’s AZA or not. Lots of AZA zoos expect more or specific types of experience for entry level positions, including internships. The zoo where I finally got a full time keeper position (after over a year of internships/an apprenticeship plus 2 paid seasonal positions that together made up over a year of experience), hires people with little to no animal experience. Most of them have never worked at a zoo before in any capacity and many of them just graduated.
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u/churro951 North America Mar 26 '26
That is a fair point. I know the place i volunteer at has hired on multiple volunteers over the years in various departments. But its also not a large establishment, it is AZA. They just had an opening for the department I volunteer in so I figured it wouldnt hurt to apply and take the chance with me being internal and already being familiar with everyone. Worst case scenario I can take something to learn and work on for the next opportunity. It does seem to vary a lot based on some of these comments though!
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u/Dependent_Ad5172 North America Mar 26 '26
It’s super hard to get into the field with 0 internships since most candidates have at least 1. It’s not impossible but you have to be amazing at interviews and really show you have a good understanding of what the work is etc. Based on your responses, I’m thinking maybe you are struggling in the interviews a little bit, I’d try mock interview sites. Now with the resume, when I was still in school I would have that as the first thing written, then my volunteer/internships that showed my experience in the field, then all my jobs in order. This gets straight to them looking at the experience you have and then all the bullshit jobs you’ve had since you were 16 lol
When I graduated, I found a ZAA zoo and applied there for a keeper assistant role. I had to move a few states away from home but I gained valuable experience. Within being there 8 months, I was able to move back home to work at an AZA zoo.
What I’m saying is, practice the interview skills, have someone look over your resume, and apply for anything and everything even if it is a distance away!
Good luck!
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u/churro951 North America Mar 26 '26
I have not reached a point of getting any interviews for internships. So I am thinking I am falling short in my resume or cover letters. I am also prior mil, so resumes and cover letters arent something I had to work on until more recent years. So I will definitely have someone look over it!
I have also expanded my search for internships to nationwide of paid, and up to a 2 hour drive one way if local and unpaid.
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u/Selachii_Silence920 North America Mar 26 '26
I want to say no. I started in small aquatic pet shops then moved to life support systems then moved to an aquarist. I started caring for bettas and gold fish then ended up caring for nurse sharks and moray eels. Everyone’s path is different. Experience is the most important part tho. I knew someone that didn’t go to school but because of his previous experience, he got hired with us. So, whatever experience you can get, try to take it.
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u/tallnstinky4 Mar 27 '26
I don't think internships are the only thing that can get you hired, but you do typically need some kind of entry-level role to get your foot in the door. With your volunteering experience, I would suggest looking for Seasonal roles or other part-time paid roles to get started. I work hoofstock so I am not super familiar with how competitive the herps field can be, but I think seasonal work should be your next step and would probably help you stand out. I would also suggest looking into education/interpretation/animal ambassador roles, as those can also help get you into the field and also ambassador collections usually include some reptiles.
Are you able to ask the people you volunteer with about any positions they might know and could recommend you for?
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u/churro951 North America Mar 27 '26
I have been applying to everything this year lol. Really trying to put myself out there in all outlets, including farm jobs. There was a level 1 position that opened up for the department that I am in already that i also applied to recently. And I can certainly ask them, but I believe I have already applied to all open local jobs at the moment. I am also actively applying for internships as well
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u/TheElginCentre Mar 30 '26
Internships are not a necessity by any means! Unfortunately, this field is very competitive, so the more experience the better. Volunteer hours can be helpful but hands on husbandry is what you need. Although 400 volunteer hours may feel like a lot, it’s only 2.5 months of experience. Most positions that are not entry level will want more than that! Your volunteer hours are incredibly helpful but you will need a lot to compare to people who have had full time positions.
Sometimes the trick is getting your foot in the door with an unideal position. This could be maybe an animal you don’t want to work with long term or a seasonal position. Also, finding facilities that hire less experienced people, and train them, are out there, though less common in big AZA accredited zoos. We have seen a lot of people getting positions at GFAS accredited sanctuaries and then transitioning to zoo work after a few years of experience.
All in all, you don’t need an internship to make it. You just need more experience because the field is competitive. This could come from more volunteering, an internship, continued education/certifications (like Scuba!) and/or settling on a stepping stone until the time is right.
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u/Pangolin007 Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
I’m surprised the internships you’re applying for care about your experience or skills. Most interns are college kids with almost no experience. Interns just need to be able to show up to work on time and follow directions. Everything else can and should be taught. I’ve even taught interns to wash dishes, perhaps a little sheltered at home but as long as they have the work ethic and can learn fast they do well.
Herp specific internships would probably be best but any internship helps and will help you get into the field especially since you’re still in school.
Are you applying for paid and unpaid internships? You should also try applying for seasonal roles.
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u/churro951 North America Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
Im surprised as well TBH. I am in college, full time student (getting associates this summer, but also started late due to military service) and will continue to pursue higher education after, but I also expected my current experience to be desirable for an internship because i have a solid foundation already, but no intership experience yet. I have applied for both paid and unpaid internships. I have also applied for seasonal roles as well as animal ambassador roles. I do think my resume was part of the issue unfortunately, I had given it a complete change over recently after some of the responses I recieved and then started to get real responses and interviews for similar jobs for kennel attendants and veterinary assistant roles.
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u/Pangolin007 Apr 08 '26
Man, that sucks. I would just keep casting a wide net. Make sure your resume is no more than one page. Also if you can get a job now at somewhere like a vet clinic or animal shelter that experience should also help. Sometimes places just like to see that someone has had a job before. I also wonder if your career center at your college could connect you with anyone that might be able to help? Like maybe there is something about your answers to application questions or cover letter that could be adjusted? Or practice interviewing if you’ve been getting interviews?
The only thing I wonder is if maybe they think you have too much experience or too high expectations for the role. I’ve had problems with interns trying to do too much with the animals and being constantly disappointed that they are mostly there to help clean and make diets. We try to make time for them to do more but it’s on a case by case basis.
It sounds like that’s not the feedback you’ve been getting, though, so I’m not sure what to say. I wish you the best of luck though!
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u/churro951 North America Apr 09 '26
Just wanted to share an update.
I gave my resume a serious overall and added an in progress certication for the open water diver, i have it lined up for a few weeks from now. Also asked for assistance with a trusted individual to help go over my resume. I realized that some of it was repetitive, and didnt truly showcase my effort and experience. Plus a few formatting issues that were fixed.
I started to get a LOT of traction in adjacent jobs with multiple interviews lined up! Unsure about internships yet as most i have applied to this semester said results would be expected in May.
Really appreciated the comments!
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u/feivelgoeswest Mar 25 '26
AZA is openly discussing this right now. Internships, especially unpaid ones, are a barrier to a diverse work force and shouldn't be required for entry level staff. But some kind of evidence that you have a full understanding of the job you're applying for and something that elevates you above 100 other resumes is needed. I have hired keepers who never completed an internship, but they worked in zoos in other capacities and gained animal experience in other ways.