Take Flight With These 12 Bird Lover Career Ideas

October 8, 2018Posted inAll articles, Business ideas, Career options, Featured articles

Take flight - 12 career ideas for bird lovers

By Paula Fitzsimmons

Birds are in our backyards and cities, they live with us in our homes, and reside in sanctuaries and zoological parks. We love their beauty, intelligence, and diversity . . . ironically, it’s these same qualities that often put them in harm’s way. They enhance our lives, and so we have an obligation to protect them. One of the best ways to do this is with a bird-focused career or business.

If you’d like to work with or for birds, consider the following jobs and businesses. Whether you like science, writing, art, business, or providing hands-on care, there’s a way for you to contribute to avian welfare . . . while making a living.

Extra Income from Home: 7 Ideas for Animal Lovers

December 18, 2017Posted inAll articles, Business ideas, Featured articles2 Comments

7 ideas for animal lovers to make extra income from home

By Paula Fitzsimmons

If you want to supplement your income, getting a part-time job is just one option. I have ideas for seven part-time, low-risk gigs you can do from home.

Earning potential often depends on your skills and the effort you’re willing to put in. There are no guarantees, and no quick and easy fixes to success that I know of – you still have to put in the work. But it doesn’t have to feel like work when you enjoy what you’re doing. I can attest to that.

Not Getting Job Offers? Several Reasons Why

July 18, 2017Posted inAll articles, How-to succeed

Owl - get job offers from animal organizations

By Paula Fitzsimmons

Rejection stings, especially when it involves a job you really wanted or thought you’d be perfect for.

It’s essential that you learn to not take rejection personally . . .easier said than done, I know.  But getting turned down for a job isn’t a reflection of who you are or what you have to offer.

For one, you’re competing against dozens and even hundreds of other applicants – one hiring manager at an animal nonprofit recently told me she and her coworkers receive thousands of applications per year.

There are any number of other reasons why you may not be getting your dream job or called back for interviews. I’ve outlined a few of the big ones below.

Urban Coyote Ecology – an Emerging Field

June 29, 2017Posted inAll articles, Career options, Featured articles

Urban coyote ecology - careers with coyotes & urban wildlife

By Paula Fitzsimmons

Wild animal species once largely restricted to rural areas have become regular urban denizens. In my own mid-sized city, it’s no longer uncommon to see foxes, coyotes, and turkeys roaming freely in residential areas. Several months ago we even spotted what appeared to be a bobcat on the arm of a busy highway. These kinds of sightings were rare as recently as a decade ago.

Caring About Animals Shouldn’t Hurt: How to Protect Your Soft Center

May 22, 2017Posted inAll articles, Featured articles, Inspiration & ideas

Self care tips for animal caregivers and advocated

By Paula Fitzsimmons

As animal advocates, we’re exposed to some pretty nasty stuff. Failure to properly shield ourselves emotionally may lead to problems later on, sometimes with disastrous results.

Veterinarians, for instance, experience a higher suicide rate than that of the general population, according to an article in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. Shelter workers, vet techs, disaster workers, and anyone in regular, direct contact with distressed animals are susceptible to compassion fatigue.

Those who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to protect animals and the planet are not immune from the hurt, either. Working on legislative bills that don’t pass, dealing with harsh critics, and having to constantly raise funds can also be brutal. And yes, volunteers are also vulnerable.

Expect Spending on Pets to Increase

February 26, 2017Posted inNews bites

Demand for pet care products and services is expected to rise in the coming decade. In their recent article, Bloomberg reported that dog walkers will be in higher demand than teachers, a claim based on a new consumer trends report from The Conference Board.

The report projects that spending in certain categories, including pets, will strongly increase. And dog walking, is of course, part of the pet industry.

Seasonal and Part-time Positions with Audubon

February 6, 2017Posted inAll articles

You’ll start seeing an increase in seasonal jobs on Animal Jobs Digest, as organizations are looking to fill spring and summer slots. Six new seasonal & part time positions with National Audubon Society were posted just this morning, varying in location and job category. You may be looking for a permanent job, but there are good reasons to consider seasonal employment, especially with an organization like Audubon. Some of the benefits you may experience . . .

Get Ready for the New Year: 9 Career-Boosting Activities to Start Now

December 26, 2016Posted inAll articles, Tools for success

Career boosting ideas for animal lovers 2017

By Paula Fitzsimmons

Hiring patterns change throughout the year. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but certain periods, like December, traditionally see slower activity, with a general uptick in hiring during January and February. Based on data from the Animal Jobs Digest Jobs section, animal care and protection jobs tend to follow this same pattern.

Why not use these slower times to prepare for the new year? You don’t need to try each of these – especially not all at once. But doing even one of these can potentially increase your chances of finding your dream animal job.

 

9 Publications That Pay You to Write About Animals

September 19, 2016Posted inAll articles, Career options, Featured articles

9 publications that pay you to write about animals

By Paula Fitzsimmons

If you write about animals, finding markets for your work doesn’t have to be daunting if you know where to look. To help with your search, I’ve created a list of animal-related magazines and websites that pay writers. It’s not a comprehensive list, and doesn’t take into account other markets, including trade journals, animal nonprofits, and consumer magazines with pet columns.