Featured articles – Page 4 – Animal Jobs Digest

Do You Have What it Takes to Work for a Primate Sanctuary? An Interview with Save the Chimps

By Animal Jobs Digest August 25, 2015All articles, Experts & interviews, Featured articles

By Paula Fitzsimmons with J. Christopher Scott

If you’re an animal advocate, you’ve likely heard of The Great Chimpanzee Migration – the nine-year undertaking in which chimps “donated” by the Coulston Foundation were transported from New Mexico to their new sanctuary home in Florida. The organization that took on this monumental task is Save the Chimps, a sanctuary now situated on 150 acres in sub-tropic Fort Pearce.

Do You Have What it Takes to Work for a Wildlife Advocacy Organization? An Interview With Born Free

By Animal Jobs Digest August 19, 2015All articles, Experts & interviews, Featured articles2 Comments

By Paula Fitzsimmons with Adam Roberts

If you’ve thought about a career with a major wildlife advocacy organization, you’re not alone. It’s a dream for many an animal activist. . . so your contributions have to be pretty special.

Passion and a desire to make a difference for animals are, of course, vital to working in this field – but so are other skills and characteristics. To help define what this specifically means, I’ve asked Born Free’s chief executive officer, Adam M. Roberts for his input.

The Best Animal Lover Jobs . . . for Introverts, Independent Spirits, & Idea People

By Animal Jobs Digest August 17, 2015All articles, Career options, Featured articles6 Comments

By Paula Fitzsimmons

I love alone time. Having the personal space and time to devour a good book, think, create, and daydream is part of who I am. According to research, including that performed by the mother-daughter team of Katharine Briggs & Isabel Briggs Myers – creators of the MBTI® personality inventory – my temperament leans towards the introverted side.

Introverts tend to be independent spirits. We’d rather be – and are often more productive when – working solo or in smaller groups . . .this is when we’re in our element.

This isn’t a data-backed statement, but I suspect the animal welfare community, as a whole, gravitates to the indie side.

Do You Have What it Takes to Work for a Parrot Rescue Organization? An Interview With Foster Parrots

By Animal Jobs Digest August 8, 2015All articles, Experts & interviews, Featured articles2 Comments

By Paula Fitzsimmons with Karen Windsor

Do you think you have what it takes to snag that dream job at an animal shelter or welfare organization? A lot of people want to work with animals, but it takes a special person – one with the right skills, level of commitment, passion, and attitude – to land the job.

To help you gain insights into what these organizations look for in applicants, I’m conducting a series of interviews with managers from an assortment of animal advocacy groups.

No Degree? No Problem! Find a Job in Animal Advocacy Without College

By Animal Jobs Digest August 3, 2015All articles, Career options, Featured articles24 Comments

By Paula Fitzsimmons

You have your heart set on working as an animal advocate, but may believe your lack of college credentials will hold you back. A traditional college degree isn’t ideal for everyone – and even if you do want to go, it could be that you can’t swing the tuition right now.

Luckily there are jobs involving animals that you can find in an assortment of fields . . . including those below. You will need at least a high school diploma, and depending on the position, you may need experience, excellent interpersonal skills, and perhaps a few college-level courses or training. (Read my article, “10 Free & Low Cost Career-Boosting Courses & Training Opportunities for Animal Advocates” for resource ideas.)

How Volunteering Can Help Your Animal-Centered Career – And Where to Find the Best Opportunities

By Animal Jobs Digest July 27, 2015All articles, Featured articles, Tools for success2 Comments

By Paula Fitzsimmons

Volunteering with an animal welfare organization or rescue may not yield a paycheck, but it can offer a host of other benefits. From meeting people who can very well introduce you to your next employer (or be your next employer) to learning valuable skills, giving your time to a nonprofit charity can help build your career – and enhance your personal life.

10 Free & Low Cost Career-Boosting Courses & Training Opportunities for Animal Advocates

By Animal Jobs Digest July 20, 2015All articles, Featured articles, Slider, Tools for success

By Paula Fitzsimmons

We can all benefit from learning new skills and exploring new ideas, regardless of where we’re at in our careers. The opportunities below aren’t a replacement for formal education and training, but they can certainly enhance it in different ways.

They can help give you an edge when applying for a job or seeking a promotion . . . showing potential and current employers that you take the initiative to learn on your own.

Legitimate Telecommute Jobs for Animal Advocates Really Do Exist – Do You Know Where to Find Them?

By Animal Jobs Digest July 13, 2015All articles, Featured articles, Slider, Tools for success4 Comments

By Paula Fitzsimmons

It wasn’t too long ago that the term Work from Home was synonymous with scam. Back in the 1970s, and even into the 1990s, those of us hoping to take advantage of flexible schedules were met with the same level of gimmicky advertising seen today. Perhaps not as sophisticated or widely circulated as modern ads, but still on the same level as too-good-to-be-true.

5 Animal Welfare Organizations With Amazing Employee Benefits

By Animal Jobs Digest June 18, 2015All articles, Featured articles, Tools for success

By Paula Fitzsimmons

Companies have traditionally offered benefits and perks as a way to attract and keep top employees. From decent health benefits and pension funds to daycare and paid leave, a good benefits package can add value – from hundreds to even thousands of dollars – to your pay per year.

It’s not just for-profit businesses who are taking care of their employees. Several nonprofit organizations, including those who advocate for animals and the environment, tout benefits that are just as attractive – and in some cases even more so – than their corporate counterparts. (Think of how much you can save with a deeply-discounted health plan for your animal companion, for instance.)

Writer, Author . . . Animal Lover

By Animal Jobs Digest May 21, 2015All articles, Career options, Featured articles

By Paula Fitzsimmons

You’re a wordsmith, someone who can effectively write to persuade, educate, and get people thinking and talking. What you’d probably like to know is how to turn those skills into a writing career – specifically, a career writing about animals or the environment.

If you’re like other writers, you may have started your journey with book and magazine markets. These are still feasible options, but are just one path to consider.