5 Amazing animal caretaker Resume Examples (Updated 2023) + Skills & Job Descriptions

You may have your associate degree in animal science and work experience at numerous shelters or zoos, but if your animal caretaker resume does not include these and other important qualifications, a hiring manager will not give your resume a second glance. Your credentials must emphasize relevant skills, such as management of injured animals, attentiveness to animal welfare, observation skills, compassion, and sanitation knowledge. You do not have a lot of time to make a good impression on a potential employer since an average of only six seconds is spent glancing at each resume. If yours does not include the information the hiring manager is looking for, he or she will move on to the next document. Many employers are less worried about the amount of experience than they are about the skills and qualifications an applicant demonstrates on the resume. To help guide your writing, use our resume example library and essential writing tips from our resume experts to compose an effective document.

Build your resume in 15 minutes

Give yourself the best chance of standing out from the competition!

Create an awesome resume that meets the expectations of potential employers with our selection of professional, field-tested resume templates.

START YOUR RESUME NOW

animal caretaker: Resume Samples & Writing Guide

Employment history

Chief Animal Caretaker, ASPCA Los Angeles, California

June 2016 – Present

Administer medications and treatments
Monitor animal health and well-being
Perform general facility maintenance

Associate Animal Caretaker, Denver Zoo Denver, Colorado

November 2015 – May 2016

Train and socialize animals
Monitor animal health and well-being
Participate in animal enrichment activities

Entry Level Animal Caretaker, San Diego Zoo San Diego, California

November 2014 – October 2015

Assist with animal behavior modification
Assist in animal rescue and rehabilitation
Participate in animal enrichment activities

Education

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Veterinary Technician Certificate, September, 2014

Skills

Customer Service

Leadership

Documentation

Process Improvement

Animal Restraint

Animal Reproduction

Animal Transport

Animal Care

Do you already have a resume? Use our PDF converter and edit your resume.

Build My Resume

Employment history

Senior Animal Caretaker, SeaWorld Orlando, Florida

August 2015 – Present

Administer medications and treatments
Monitor animal health and well-being
Educate the public about animal care

Animal Caretaker, Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, Utah

February 2015 – July 2015

Record and maintain accurate animal records
Educate the public about animal care
Perform general facility maintenance

Entry Level Animal Caretaker, Denver Zoo Denver, Colorado

February 2014 – January 2015

Assist with animal behavior modification
Educate the public about animal care
Clean and maintain animal enclosures

Education

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Doctor of Animal Care, December, 2013

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology, December, 2009

Skills

Listening

Coaching

Customer Service

Adaptability

Veterinary Care

Animal Nutrition

Animal Care Procedures

Animal Husbandry

Build My Resume

Professional Summary

Highly experienced Animal Caretaker with a passion for providing exceptional care and comfort to animals. Skilled in animal handling, nutrition, and health care with a dedication to promoting animal welfare.

Employment history

Chief Animal Caretaker, ASPCA Los Angeles, California

May 2014 – Present

Administer medications and treatments
Assist in animal rescue and rehabilitation
Collaborate with other animal care personnel

Animal Caretaker, SeaWorld Orlando, Florida

October 2013 – April 2014

Record and maintain accurate animal records
Follow established safety protocols
Assist in animal rescue and rehabilitation

Entry Level Animal Caretaker, Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, Utah

October 2012 – October 2013

Monitor and ensure animal nutrition
Perform general facility maintenance
Participate in animal enrichment activities

Education

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Bachelor of Science in Animal Health, September, 2012

Skills

Mentoring

Business Acumen

Accounting

Supervisory

Animal Behavior

Animal Reproduction

Animal Medicine Administration

Animal Breeding

Build My Resume

Employment history

Lead Animal Caretaker, Denver Zoo Denver, Colorado

June 2021 – Present

Follow established safety protocols
Assist with animal behavior modification
Train and socialize animals

Associate Animal Caretaker, Denver Zoo Denver, Colorado

December 2020 – May 2021

Clean and maintain animal enclosures
Participate in animal enrichment activities
Assist with animal behavior modification

Entry Level Animal Caretaker, Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, Utah

June 2019 – November 2020

Assist in animal rescue and rehabilitation
Educate the public about animal care
Train and socialize animals

Education

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

Animal Welfare Certificate, April, 2019

Skills

Attention to Detail

Public Speaking

Written Communication

Adaptability

Animal Diet Preparation

Animal Reproduction

Animal Medicine Administration

Animal Grooming

Build My Resume

Employment history

Senior Animal Caretaker, San Diego Zoo San Diego, California

November 2023 – Present

Participate in animal enrichment activities
Administer medications and treatments
Assist with animal behavior modification

Associate Animal Caretaker, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals New York City, New York

November 2022 – November 2023

Collaborate with other animal care personnel
Monitor and control animal population
Train and socialize animals

Junior Animal Caretaker, San Diego Zoo San Diego, California

June 2021 – November 2022

Collaborate with other animal care personnel
Perform general facility maintenance
Monitor animal health and well-being

Education

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

Veterinary Technician Certificate, April, 2021

Skills

Conflict Resolution

Computer Literacy

Self-Motivation

Research

Animal Transport

Animal Husbandry

Animal Training

Animal Identification

Use This animal caretaker Resume Template

Not in love with this template? Browse our full library of resume templates

animal caretaker Job Descriptions; Explained

If you're applying for an animal caretaker position, it's important to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements in order to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Including accurate and relevant information that directly aligns with the job description can greatly increase your chances of securing an interview with potential employers.

When crafting your resume, be sure to use action verbs and a clear, concise format to highlight your relevant skills and experience. Remember, the job description is your first opportunity to make an impression on recruiters, so pay close attention to the details and make sure you're presenting yourself in the best possible light.

animal caretaker

Interacted with a variety of sizes and species of animals including but not limited to dogs, cats, birds, and guinea pigs.
Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior; notifying manager as warranted.
Maintain a clean and safe environment for the animals.
Fed and medicated animals as instructed.

animal caretaker

40+ animal petting zoo
Set up & tear down & remove amusement park ride
Received welding knowledge
Re-level small structures

animal caretaker

Prepared food, cleaned enclosures, and monitored animals’ health
Assisted customers with the adoption process
Helped vaccinate, microchip, and maintain animals’ records
Participated in community adoption events

animal caretaker

Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior; notifying veterinarians and treating such illnesses or injuries following experience or instructions of veterinarians.
Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding areas using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, and/or water hoses.
Administer prescribed medications to animals or dress wounds.
Train workers in animal care procedures and safety precautions.
Transport animals, food, animal feed, and other supplies to and from worksites.
Educate the public about animal welfare, animal control laws and regulations, and about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
Attend lectures and continuing education courses.

animal caretaker

Provide food and water to the animals
Clean the animal living spaces, such as beds, blankets, or toys, along with other equipment.
Exercise animals, such as walking the dog, along with games for the cats.
Bathe animals, trim nails, and perform grooming needs.
Work was performed on a regularly scheduled basis.
Time and organizational management.

1 2 3 4

animal caretaker Job Skills

For an animal caretaker position, your job skills are a key factor in demonstrating your value to the company and showing recruiters that you're the ight fit for the role. It's important to be specific when highlighting your skills and ensure that they are directly aligned with the job requirements, as this can greatly improve your chances of being hired. By showcasing your relevant skills and experience, you can make a compelling case for why you're the best candidate for the job.

How to include technical skills in your resume:

Technical skills are a set of specialized abilities and knowledge required to perform a particular job effectively. Some examples of technical skills are data analysis, project management, software proficiency, and programming languages, to name a few.

Add the technical skills that will get hired in your career field with our simple-to-use resume builder. Select your desired resume template, once you reach the skills section of the builder, manually write in the skill or simply click on "Add more skills". This will automatically generate the best skills for your career field, choose your skill level, and hit "Save & Next."

Animal Care
Animal Handling
Animal Welfare
Veterinary Care
Animal Husbandry
Animal Nutrition
Animal Behavior
Animal Restraint
Animal Grooming
Animal Health
Animal Breeding
Animal Identification
Animal Training
Animal Exercise
Animal Transport
Animal Reproduction
Animal Care Procedures
Animal Disease Control
Animal Medicine Administration
Animal Diet Preparation

How to include soft skills in your resume:

Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work and that can be used in any job. Including soft skills such as time management, creative thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and show that you navigate challenges and changes in the workplace efficiently.

Add competitive soft skills to make your resume stand-out to recruiters! Simply select your preferred resume template in the skills section, enter the skills manually or use the "Add more skills" option. Our resume builder will generate the most relevant soft skills for your career path. Choose your proficiency level for each skill, and then click "Save & Next" to proceed to the next section.

Communication
Interpersonal
Leadership
Time Management
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Critical Thinking
Creativity
Adaptability
Teamwork
Organization
Planning
Public Speaking
Negotiation
Conflict Resolution
Research
Analytical
Attention to Detail
Self-Motivation
Stress Management
Collaboration
Coaching
Mentoring
Listening
Networking
Strategic Thinking
Negotiation
Emotional Intelligence
Adaptability
Flexibility
Reliability
Professionalism
Computer Literacy
Technical
Data Analysis
Project Management
Customer Service
Presentation
Written Communication
Social Media
Troubleshooting
Quality Assurance
Collaboration
Supervisory
Risk Management
Database Management
Training
Innovation
Documentation
Accounting
Financial Management
Visualization
Reporting
Business Acumen
Process Improvement
Documentation
Relationship Management.

How to Improve Your animal caretaker Resume

Navigating resume pitfalls can mean the difference between landing an interview or not. Missing job descriptions or unexplained work history gaps can cause recruiters to hesitate. Let's not even talk about the impact of bad grammar, and forgetting your contact info could leave your potential employer hanging. Aim to be comprehensive, concise, and accurate.

Employment history

Senior Animal Caretaker, Houston Zoo Houston, Texas

April 2011 – May 2022

Monitor and control animal population
Follow established safety protocols
Assist with animal behavior modification

Associate Animal Caretaker, Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, Utah

April 2010 – March 2011

Assist in animal rescue and rehabilitation
Provide daily care and feeding of animals
Monitor animal health and well-being

Jr. Animal Caretaker, Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, New York

April 2009 – March 2010

Education

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Master of Science in Animal Management, February, 2009

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine, February, 2005

Skills

Leadership

Documentation

Collaboration

Adaptability

Animal Nutrition

Animal Medicine Administration

Animal Identification

Animal Training

Unexplained Year Gaps and Missing Job Experiences are a No-no

Gaps in your resume can prevent recruiters from hiring you if you don't explain them.

Key Insights

It's okay to have gaps in your work experience but always offer a valid explanation instead of just hiding it.
Use the gap to talk about positive attributes or additional skills you've learned.
Be honest and straightforward about the gap and explain it using a professional summary.

How to Optimize Your animal caretaker Resume

Keep an eye out for these resume traps. Neglecting to detail your job roles or explain gaps in your career can lead to unnecessary doubts. Grammar blunders can reflect negatively on you, and without contact information, how can employers reach you? Be meticulous and complete.

Employment history

Lead Animal Caretaker, Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, Utah

February 2019 – Present

Mointor and controll animal populations.
PErform genral facilty maintenace.
Parcticipate in animmal enrichement activites.

Animal Caretaker, Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, New York

August 2018 – January 2019

Recorsd and maintian accurte animle recorsd.
Paricipate in animel enrichement activites.
Assist in animel rescue and rehibilitation.

Junior Animal Caretaker, ASPCA Los Angeles, California

January 2018 – July 2018

edjucate teh publik abot animle care
Mointor animel helth an wel-being.
Cleen and maintan animel enclosurs.

Education

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

Bachelor of Science in Animal Nutrition, November, 2017

Skills

Professionalism

Customer Service

Research

Innovation

Animal Diet Preparation

Animal Restraint

Veterinary Care

Animal Exercise

Avoid Spelling Mistakes and Include your Contact Information

Missing contact information prevents recruiters from understanding you're the best fit for the position.

Key Insights

Make sure you're not missing contact information on your resume. That should include your full name, telephone number and email address.
Make sure to use a professional email address as part of your contact information.
Highlight your contact information and double check that everything is accurate to help recruiters get in touch with you.

animal caretaker Cover Letter Example

A cover letter can be a valuable addition to your job application when applying for an animal caretaker position. Cover letters provide a concise summary of your qualifications, skills, and experience, also it also gives you an opportunity to explain why you're the best fit for the job. Crafting a cover letter that showcases your relevant experience and enthusiasm for the Accounts Payable role can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview.

Chief Animal Caretaker
ASPCA
Los Angeles, California

To the respected ASPCA Recruitment Team

I am a passionate Animal Caretaker with 9 years of experience in Animal Care. I am excited to submit my application for the Chief Animal Caretaker position at ASPCA, where I believe my skills and expertise would be a great asset to your team.

Throughout my life, I have been passionate about Animal Welfare and have pursued opportunities to make a difference in this field. My experience in various areas, not just in Animal Care, has given me the opportunity to develop my skills in Customer Service and Leadership, which I am excited to apply to the role at ASPCA. I am eager to work with a team that shares my values and to help your organization achieve its well determined goals.

I appreciate the time and consideration you have given my application. I am confident that if we work together we could achieve great things and so I look forward to the opportunity to join your team.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Xavier Martin
969-295-2328
xaviermartin@aol.com

Xavier Martin

CUSTOMIZE THIS COVER LETTER

Showcase your most significant accomplishments and qualifications with this cover letter.
Personalize this cover letter in just few minutes with our user-friendly tool!

Related Resumes & Cover Letters