Getting my feet wet! Zoo Admin/Conservationist Question

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brunshe930

New Member
Hi Everyone! I am a Conservation Biology graduate student looking to get my feet wet in a Zoo Conservation/Education position. My question is, to get an education/conservation position at an AZA accredited zoo, would it be beneficial for me to get a business degree also? I have been looking at job postings for these types of positions as well as curator positions and they end up mostly being administrative jobs where you need a business background. What do you think? I have big dreams and want to be marketable when I finally get out of school. Let me know what you think! I appreciate any advice. Thank you in advance! :)
 
Very few people on this forum actually work at zoos. It is primarily a fan site, so I am not sure you will get a helpful answer here (though I would be happy to be proven wrong).

My advice would be to do a search of AZA zoo websites and get as many email addresses as you can find of zoo education curators. (Some zoos post staff emails and some do not). Contact them and ask their opinion.
 
@brunshe930

Experience will count for more than additional degrees right now. While management positions do value business knowledge, you are an entire career away from obtaining those positions. They are not suitable for someone fresh out of school. First work in conservation or education and learn first hand what that work is. Zoo educators teach. Zoo conservation staff develop conservation plans and do field work. Their managers administrate.
 
Thank you Arizona Docent and Zooplantman!

I have been looking at the AZA.org site and WCS. Just thought I would throw it out to all the Zoochat people. :)

I have worked at a zoo as a keeper, which I absolutely loved. But that is why I went back to school for my Masters, I wanted to be able to "work up the ladder". The reason why I say conservation and education is because at my local zoo, the conservation director is also the director of education. I know it is difficult to find a job initially at a zoo or aquarium so that's why I want to make myself stand out to future employers.

Thank you again for your replies!
 
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