Job options for a zoology degree?

epickoala123

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
I'm getting to the age when I'm about to plan ahead for my future.

I want to study zoology at aberdeen university, and then get a job then.

I'm really just wondering what sort of jobs (with decent pay) I could get with such a degree.

epickoala123
 
My advice is find the Career (not the job) that you want to do for 30 years then tailor the degree program around that.
 
I'm currently studying Applied Animal Studies at Moulton College & so far its a fantastic degree, I completely agree about looking for the career and not just 'a job'

From what I know its a pretty competative industry to get into, the degree will definitely make you look more favourable to potential employers but i would also recommend that you do as much volunteering across different areas as you possibly can.

As for the money, working in zoos or wildlife parks ect are not really well payed in the grand scheme of things but its ultimate job satisfaction if thats what your interested in.
I wish you all the best in your chosen degree!
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

hawk-how would you describe applied animal studies.

After quick thought and after reading 100 animals to see before they die and going,going, gone I'm tempted towards conservation
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

hawk-how would you describe applied animal studies.

After quick thought and after reading 100 animals to see before they die and going,going, gone I'm tempted towards conservation

Im doing conservation and ecology this year (I'm intercollating/taking a year out of my vet degree). A word of warning as it is a rather depressing subject!! But very interesting and enjoyable, after you get over the fact humans have royallly screwed things up ;)
 
Im doing conservation and ecology this year (I'm intercollating/taking a year out of my vet degree). A word of warning as it is a rather depressing subject!! But very interesting and enjoyable, after you get over the fact humans have royallly screwed things up ;)

Yes, I'm aware that it may be a depressing topic, but if humans got animals into this mess, Some humans should try to clean up the mess.
 
I'm getting to the age when I'm about to plan ahead for my future.

I want to study zoology at aberdeen university, and then get a job then.

I'm really just wondering what sort of jobs (with decent pay) I could get with such a degree.

epickoala123

I answered your question to this on The Nonsense Thread (there's also other good advice there). I'm going through this as well so I cannot give you that advice through experience but through the plan I think will work best.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

hawk-how would you describe applied animal studies.

After quick thought and after reading 100 animals to see before they die and going,going, gone I'm tempted towards conservation


Well the first year of my course, is a brief overview of all the major areas, then second year you specialize in 2 of those areas, either behavior & welfare, Zoo management and conservation, science or veterinary science.
 
I'm thinking about wildlife conservation. what qualifications do you need for that?

I'd guess you start out the same way as if you were trying to become a keeper. If you're talking about field work, I'd try to get an internship with a researcher if you can.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Degree in zoology - would you like fries with that?

:D That is a common joke used for any profession. When I was in uni, we often used that joke for the physicists.

Another one, which is quite pertinent to America and Western Europe at the moment is "He has a B.Sc. and Ph.D. but no J.O.B." :D

I still feel that an undergraduate degree in zoology is more marketable than say a degree on bagpipes. Conservation is a field that will only grow in the future, as the world would agree that "we need to conserve what is left" but the world would be unsure of how to actually achieve it. Enter stage left the zoologists, conservationists, botanists etc.
 
Hello Epickoal123

I'm glad you have asked people about your possible degree. I did a Zoology degree in the 1970s and after getting my BSc, I found out it was the third worst degree to help get a job (the only worse degrees for this were Botany and Philosophy. I think you should choose whether you want to take a chance on getting a job using a Zoology degree or try to get a job through another route. I have known several people who have done volunteer work at London Zoo. Some have got paid jobs after being volunteer keepers.This route would enable you to get relevant training and give you more chance of a job, as you'd be more likely to prove that you were capable of doing the work. One of the big problems with a degree is that many of them provide academic, rather than practical skills.

I found that many employers were not interested in my degree. One organisation said it was only interested in science and arts graduates. It is possible for you to get an interesting career.Mark Carwardine was in the year below me and worked for WWF and later became an author, tour guide and radio presenter before appearing in 'Last Chance to See' with Stephen Fry. Other graduates sold insurance, became nurses and did other jobs with little, if any, link with zoology.

I suggest that you get some voluntary work with a zoo or museum and perhaps look for a degree that employers are looking for,rather than one with a remote chance of employment. I remember one woman who had a low paid job and lived with a family because she couldn't afford to rent or buy anywhere of her own. She used her savings to go on wildlife-based holidays and this may be another option for you.

Good luck.
 
I recently graduated with BSc majoring in Zoology. Did it automatically open up doors for me? No. But I knew that going into my undergrad studies. Am I glad I did it? Most definitely and I'd do it again, it was 3 years of my life (3 very good years) and now I have a degree that no one can take away from me. I also have several years paid and volunteer work in zoos and wildlife parks which was why I was realistic about the outcome after graduating.

I recently moved temporarily to the US for work/training and it is amazing the people here desperate to enter the zoo keeping profession who are having sweet bugger all luck of getting any form of position because they don't have a degree. So I guess it depends on where you live in the world (or more so where you'd like to live and work) as to whether it would be favourable to get a degree or not. But as everyone here has stated and what I tell people I work with "a zoology degree doesn't teach you how to pick up s***." :)

Some of the people I graduated with are the most unintelligent people when it comes to animals, that I can't logically understand how they hold a zoology degree.

So after all that I guess if you're able to afford the financial and time burden of completing a degree then you can decide if it's the right path for you. I was volunteering at a zoo during my degree, so that can enable you to get both the academic as well as practical training side of things at the same time.

Cheers
Daniel
 
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