Becoming a student places multiple challenges in front of you. Besides completing an academic journey, you need to use every networking opportunity and gain experience to find worthy employment later. You also need money. Everything is always about money, right? Maybe, except for times when your mental and physical well-being is at stake. No work can be more important than you.
Therefore, why not aim at an occupation that will perfectly fit into your busy schedule, contribute to your personal fulfillment, and provide you with helpful experience? Honestly, those are not all benefits of animal care as a part-time job. Let’s explore them in detail!
Flexibility
Many animal care roles that we will discuss further don’t require your constant attention and direct presence. You can work several hours per day according to your customers’ needs. The rest of the time will be yours: attend lectures, prepare homework, and don’t give up on your hobbies. Finding balance is not easy, but turning to a cheap essay service or other professionals’ help may become a solution. Once you’ve solved time management issues, you can consider taking on more working responsibilities. Fortunately, many animal care jobs require your dedication outside of typical working hours, which means they won’t make you sacrifice other spheres of your life.
Physical and mental health benefits
No animal will remain still while you take care of it. This way, jobs like dog walker and farm hand can become that physical activity that you lack as a student. From this perspective, work becomes a break from your tiring routine. Shifting focus helps your mind function properly and return to current issues with renewed strength. Simultaneously, even simple walking for half an hour strengthens your body. Such an activity burns excess calories and builds stamina, helping you handle more challenging tasks further. Physical activities drop blood pressure and contribute to your overall well-being.
It’s a good question, what benefits more: physical or mental health? Of course, taking responsibility for another being may be stressful, but the simplest precautions can make your experience mostly positive. Overall, interactions with animals reduce stress and anxiety, working like therapy for most individuals. They bring positive emotions and help you develop compassion towards yourself and others. Last but not least, meaningful work is inherently satisfying. Remember how much of a difference you make in the lives of those animals, turning the world into a bit better place.
Skill development
Naturally, you need certain predispositions to work with animals. Do you scroll through funny videos with cats until midnight? Inform others about animal rights issues? Pet every dog regardless of their size? Well, if the answers are positive, you are most likely passionate about animals. Now, you can focus on turning your passion into a profession. The most successful specialists demonstrate great compassion, treating clients and their pets tactfully. They are also ready to perform under pressure if something goes wrong. Other key skills include adaptability and attention to detail. Although some employers require you to be the best of the best from the start, most positions let you improve such skills over time. And once you feel confident, you can demonstrate the same professionalism in other spheres of your life.
Career exploration
As a student, you have a right to explore different paths and try all kinds of new things. Maybe animal care is not your life purpose after all. Nevertheless, this sphere offers so many opportunities that you may like to consider it as a full-time occupation. For instance, the Indeed Editorial Team reviews 16 jobs with animals that perfectly suit teenagers. This does not mean you can’t apply if you are older!
- Kennel assistant is the first position on the list. According to Indeed Editorial Team, such specialists earn an average of $27,708 per year, while their major duty is carrying for dogs. You may provide health services for them like walking, socializing, and bathing. Somebody must also be responsible for administrative duties like sorting and storing data.
- Pet sitters can earn slightly more by taking care of pets while their owners are absent. Keeping animals healthy and happy according to your clients instructions seems easy, but don’t claim this a dream job before considering drawbacks. Great responsibility, remember? You may operate in your client’s homes, which can bring additional discomfort.
- Besides carrying for animals, a pet store associate must perform duties of any consultant. Are you ready to answer customers’ questions and help them choose the most suitable products? You will be responsible for opening and closing the store, keeping it clean, and managing cash.
- If everything mentioned does not inspire you, consider a job which is a bit more exotic. A cat cafe assistant! It is hard to remain indifferent when you visit such places. But what about helping them function? Supervising visitors and cleaning the cafe is challenging, but others’ joy makes such chores ultimately rewarding.
- If constant direct interactions with animals are too much but you still want to contribute to the sphere, you can become a receptionist. Veterinary clinics and animal shelters need somebody to greet visitors, answer phone calls and emails, schedule appointments, and perform other office duties. Not everything is about papers: you will be responsible for clients’ pleasant experiences.
We’ve mentioned only some of the jobs you should consider. Don’t hesitate to google and check how much you can earn by caring for horses or helping puppies in shelters find new owners. If nothing mentioned has interested you yet, what about becoming a pet blogger?
Wrapping up
Animal care is not for everyone. However, now is the perfect time to try it as a part-time job and complete your opinion. You may develop diverse skills that will become your advantage in other spheres. Or you can explore different directions of animal care and choose the one that aligns perfectly with your ideals and priorities. Pets and their owners would gladly interact with such a dedicated specialist.
