Applications for work experience for 2012 are welcome if they are posted to the zoo between
24th September and
30th December 2011. Unfortunately we are not able to consider applications received before or after these dates.
We allocate 8 places a year to students who are aged 18 or over at the time that they take up their work experience with the zoo. Trainees shadow qualified and experienced keepers in some of our animal sections and learn skills in basic animal husbandry.
The trainee will undertake the following key tasks:
- Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures
- Food preparation for the animals
- Some feeding of the animals
Criteria for Selection
The work is physically demanding, so trainees will need to be fit and healthy. Competition for places is high, so we also apply the following selection criteria when short-listing applicants. Please read the criteria bulleted below very carefully as you must be able to answer 'yes' to each before submitting your application for work experience to the zoo.
- Candidates must be aged 18 years old (minimum age) at the time that they undertake their work experience here at the zoo.
- Candidates must be available for a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 3 weeks en-block during a calendar month. Note: we take work experience students from March through to the end of October.
- Work Experience placements are offered only to those engaged in biological or animal-related courses, or enrolled on such a course.Individuals should be seriously considering a career in the field of Zoology, zoo keeping or animal husbandry.
- Financial assistance is also not available from the zoo to work experience students. All travel, subsistence and accommodation expenses must be born by the student.
- Candidates will be required to wear their own suitable clothing whilst undertaking work experience at the zoo.
If you answered 'yes' to the above criteria, please submit an application for work experience to the zoo. We will accept your application before the end of December for places in 2012.
You can do this by downloading our
Completed forms should be returned to:
Work Experience, Isle of Wight Zoo, Yaverland Seafront, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QB
You can also download our
Public Liability Insurance if your course provider requires a copy.
Applicants invited to
interview will be informed by
21st January 2012. Unfortunately if you do
not hear from us by this time you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.