When have you given a suggestion on improving an exhibit? Was your suggestion well-received?

"I had an idea recently on how we could improve water conservation in the penguin exhibit. I brought the idea to my supervisor who gave me the opportunity to present my idea. It was well received and the zoo is taking a closer look, with a team of engineers, on how they could make that happen."

Have you ever presented an idea to your supervisor that you felt would improve animal care, or efficiency on the job? Talk to the interviewer about your willingness to present new thoughts and ideas in the workplace.

"Every day we have to do display development on a certain enclosure, which I have taken part in a few times. Most recently I noticed our common boas hide was too small, so I pitched an idea of developing a new one, decorated a much larger hide, and added it to the enclosure so she had somewhere she could hide more effectively."

What questions do you have for me?

Before your interview, do your research! Make sure you have questions ready for the interviewer. Review the website to make sure the answers are not obvious. The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is a list of questions you could have found the answers to from simply watching a video on their company site! Think of questions that are relevant to the industry. Did you read something about their care for the environment or volunteering? What interests you most about their mission? Some of your questions may be asking for clarifications about something. Other questions might be delving deeper into something that interests you about their vision or their company culture. Put together a list of up to ten questions so that you are prepared!

"What animals would I be working with? How do you train up staff, will I expect to be shadowing people? Will I learn a section at a time or learn something new each day?Is this more collaborative work or solo work?"

Why do you want to work for us?

"I am impressed by your mission and I love how much of an impact you made on the local community."

This question can be difficult because it requires you to know enough about the company to be impressed by what they do and what they have to offer. The only way to find out is by simply doing research. Review the company website first. If the company is more service or client focused, you can read reviews of customers and find out about their reputation. Sometimes you can even find articles or press releases to give you the low down on their latest accomplishments, innovations or company culture. Pinpoint the highlights. Know the company vision so that you can easily tell them, "I am impressed by your mission and I love how much of an impact you made on the local community." Sharing your knowledge about the latest news at their company is a great indicator that you have a vested interest and know what you are looking for in a company.

"I think this opportunity is the perfect next step for me, as working with hoofstock and birds is something I've always been eager to do but have not yet had the opportunity to do so. Being back in the mainland UK is also something I wish to do due to familial ties, and flamingo land does amazing things for conservation and research and is a company I would love to be a part of."

How do you believe your coworkers would describe you?

We recommend selecting three words that truly define who you are, and the words have no possibility of being taken negatively. "Encouraging" is a great option. "Caring" is a good choice. "Respected" might be an appropriate choice. "Hard-working" is a commonly used choice. "Punctual" is great for those who are always a little early. "Customer service focused" is an excellent selection. Just be yourself, and remember to keep it positive!

"A confident individual who is customer focused with a positive mindset."

Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team.

The interviewer is hoping to hear about a time that you led that had a positive outcome. Think about the past few times you have led a team. Which one went the best, and what did you do on that team that made it so effective? This is your example! Start off by telling the interviewer about the reason for the team, who was involved, and what approach you took to leading the group. Give a high-level overview of what you discussed or what you did during the assignment that impacted the positive outcome. Finally, be sure to mention why you felt the team was a success!

"I haven't had much experience leading a team due to me still being in a junior position. However, at college, I would often take charge during presentations and arrange tasks so everyone was happy with what they were contributing and ensuring all work was completed on time."

Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience?

"I feel that employees should be paid, and rewarded, based on their performance. A new employee would be greatly motivated through being rewarded for performance and it encourages a healthy competition with tenured employees."

Do you feel that you should be paid based on tenure, or results? Discuss this with the interviewer and back your answer with an example, if possible.

"Yes, as each job tends to require a new skill set and is run and organized differently from other collections. Being able to adapt and learn new methods should be rewarded."

What are your salary expectations?

"Currently, I earn a base salary of $45,000 per year plus a potential 20% annual bonus. Last year my earnings were $52,000 and I would like to stay in the same range or slightly higher."

The best way to discuss your salary expectations are to use your current earnings as an example. Be open, and honest. Transparency is the best choice when salary based questions arise.

"I am currently on minimum wage, and I am happy to progress into a great career opportunity at the same wage."

Describe your three greatest accomplishments to date.

The interviewer wants to learn more about your background by understanding your level of achievement in your career thus far. You most likely know your three greatest accomplishments, and if you are struggling to think through them, don't fret! Think about the times when you were given extra kudos in the workplace or when you received a special award. These make great examples too! Start off by giving the interviewer a 15-20 second overview of each accomplishment including how you achieved it and why it was important to you. Be sure to mention when the accomplishment was achieved and why it still stands out in your mind as one of your greatest accomplishments.

"I think the development of my otter training plan is my largest success as it greatly improved their welfare. I am also proud of how quickly I learned to engage with customers with weekly tours being a part of my job requirement and have given me a lot of charisma considering I used to be quite shy, and general knowledge about the animals we keep.I am also proud of how well I achieved with my college course due to the disruption of COVID-19 and virtual learning being a new experience."

Why is this job right for you at this time in your career?

Discuss with the interviewer why you are looking to make a change, and how this particular role fits well with the changes that you are seeking. Be sure to give a more in-depth answer than the typical "I am looking for growth" answer that so many interviewers hear. Be thoughtful and draw upon the research you have done on the company.

"I have a strong interest in the animals held in your collection, having had a particular interest in avian species in the past, and was my favorite course at college. Working with penguins is the highlight of my current role and I would be excited to gain experience with more avian species. Hoofstock is a section I don't have much experience in and I am eager to learn more about caring for this taxon."

How does this position fit into your career goals?

"My primary goal in my career as an HR professional is to eventually work my way from an Administrator level to HR Partner. I feel that what your organization offers is a strong path towards those goals and I am excited about what this position has to offer."

Is this particular position a good fit? Is it a step up in your career or - a stagnant move that you are just complacent with taking until something better comes along? Assure the interviewer that this position will be challenging for you, is a step up in responsibilities, and that it fits with your overall career goals.

"I wish to expand my experience to work with a wider variety of animals, and the animals in this collection would be perfect as my next step, with hoofstock and birds being a key interest of mine and practical experience with these animals is something I would like to develop."

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

"Ideally, 5 years from now, I would love to see myself growing into a more prominent leadership role within your organization. My career interests align very nicely with your company's goals which helps me to see a great long term fit here."

It's impossible to know where you will be in 5 years but do assure the interviewer that, given all possible circumstances, you could see yourself as a long term fit for their position.

"I want to be working as a zoo keeper with experience caring for a variety of species."

What is your favorite animal to care for?

"My favorite animal to care for has always been the penguin. Their intelligence and sense of community is amazing. It's a lot of fun to care for them."

Do you have a favorite animal to care for? Perhaps you are best experienced in the care of a particular animal? Discuss your preferences with the interviewer.

"My current favorite is working with our Humboldt penguins. They are charismatic and respond well to enrichment, making them a rewarding animal to work with."

Have you ever had to deal with a serious sickness or injury of an animal in your zoo?

"I have had to deal with sickness and injury in my career, in conjunction with a vet on site. Most recently we had a virus spreading around the elephant exhibit. After following the zoo protocol and administering the required medication, we were able to get the animals back to full health."

The unfortunate reality is that, even with the best care, animals will sometimes fall ill or experience injury. Discuss with the interviewer any experiences you have had with sick or injured animals.

"Our aquarium is also home to a seal sanctuary, meaning all of the seals brought in are usually sick or injured. We regularly have to work alongside vets to get them back into good condition, as well as monitor them throughout the day and administer a wide variety of medication."

Tell me about your post-secondary education. What was your most challenging course? Which course was your favorite?

"I attended Michigan State University where I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a major in Marine Biology. My most challenging course was Analysis of Biological Data as I am more of a creative, hands on thinker vs. a statistics person. My best course, which I completed top of the class, was Animal Behavior."

Discuss your post-secondary experience in some detail, highlighting your biggest challenge and also bringing up your biggest achievements during that time.

"I gained a level 3 animal management certification, and enjoyed training animals as part of my training module the most, especially due to the hands-on nature of this module and I achieved a distinction. I found learning business management to be the most challenging."

Tell me about your education. How did it prepare you for this position?

"I have a Bachelor's Degree in Marine Biology and additional training in SCUBA. I studied very hard and graduated with a 3.6 GPA while also working part-time at our city zoo. My education prepared me very well and I feel that I am ready for a more hands on role."

Not all zookeeper positions will require a related degree. Talk to the interviewer about any related training or formal education that you have. If you have a post-secondary degree be sure to highlight what your best courses were and discuss any award or recognition that you may have received.

"After having completed a level 3 in animal management in which I received two distinctions and a distinction. This was a very practical course and taught me a lot about what it takes to work with animals."

Tell me about some successful animal training programs you designed. What was the initial problem you wanted to solve, and did you?

"I have not implemented any animal training programs at this stage of my career; however, I have spent time thinking about ways to improve the animal training programs in our zoo. In my spare time I draft up ideas that I feel would be helpful. I'd be happy to show them to you sometime."

As a zookeeper, have you had the opportunity to create a training program for the animals? Perhaps you have even created a program but you have not presented it to your superiors. Talk to the interviewer about any training related ideas you have had.

"After we struggled to relocate one of our Asian short-clawed otters, I designed a training plan to target train our otters and get to the point where they will follow a target into a crate to lower the stress of catching up with our otters. The training is currently in progress, and the otters are already calmer around the staff."

What has been your biggest professional win?

"My biggest professional win was when we won the "

Show the interviewer that you take great pride in your work by discussing a time in your career where you were were especially proud of your work.

"My biggest achievement is requesting to redesign the enrichment plan for the group of otters which involved me designing and creating a wide variety of new items after research. Seeing the animals engage with what I created was very rewarding."

Have you ever mentored an apprentice zookeeper?

"Yes, I have mentored about 3 various apprentice zookeepers in my career. Every summer I have been given a new apprentice to work with. I quite enjoy it as it tests my own knowledge on topics I haven't necessarily revisited in awhile."

If you have mentored an apprentice zookeeper,

"No, but I have had to train other volunteers whilst working at HART wildlife rescue, including showing them the basics of feeding, cleaning, and health checking."

How do you continue learning about animals now that you have completed college?

"I continually educate myself about animals through the many resources provided by AAZK (The American Association of Zoo Keepers). In addition to this resource, there are many other education tools available online that I visit on a regular basis."

There are many great resources for Zookeepers to stay on top of trends and topics in animal care. Talk to the interviewer about the variety of ways in which you continue educating yourself in your field.

"Whenever I come across a species I haven't directly worked with I read up on the husbandry guidelines on Biaza. I am also a member of ABWAK and occasionally read the articles posted in the journals."

When have you worked in an environment where you had to get dirty, sweaty, etc.?

"I have worked at our city's animal shelter for the past 3 years. The majority of the time I am cleaning up after dogs, cats, and bunnies. It's often a messy and smelly job but I don't mind at all because it makes the animals so happy. Rest assured, I can absolutely handle getting dirty on the job."

Being a Zookeeper can be a very dirty job.Assure the interviewer that you are absolutely okay with getting messy on the job.

"Cleaning out otters is always a dirty job and usually ends up with you smelling like the animal yourself. Northern Irish weather is often rainy and windy, and our animals mean we have to be outside during all of the elements. I have no issue with getting dirty or sweaty."

Have you volunteered at our zoo before? If so, what was your experience like?

"I volunteered at your zoo last year during the grand opening of your new wildlife exhibits. I worked around the grounds doing general cleanup. It was a great way for me to get a feeling for the vibe here and I liked what I saw. It's a big reason why I am applying to work here."

Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to a cause that you care about. If you have not volunteered at their zoo before, talk about other volunteer experience briefly and be sure to add in your knowledge of this particular zoo. If you have volunteered at their zoo discuss the positives of your experience. If you have volunteered at their zoo: "I volunteered at your zoo last year during the grand opening of your new wildlife exhibits. I worked around the grounds doing general cleanup. It was a great way for me to get a feeling for the vibe here and I liked what I saw. It's a big reason why I am applying to work here." If you have not volunteered at their zoo: "I volunteer with animals regularly, at my local animal shelter. I am passionate about animal care and, although I haven't volunteered with your particular zoo, I have great exposure to a variety of animals."

"Yes, and very positive. It was a very hands-on approach and I assisted with cleaning, feeding, and enriching and observed training sessions being carried out."

In what ways do you enrich the animals lives?

"I enrich the lives of the animals in many ways and, in turn, they enrich mine. I improve their quality of life through providing them with a safe, happy place to live where food is guaranteed and their medical needs are tended to immediately. I truly love and care for these creatures in my care."

This is a great time to show the interviewer how passionate you are about animal care. In which ways do you feel that you better the lives of the animals in your care?

"I provide the top care to any animals I am working with, and always ensure I provide a variety of enrichment to ensure they receive enrichment from all the key groups of sensory, cognitive, social, nutritional, and mechanical."

Why is it important to regularly measure an animals weight?

"Knowing the weight of an animal gives us very important information about their vital statistics. It assists us in understanding their dietary needs and how to best care for them."

Most zoo's will have scheduled weigh-ins for the animals. Talk to the interviewer about why you feel this is an important practice.

"Sudden changes in weight can be a key indicator of a decline in health or welfare, and observing any changes can help staff identify causes for concerns and introduce methods to get the animal back into top condition, whether it's a change in diet or removal of introduced stress."

Why are you the best zookeeper for us?

"I am the best Zookeeper for you because I possess all of the experience you are looking for, and more. In addition to my Degree in Marine Biology, I also have a major in chemistry. I bring a full understanding of animal care and am SCUBA trained. Also, I have additional leadership and PR training which means I could very easily be in a customer and vendor facing role in the future."

What qualities do you possess that make you a stand-out candidate for this position? Convince the interviewer that you are the best choice by highlighting your most unique and strongest skills.

"I always hit the ground running with a new job and I think I would fit smoothly into this position and be a valuable team member. I work great as a team and have the confidence to also work alone, and I believe my experience with a variety of taxon would bring beneficial knowledge to this role."

Have you ever been overloaded with work?

"Last month my relief zookeeper fell very ill and she went on short term disability. This increased my workload significantly even though my employer tried their best to have others fill in. I handled it all in stride, knowing that this wasn't a permanent situation. I did take breaks to avoid over-exhaustion and was able to get all of the required work done. My supervisor was very thankful and gave me a small bonus at the end of the month to show her appreciation."

Work overload can happen from time to time. Talk to the interviewer about a time that you have been overloaded at work. How did you handle it, and what was the feedback from your supervisor?

"After having a staff member leave unexpectedly, my daily workload increased significantly, causing quite a stressful environment. I had to learn how to triage different daily tasks to ensure all essential things were completed and had to increase my multitasking skills to be more efficient. For example, I carried out backwashes whilst doing another take in the same area."

How do you get a peer or colleague to accept one of your ideas?

"Last year I made some recommendations to my peers and supervisor regarding a new and more robust composting system at the zoo. Everyone was really impressed with my concept and they implemented my idea slowly over a three month period. The composting system is still in place and working very well."

Have you ever had a great idea that a colleague or supervisor absolutely loved? Tell the interviewer about a time that you experienced the acceptance of one of your ideas.

"I recently designed a new training plan for short-clawed otters which involved target training them to improve their welfare, by making vet visits less stressful. I backed up my points with cited research and ensured I produced a professional shaping plan with realistic goals. This was approved and is currently in effect."

Do you consider yourself an encourager? Give an example of a time when you helped others to be more enthusiastic in the workplace.

"I am very active when it comes to encouraging my teammates and staff. Currently I oversee 2 summer interns and I definitely make sure to give them words of encouragement and constructive feedback whenever I can."

Working as a Zookeeper is a stressful position and emotions can run high. If you can be encouraging to your co-workers it will make your workplace much more enjoyable. Share with the interviewer how you have created an enthusiastic and encouraging environment in the workplace.

"With a lot of new staff members on our team, I always go the extra distance to ask if they need help when they look lost or unsure. I also reassure them that it is okay to remain uncertain at this point in their training."

What have you done to further your own professional development in the past 5 years?

"This past year has been a big one for me in regards to professional development. My current employer has provided me with additional training when it comes to aquatic animals and I have taken two leadership workshops. Also, all of my safety tickets and certifications have been renewed."

It is always a great idea to continually develop yourself professionally. This could include career related courses, leadership workshops or safety training. Tell the interviewer how you have developed yourself professionally in the recent years.

How do you stay on schedule with animal feeding, bathing and exercise routines? What gets top priority when scheduling your time?

"I am sure to consistently stick to my given schedule unless there is an emergency. In my current position I begin with exhibit maintenance and then diet prep which includes weighing out the food and adding the necessary vitamins. Animal observation, and safety, is always priority."

Organization of priorities is key when you are caring for animals. Assure the interviewer that you are capable or prioritizing properly to ensure that safety is put first, and that you are being as productive as possible each day.

"Daily checks are a top priority in the morning: going around the aquarium and ensuring all enclosures are in top condition and all animals are healthy. Feeding would then be my next priority, including weighing out food and providing each animal eats a healthy amount."

Tell me about a situation where you had to quickly adapt to inevitable changes as a Zookeeper.

"In my most recent position we had a lot of turnover with management. It was difficult to learn the new preferences of my supervisors on such a frequent occasion but I was able to handle it well knowing that we all had the same end goal which was to ensure that the animals were properly cared for."

As a Zookeeper, you will be exposed to constant change. Assure the interviewer that you can quickly adapt to the changes that come your way. Talk about a recent instance when adaptability was required of you.

"With the recent outbreak in Northern Ireland, the biosecurity measures have been greatly increased when working with our Humboldt penguins. We had to rearrange our daily schedule so staff working with otters, penguins, or seals had no contact with the penguins since they are carriers of the disease. This changed the layout of our routine dramatically."

Are you able to cope with stressful situations?

"I do work well under stressful situations. In my current position the most stressful situations are when an animal needs to be quarantined. During that time, I remain calm by strictly following the guidelines I am given. This keeps me focused and alleviates a lot of pressure."

As a Zookeeper you will have stressful situations arise that will require you to think quickly and react appropriately. Discuss with the interviewer how you handle stress and pressure and give an example if you can.

"Yes, I am used to stressful and fast-paced conditions especially after having worked with seals during seal breeding season where up to 10 seals could need tube feeding ahead of time. Learning to ask for help when needed and strictly following protocol helps prevent a dip in my quality of work."

Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor?

"My most recent supervisor and I had a strong work relationship and she will be willing to give you a strong reference on my behalf. We did not run into any difficulty while working together."

What was your relationship like with your most recent supervisor? Assure the interviewer that you are able to take instruction well and that you show respect to your leaders in the workplace. If you have not had difficulty with a supervisor: "My most recent supervisor and I had a strong work relationship and she will be willing to give you a strong reference on my behalf. We did not run into any difficulty while working together." If you did have difficulty with a supervisor: "In my career I have had many different supervisors with an array of personalities. I did have one supervisor in the past who was not the type of leader that I would have chosen for myself. We disagreed on occasion but nothing severe enough to affect my work performance."

"I once disagreed with the amount of food we were giving our domestic ducks, with our head keeper insisting 100g a day was enough for a group of 13. I pointed out that the keel bone was very prominent in many species and I believed wild birds were eating their food. The feeding amount was changed to 1 kilo, and they're now fed inside."

Zookeeper Interview Questions

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1. When have you given a suggestion on improving an exhibit? Was your suggestion well-received?
2. What questions do you have for me?
3. Why do you want to work for us?
4. How do you believe your coworkers would describe you?
5. Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team.
6. Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience?
7. What are your salary expectations?
8. Describe your three greatest accomplishments to date.
9. Why is this job right for you at this time in your career?
10. How does this position fit into your career goals?
11. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
12. What is your favorite animal to care for?
13. Have you ever had to deal with a serious sickness or injury of an animal in your zoo?
14. Tell me about your post-secondary education. What was your most challenging course? Which course was your favorite?
15. Tell me about your education. How did it prepare you for this position?
16. Tell me about some successful animal training programs you designed. What was the initial problem you wanted to solve, and did you?
17. What has been your biggest professional win?
18. Have you ever mentored an apprentice zookeeper?
19. How do you continue learning about animals now that you have completed college?
20. When have you worked in an environment where you had to get dirty, sweaty, etc.?
21. Have you volunteered at our zoo before? If so, what was your experience like?
22. In what ways do you enrich the animals lives?
23. Why is it important to regularly measure an animals weight?
24. Why are you the best zookeeper for us?
25. Have you ever been overloaded with work?
26. How do you get a peer or colleague to accept one of your ideas?
27. Do you consider yourself an encourager? Give an example of a time when you helped others to be more enthusiastic in the workplace.
28. What have you done to further your own professional development in the past 5 years?
29. How do you stay on schedule with animal feeding, bathing and exercise routines? What gets top priority when scheduling your time?
30. Tell me about a situation where you had to quickly adapt to inevitable changes as a Zookeeper.
31. Are you able to cope with stressful situations?
32. Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor?

Zookeeper Interview Questions

1. When have you given a suggestion on improving an exhibit? Was your suggestion well-received?

2. What questions do you have for me?

3. Why do you want to work for us?

4. How do you believe your coworkers would describe you?

5. Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team.

6. Do you feel performance should be rewarded over experience?

7. What are your salary expectations?

8. Describe your three greatest accomplishments to date.

9. Why is this job right for you at this time in your career?

10. How does this position fit into your career goals?

11. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

12. What is your favorite animal to care for?

13. Have you ever had to deal with a serious sickness or injury of an animal in your zoo?

14. Tell me about your post-secondary education. What was your most challenging course? Which course was your favorite?

15. Tell me about your education. How did it prepare you for this position?

16. Tell me about some successful animal training programs you designed. What was the initial problem you wanted to solve, and did you?

17. What has been your biggest professional win?

18. Have you ever mentored an apprentice zookeeper?

19. How do you continue learning about animals now that you have completed college?

20. When have you worked in an environment where you had to get dirty, sweaty, etc.?

21. Have you volunteered at our zoo before? If so, what was your experience like?

22. In what ways do you enrich the animals lives?

23. Why is it important to regularly measure an animals weight?

24. Why are you the best zookeeper for us?

25. Have you ever been overloaded with work?

26. How do you get a peer or colleague to accept one of your ideas?

27. Do you consider yourself an encourager? Give an example of a time when you helped others to be more enthusiastic in the workplace.

28. What have you done to further your own professional development in the past 5 years?

29. How do you stay on schedule with animal feeding, bathing and exercise routines? What gets top priority when scheduling your time?

30. Tell me about a situation where you had to quickly adapt to inevitable changes as a Zookeeper.

31. Are you able to cope with stressful situations?

32. Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor?