Pros: extreme flexibility, good benefits, fun people, working with exotic animals, sharing my passion!
Cons: constantly changing schedules--not good if you need predictability and reliable hours, but great if you like a challenge/change!
I have worked in the Education department at the San Diego Zoo for 10+ years, and have loved every minute of it! It is an extremely flexible environment, which I relied upon heavily when my children were small. Co-workers are supportive and are always willing to cover for one another. We get to work with and handle exotic Animal Ambassadors, and get
– more... to share with the world the importance of conservation and green life choices. I have had the opportunity to learn constantly, to help out other departments (I studied parasitic diseases in graduate school; the pathology department borrows me on occasion to help out!), to head up large curriculum development projects, and to share my workplace with all sorts of visiting friends and relatives! – less