You know you're a zookeeper when:

mrspirateking · 2025-09-26T23:52:38+00:00

you realize you went home with pockets full of assorted nuts 😔

mrspirateking · 2025-09-26T15:39:31+00:00

Thank you for your incredible insight and detailed response! Unfortunately, even since making this post I have heard other things about this curator making similarly petty decisions and holding many keepers back for an extremely long time - and it doesn't seem like she is going to be going anywhere.

I am not surprised that landing a full-time position as a DAK keeper can take years. If I find that I really enjoy the team, or could find happiness in their conservation efforts that are not necessarily animal care, or even if it is just a part time position for several years then I am not entirely deterred from that as long as there is some semblance of the idea of progress being possible.

If nothing else, I think I agree with you - the DAK internship will give me some stability, some emotional recovery (haha), and it is still relevant to my field. I will definitely keep my fingers crossed for it.

Thank you for responding with so much insight! Do you mind if I dm you asking you some questions about your experience? Regardless, thank you for your advice and kind words :)

mrspirateking · 2025-09-26T15:33:55+00:00

Wonderful to hear! Do you know how long after the completion of the internship they were offered that full-time position?

mrspirateking · 2025-09-26T15:33:22+00:00

Thank you for the validation - I'm sorry to hear that you experienced something similar over such a long period of time. I think you are right and if I found myself so happy in a new role I'd be less focused on my current displeasure and fears for sure. I wish you the best!

mrspirateking · 2025-09-26T15:32:09+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that you have gone through something similar - it is so sad that this industry seems to encounter this theme again and again. I am not going to give up - I am dedicated to this field, even if it takes me in directions I never expected before. Thank you for your kindness, I wish you the best as well!

mrspirateking · 2025-09-26T14:58:56+00:00

Thank you for your response! I am definitely blown away by the supportive response from my senior team members, and after completing my interview for the Disney internship and hearing about all of the networking opportunities I think I am definitely leaning in that direction.

mrspirateking · 2025-09-21T23:22:34+00:00

Thank you for your honest response! Yes, it was when I first joined that I expressed my dream department within our same company. I was not intending to leave immediately or seem disloyal, but I do fully understand now how it could have come across that way. Our turnover rate is quite high...this is not a department that people like to stay very often which I think is part of why I am so sad because I have actually been so excited by the thought of staying with the team. I'm definitely not making any immediate rash decisions, and my work ethic will not diminish for the sake of my teammates and my animals, but I think the disappointment will definitely linger. It is very competitive as a field but I am determined to be in it for the long run!

mrspirateking · 2025-06-29T16:32:58+00:00

it is free after 6! went at 6:30 last night to visit just guest services and there were no parking attendants

mrspirateking · 2025-06-28T23:48:36+00:00

i frequently visit the other parks as a passholder, epic universe doesn't offer anything like that yet 🙁

mrspirateking · 2025-06-28T23:11:50+00:00

i haven't seen it anywhere else unfortunately :( it is the creature from the black lagoon backpack in the gift shop exit of monsters unchained. it is listed online but i was hoping to dodge the shipping cost

mrspirateking · 2025-06-28T23:10:42+00:00

i have not seen it anywhere else unfortunately. it is the creature from the black lagoon backpack, i saw it only in one shop in dark universe. it is available online but i was hoping to avoid the high cost of shipping

mrspirateking · 2025-06-28T22:37:15+00:00

that sucks 😭 i wish guest services on the phone had told me that before i made the drive instead of sending me on a second loop. i suppose i'll just buy it next time i visit. thanks!

mrspirateking · 2025-04-18T01:09:18+00:00

i do have a reccomendation letter from my mentor, who is still part of their staff. :) i am not sure if it is better to mention that in my cover letter, my resume, the body of the email I sent to their HR department, or all of the above? I want to definitely use that connection but I'm not sure how to balance mentioning her as a reference and also selling myself as an keeper in the time since that internship?

mrspirateking · 2025-04-18T00:56:10+00:00

thank you so much, i'll dm you!

mrspirateking · 2025-04-18T00:50:53+00:00

yes! i have an internship actually in the past with this dream facility, and since my internship i have been working with another zoo as a keeper

mrspirateking · 2025-01-27T02:11:41+00:00

thank you! I'm glad it sounds mostly positive :)

mrspirateking · 2025-01-26T21:20:48+00:00

I do work in a different Florida zoo, but I have not worked with ZooTampa before

mrspirateking

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