zookeeper

security officer

guest service agent

camp counselor

associate

Detroit Zoological Society

A typical day is something you never have at the Detroit zoo. Everyday is something new. Between events, fieldtrips, fundraiser walks, and the weather you never really know what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed getting a chance to not only work with but interact with guest of every demographic. The excitement found within all individuals who were excited to learn and discover the world of animals is always captivating to see. Its crazy how similar we all are. Yet still each individual has their own needs and beliefs as to what was the experience expected within their visit. It was always interesting and for me and quite easy to find that thing that made them happy or what approach to take to upsell to them. There would be times a guest would want to refund their entire day, not because of just a poor customer service experience but because it wasn't what they thought it would be like that day. Maybe it was to hot, maybe it rained, or maybe they came in at the time the animals were sleeping or more stationary. Well since I haven't learned to control the weather ,or be a Dr. Dolittle I found it easy to find ways to accommodate and express new approaches to their day as well as understanding their concerns. Its always about finding a way to relate and finding what will make that experience worthwhile. As with any business its about making sure their experience is worth bragging about to other future customers as well as making them want to come back. Many if not most times this would be to the extent of no longer wanting a refund but to buy more. Memberships, rides, attractions, merchandise and food. All about finding their needs and discovering a way to explain to them why they needed it. I took pride in my job, and creating an experience for the customer as well as a name for my employer.

This was, by far the WORST job I've ever had. I worked there for three years and I never got recognition from management, no one did. The only thing they ever talked to us about was how we could "do better" or "you were ten minutes late this morning." It's a good thing my department was unionized, or else my entire staff, myself included would have been fired, multiple times!
I love animals (sadly, I never got to work with them) and it was nice being able to walk around and look at them, when on break. But sadly, that and the pay, are the only two good things I can say about that job. The scheduling is ridiculous, they either give you one day a week, or they work you for 14 days, straight.
The coworkers there are almost always filled with drama, it was like a high school environment.
You ONLY get to move up if you're a major brown noser (which is the case with a lot of companies, sadly).
Management would always take a customer's side over yours, and no matter how you handle a situation, you're always wrong. They put these "safety rules" in place that we would get in trouble for NOT following, but we'd also get in trouble for following them and making the customer mad. Rules are always bending there, and never in your favor.
My best example of this is a customer whom I greeted and explained the rules, etc. She proceeds to call me obscenities and as I go to accommodate her request, I still hear her talking about me. The next day, I get called to the office because this woman complained up at the front that I had an attitude with HER. I had three staff witnesses back me up in the office and I was still given a one day suspension.
This situation has happened to multiple employees in my department.

I would get a ride to work only to find that they said they didnt need me and to go home..This happend quite frequently. I lived 20 minutes away, so i would already be on my way and since i dont read texts wehn driving, i wouldnt find out until i get there. So it cost me money when this happened. this day i was dropped off and had to wait for someone else that was told they didnt need them to work was kind enough to give me a ride home.

They would take money out of my accoutn for food when i didnt even eat it, and the food was bad high calorie, with corn syrup, deep fried, . just high carb food which is not good for you and i didnt eat it . this was my first job since i was a high schooler so i didnt know how bad it was until i left.

When i hired in i was told i would get alot of hours, but when the college kids got out of school for the summer, they got the hours and my self and other workers would get only 4 hours here and there..not enough to even drivd to work at minimum wage and gas at almost $4.gallon. bottom line is DONT WORK HERE.. I wrote one last summer and i found it deleted, so i wonder who can delete these posts.. it is important for High School kids to know this is not a good place for a first job, they take advantage of you. Also, they make you put a deposit for your uniform, which happens to be the full price of the uniform and state law says they cant charge you for it... but they infact just did,Im still trying to get my uniform "deposit" back and they have not sent it yet,,, we've been waiting since december when they said they would send a chec,.. no check yet an dits 3/2012... ...bottom line is DONT WORK HERE

As a Park Safety Officer at the Detroit Zoo, I have responsibilities and growth opportunities. Not only can I grow within the department, but in the zoo. For example, there are so many other departments that you can transfer to, as an intern or employee, if giving the opportunity. My responsibilities as a Park Safety Officer is insure the safety of guest, staff, and the animals. We are also first responders to medical and non-medical emergencies. Every officer is CPR, First Aid and ADE trained. During the busy seasons and during busy events, we have the opportunity to work alongside a trained medical professional. Most officers are also certified by LMBA (bicycle trained). We have the opportunity to earn certifications through FEMA and earn a CPO (Certified Protection Officer)license. These are only some of the skills we learn. Others are, responding to bomb threats, active shooters, weather emergencies, and knowing all the zoo’s polices. Management is great and easy to talk to. Most employees are great, but you always have the few bad apples. The best part about this job is working at the zoo. I love animals and with this job I’m able to go behind the scenes (safely), and also see the animals every time I come in to work, and making sure they stay safe. Park Safety is also a part of customer service. Dealing with guest issues, concerns, and safety is what most of our days consist of. The down side is the pay, but that isn’t up to our mangers. The “higher ups” delegates budgets.

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) looks like a great organization to work for from the outside. The excitement of working at a zoo is all that’s really needed to get a candidate interested. When you couple that with informing them that the DZS is a leader in humane education, animal welfare, and sustainability, the DZS can win almost anyone over. What candidates aren’t informed of is the reality of the toxic work environment and lack of leadership. The office environment at the DZS lacks collaboration and the ideas of those at the mid-manager (and sometimes director) level are stifled. Many employees at the senior level were placed there because they are “yes men/women” and do exactly what is directed by the CEO, whether it is right or wrong. The planning in the organization is very poorly. I saw hundred of thousands of dollars wasted on construction projects that could have been prevented if planning wasn’t rushed. The same goes for staffing - a lot of poor staffing decisions were made without HR’s involvement and HR was stuck cleaning up the mess. Be warned that it is a very political organization and someone who enters it has to be prepared to navigate those waters.

My first task is to arrive at my work location on time. Once there making sure that area is clean of debris and that signs are clearly visible and clean. Depending on what postion your assigned to opening procedures include counting cash, cleaning attraction area and performing test runs on machinery. Daily responsibilities include giving information to guests, answering phones, operating machinery, cleaning equipment and assisting with crowd control. I've learned many skills from my experience working here such as public speaking, inventory and upselling products.

The hardest part of the job would be working in bad weather while dealing with large crowds of people in a short amount of time. The most enjoyable part of the job is working so close to wild animals you normally would not be able to see on a daily basis. Another advantage to working at such a popular place would be the ability to meet so many new people from around the world who choose to visit. Our work environment is very positive and entertaining. My co-workers are very close friends and we have created a very tight bond with each other.

  Working with the animals is wonderful, there are of course ups and downs, but overall that part is a good experience. The pay is pretty decent too, for the zoo keeping field . Most of your co-workers are nice people, who you won't mind spending time with, same with a handful of the supervisors. 
  It's when you get above a supervisor level that there is a steep drop off in anything good or admirable you would want to see in a leader. Trust no one, and expect to be let down. See the other review from an animal care taker to get a better idea of what to expect from management. The new director does seem like she is trying her hardest to implement positive change, but this will most likely happen very slowly over time. She did make it possible for the employees to be able to access the internet, and that was an exciting change. It's hard to believe change is possible when there are so many problematic people in management roles. 
  Work/life balance is an idea that is talked about, but when it's time to approve employee PTO that idea seems to evaporate into thin air. You are given a generous amount of PTO, but good luck trying to use it.  I would be cautious taking a job here, alot of passionate people have been slowly ground down and burned out. 

I am a high school student and they told my High school about a job fair. They needed seasonal workers starting from spring break and through he summer I got decent hours at first, but then the college students came back and the HS kids hours got cut and we have almost no hours. Thats not the worst. I drive to work and they tell me that they dont need me, claiming they text me, but they never did. They cancell hours all the time at the last minute, but this past weekend they cancelled my hours on both days without even calling me. I counted on this money for the summer and they dont even care about us.

And they make you pay for your own uniform and they charge you full retail price for the shirt AND coat. its expensive. And they make you pay for food every day at the concession stands - and the food is very bad and unhealthy . They take this money out of my pay check, so between having all this stuff taken out of my pay check AND paying for gas to drive to a job and they tell me they dont need me, im looking for another job and i would suggest "no need to apply here"

A typical day here I was greeted by the latest gossip first thing in the morning. I witnessed on more then one ocassion OSHA rules being disreguarded. I learned a few emergency response procedures that where thankfully never put into practice. The daily management I interacted with were childish and unprofessional, letting their opinions and slanderous comments be recorded by the new emergency system. Grounds employees were told that they were not allowed to take breaks on busy summer days and were not permitted to carry water bottles with them as it made them look unprofessional. Most co workers were decent to work with, the animal staff were always more then willing to teach co workers and the public on the animals in their care. The hardest part of the job was the fact I performed at the top but was not getting the hours I deserved and was promised, the pay was also unacceptable for someone with a college degree. The part I enjoyed the most was interacting with the public, and getting behind the scenes, learning and being up close and personal with the animals.

A typical day at work is starting my patrol either inside the park or at our satellite campus on belle isle, Detroit Michigan. my job is to ensure the safety of guest and staff/animals and to make sure that all rules are being followed safely, my job also includes responding to medical and emergency situations inside the park. I have been trained in almost all aspects of my job, starting with inside the park patrols, to being stationed at a stationary post to monitor who comes and goes into the service areas of the park. I have been trained to ride a bike with crowds in the park, patrols with a vehicle during and after hours of park. I have also been trained on how to handle medical and emergency situations. the hardest part of my job is when we get unruly guests who try to give a hard time to employees. and the enjoyable part of my job is interacting with guests and coworkers.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Zookeeper 5 salaries reported	$21.23 per hour
Security officer 3 salaries reported	$16.33 per hour
Guest service agent 2 salaries reported	$16.28 per hour
Camp counselor 3 salaries reported	$16.33 per hour
Associate 2 salaries reported	$15.00 per hour

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