Student Keeper Intern Review

by Colchester Zoo

Rating

5/5
  • Skills
    5.0
  • Responsibilities
    5.0
  • Support & Guidance
    5.0
  • Culture
    5.0
  • Your Impressions
    5.0

    Overview

  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.

    • Daily husbandry task which include cleaning, providing food, enrichment and providing fresh water. Diet preparation, educational public talks, animal training and completing daily reports.

    Skills

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?

    • I have developed and gained many skills including enrichment building, enclosure refurbishment, animal training methods, barrel browsing and gaining a lot of confidence with public speaking. Also meeting a higher level of animal husbandry standards to meet employment standard.

  • How would you rate the training provided during your experience?

    • 5/5
  • How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?

    • 5/5
  • How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?

    • 5/5
  • Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development

    • 5/5

    Responsibilities

  • 3. Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?

    • I was given as much responsibility that a student keeper intern is allowed (this is less than a qualified keeper as I am not a paid full time member of staff). I was a trusted member of staff and trusted to carry out responsibilities on my own to a good standard.

  • Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was

    • 5/5

    Support & Guidance

  • 4. How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?

    • My team was always very supportive and gave me advice through reviews throughout my year. If I had any problems, I always had someone to turn to.

  • How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?

    • 5/5
  • How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?

    • 5/5

    Culture

  • 5. What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?

    • I fit in well with the team well and got on with everyone well both professionally and as people.

  • How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?

    • 5/5
  • How would you rate the social opportunities?

    • 5/5
  • How would you rate the diversity initiatives?

    • 5/5
  • How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?

    • 5/5

    Your Impressions

  • 6. To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?

    • I thoroughly enjoyed my placement and loved working with both the species and the people. They all taught me essential skills that I will use in my future career and I am very grateful for the opportunity.

  • Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship

    • 5/5
  • Please rate how your experience met your expectations

    • 5/5
  • Please rate the future employment prospects at Colchester Zoo

    • 5/5
  • 7. Would you recommend Colchester Zoo to a friend?

    • Yes

  • 8. What advice would you give to others applying to Colchester Zoo

    • Put your all into the placement and you will get this back from the placement. If you go into it with a willingness this will help you progress over the year.

    Report this review

Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Voluntary

East of England

August 2024