My dream job is available....

[undergunfire]

I have always known that my dream job would be working with animals, no matter what I was doing. I was checking Craiglist for jobs because my current job is just not what I want to do. My current job is being a supervisor of a department that puts up solar key chain displays for airport stores called "Husdon News". My company is souvenir company. I think I get paid WAAAY less than I should.

Well, I found the job on CL. It is for a dog caretaker at a dog rescue ranch. The ranch has horses and other animals too, but has 100 dogs. It is $1500 salary per month, including rent and utilities. Yep...just that...rent and utilities. My fiancee and I have a house that we rent and just started renting in January of this year. Our lease isn't up until January of '10. I am really bummed because the job would be my dream...I'd die to have that job. My fiancee told me that I should go for it, but we both know it will be impossible to live apart for the next 9 months.

The job I want will be $400 per month MORE per month than my current salary and there is no rent/utilities to be paid.


I emailed the lady from the ranch asking what the job description is, what type of housing I would be living in, and if my pets and fiancee can come along. This job would be just so awesome. I would even try to explain to the reality company that it is a job offer that I can't refuse (if they were to hire me). The company we rent through is a bunch of really nice/laid back women. I just know that we did sign the year lease, so I shouldn't expect back all of our security deposit.

Also, the job wants me to send a resume. I only worked at PetSmart for 5 months in the dog grooming section when I was 16, worked at Subway until I was 18, and now I have been at my current job for 1.5 years...and 1 year of that has been as a supervisor. What do you guys think the chance they would hire a 20 year old with those job experiences would be? I just know that I love dogs and especially rescue animals.

Plus, I also have experience with horses/goats/rabbits/cats/dogs...all of which live on the ranch.


Ugh...I don't know. I am so bummed out because we signed a year lease AND I don't know if they would even hire me.

 

[trailsend]

I worked at an Animal Sanctuary from the time I was 17-19 and I had little work experience but lots with animals. But I was young and they accepted me. I didn't get paid except for room and board. We had about 60 dogs and dozens of farm animals. It was a huge learning experience. I'm surprised they are offering a salary along with the room and board, that is great. I hope it works out for you!

 

[karnana3]

list all your job experiences on the resume and then do a different section with volunteer work, your experience with animals etc..
label it with headings such as "Employment History" and "Relevant Experience"


i say go for it. you will never know unless you try ... and your fiancee is being supportive of it so he will help you work it all out should you get the job.

good luck!

 

[BSAR]

What a neat opportunity!
Hopefully it'll work out for ya!

 

[TinysMom]

Do a "functional" resume where you list your skills first (and the animals you've worked with) and then list your jobs below.

You can google "functional resume" to see what I mean...I'd post mine here (I've posted it before somewhere in Off-topic) but you will probably find better examples on the net.

 

[undergunfire]

Thanks, you guys :biggrin2:. I am hoping the lady emails me back this weekend, so I can get started on the resume and hand it in before the job gets taken. They have been advertising it since the 16th of this month, from what I have seen. I think my stepmom can also help with a resume...she is good at that stuff.

I also have lots of references. I can put down Pat, who we adopted our kitties from...she is with the kitty rescue. I can also put down my manager at my current job, she can vouch for my working skills and my love for animals because we talk about them all the time and she is also a major big person with the kitty rescue...she's the one who helps make the major decisions with the rescue. I also have my ex coworker who is a good friend and is on the board with the kitty rescue. They are all kitty rescue people, but they know my love for all animals as well.

 

[Brandy456]

I hope you get it, it sounds like a really great job.

 

[undergunfire]

Bleh...I am going to post here what I posted on my thread on the rat forum...I'm just not in the mood to retype it....






It is not going to work out. It seems they are looking for someone with "no life"....really....or someone straight out of their parents house :?....


"Hi Amy,

The basic job duties include the daily care of approximately 40-60 dogs although we have 100 dogs altogether on the ranch that you would be required to know and help care for. The dogs we have are all different breeds, although mostly large dogs, of different ages, etc. and we do have a number that are special needs cases. The majority of your day would be spent cleaning the different areas where the dogs are housed, feeding, watering, providing any necessary medical attention, bathing the dogs, etc. You would also be asked to participate in a number of adoption events and work with families interested in adopting a dog from us.

Your fiance would be allowed to move in under the conditions that he works well with the animals and does help out here on the ranch- if he is going to be living here rent free then it would be expected that he would donate at least some of his time to working with the dogs. Work days are normally 12-15 hours long and days off are not always guaranteed.

The living situation would be a master bedroom and master bath for you guys in one of the ranch houses. The rest of the house (kitchen, living room, spare bedrooms, breezeways, garage, etc.) is to be left open to the 10-15 dogs that live in the house. I do have some concerns with the number of animals you currently have and how they would all fit into the bedroom. Your dog would be allowed in the rest of the house/grounds with the other dogs provided he gets along well with them but the cats would be in dangerous territory if they left your room.

Another concern is if you are planning on leaving for a honeymoon after you are married- vacation time is not given until after an employee has been here 6 months. I hope this helps explain the position a bit more, if you are still interested please feel free to email me your resume.
Thank you,

Kim"


I definitely do not want to live with "no life". It would be the perfect job for me if I was single and only had a dog as a pet. There is no way a married couple could live in a master bedroom and share the rest of the house with other people (that we don't know)...I assume the house is shared. Also, my kitties would go crazy locked into a bedroom. We also couldn't fit the rats and rabbits into one bedroom with us...shoot, they have their own bedroom in our current house because their cages are so large! What about all of our furniture ??? ? My fiancee would have a major panic attack living with 15 dogs (which are all probably large breeds). I also wouldn't want to make him help out with my job, when he works 10 hour days at his current job. Hardly any time off? No thanks.


So....I am bummed, really bummed. It seemed perfect, but I guess I was wrong. Now I am really down and feel like going to my bed to cry myself to sleep at 9pm on a Friday night...seriously. I don't like my current job and finding "my dream job" seems so hard. My fiancee is really down lately, too, because he doesn't like his job either. His sister wants to mentor us to start a coffee shop/music venue...but that won't happen for at least another year.

I guess this job just seemed so awesome. $1500 a month, rent & utilities payed....we could have payed off our credit cards that are getting high because of our wedding/life's needs, bought a new car that we really need, saved for the coffee shop.

.....trails off to her bed to watch HGTV with the whole container of oreo ice cream :cry1:....

 

[Brandy456]

Aweh, sounds better for someone who wants to be a live in nanny, but doesn't like kids.. ya know ?
Also they said time of not guarenteed .. You wouldn't have much time to spend with your fiance
Awe, I really hoped you'd get what you wanted but ok..

 

[undergunfire]

Brandy456 wrote:

Aweh, sounds better for someone who wants to be a live in nanny, but doesn't like kids.. ya know ?
Also they said time of not guarenteed .. You wouldn't have much time to spend with your fiance
Awe, I really hoped you'd get what you wanted but ok..

I agree...I'd basically have to quit my side sewing business and hire someone to come over to pay attention to my own pets!

 

[Brandy456]

Yeah theres no point in taking care of other peoples animals if you can't do to your own

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Amy, is it very far away? Sometimes if your employment changes, you can get out of leases/contracts. I had a contract with a gym at one time and we moved pretty far from it. I asked them if I could do something to discount it or what might help since I couldn't get there as often....... they said I 'd moved far enough to allow me to cancel the contract.

Read the lease you have very closely and see what it says. If your landlord is easy to get along with.... ask them about it.


UGH! I just read the part where she responded to your email. Sounds like a very limited life and they want a lot from someone.

I know people who are caretakers for big horse farms and they get their rent free, make a small salary and it doesn't matter what the other family members do as long as they are kind to the animals.

If someone really wants a person with references and a good person for the job, they would be a bit flexible with things like the time off for your honeymoon.

You'll find the spot you want...... and when you do, it'll be just perfect.

 

[trailsend]

It is very hard- in the years I worked at one, I didn't get a day off, I worked 7 days a week and didn't see my family once over the 3 years I was there. I never got to even go for shopping for things I needed, I mean I was that limited. I was hoping this would be a little different since it sounded like it. I also had just a bedroom. I had a dog, a rabbit, and a cat when I moved there. Bo is right - you'll find the spot you want and it will be perfect, don't give up home just because one thing is not the right fit. You'll be fine, you have so much opportunity out there for a person with your skills and personality and you'll find your job with animals - I know it. I wouldn't let this get you down, I know it's too bad it's not the right fit... but please hear me when I say there will be other opportunities!

 

[karnana3]

sounds like you are better off without that job.

 

[undergunfire]

Thanks, you guys...it is just that Prescott is such a "small town" and there isn't much here. There is "doggie day cares" that I would be interested in, but I would need to look into it more. I can't make any less than what I make at my current job. I also would like to make more, or I will just stay at my job that I have now.

I wish we were closer to Phoenix (we are 2 hours away) because they have dog training schools and dog grooming schools...I would love that, but we can't move to PHX...it is too hot there and too busy.

 

[irishbunny]

By the email it sounds like you have to let 10-15 dogs live in the house with you? Uhh that could really turn out to be a stinky nightmare.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Definitley sounds like a "no life" kind of job.

I think they will have a hard time finding anyone, because if you can only have the master bedroom and master bath due to the "10-15 dogs that live in the house"...That's just insane!!!

Emily

 

[slavetoabunny]

It sounds more like slavery. 12-15 hours a day and no guarantee of a day off - that's downright insane!

 

[irishbunny]

I think if you took that job you'd be unhappy, tired, and run down with dogs! Imagine what the houses must look like if they are left to dogs ewww! Sounds like a cult that worships dogs or something lol.

 

[SnowyShiloh]

Yeah, to me the "rent free" thing seems like it's just so they can bang on your door at 3 am and ask you to do more work. I love dogs too but that doesn't sound like a job I'd want- does sound like a good place to be a dog though!