Careers & Work Experience
Nothing Currently Available
At this current time unfortunately we are unable to offer positions, work experience or work placements at Fathom Reptiles, as we do not have the resources to train new staff and volunteers to a level we would be satisfied with.
While we hope to provide opportunities in the future, it’s unlikely we will be in a position to do so until 2027.
Good luck with your search.
What is it like working in a Reptile Shop?
As much as it is about the animals, it is about the people too! Great customer service is key for the business to thrive, and it is your job to provide that, whilst providing excellent care for the animals in store. The majority of your working day will be spent ensuring the people who walk through the door receive the information and products they need to care for their reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Animal care, sales, unpacking deliveries and keeping the shop clean will take up the rest of your time, and it will often feel that there is never enough hours in the day!
What is required?
The most important skills required are the ability to talk to people confidently, answer customer enquiries with both animal and product knowledge; and handle animals in an efficient and competent manner.
Animal maintenance must be carried out quickly and thoroughly often with distractions from customers. Therefore, it is important to be cool under pressure, stay organised, have a keen eye for detail and manage multiple tasks at once.
A love of keeping things clean is also helpful, because there is always a lot of cleaning to be done, as with any animal maintenance role.
What is involved?
Animal care is only one aspect of the job, not your entire day. The majority is spent serving customers, unpacking deliveries of dry goods, stacking shelves, cleaning out enclosures, and ensuring the shop remains clean and tidy. Hoovering, mopping, wiping down surfaces, cleaning food and water bowls, the list goes on and on.
What about the animals?
We of course love our animals here at Fathom, but we believe animals should be left alone as much as possible and are not disturbed unnecessarily during and after daily checks and maintenance.
Animals can be handled to receive health checks, when moved to temporary containers for cleaning enclosures, and to be inspected by prospective buyers. However staff are encouraged to maintain an ‘observe but don't touch' mentality.
Future careers?
Working in a reptile shop helps develop customer service skills and experience in a general retail environment, whilst developing knowledge of caring for different species, and organisational skills.
There unfortunately appears to be limited movement between pet retail and the zoo industry for workers, and whilst hands on experience with animals is important, most zoo roles prioritise those who have worked or volunteered in that field already.