Employability Skills in Animal Science and Technology: Careers, Credentials, and Planning

Knowledge (K)

Information and understanding you can explain, often learned through classes, reading, training, and supervised experience.

Skills (S)

Actions you can perform consistently to a standard, including both technical and employability skills.

Abilities (A)

Your underlying capacity to perform tasks reliably under real working conditions.

Animal biology and behavior

Knowledge area covering basic anatomy, physiology, and signs of normal versus abnormal behavior.

Nutrition and feeding systems

Understanding why different life stages need different diets and how feeding routines affect health.

Health and disease basics

Recognizing symptoms, understanding prevention, vaccination practices, and parasite control.

Reproductive and genetics basics

Knowledge of breeding goals, selection, and how genetics influences animal traits.

Animal welfare and ethics

Understanding humane handling, enrichment, quality-of-life considerations, and ethical decision-making.

Safety and biosecurity

Knowledge of how diseases spread, sanitation practices, and importance of safety protocols.

Technical skills

Job-specific skills learned through labs and supervised practice, including safe animal handling.

Employability skills

Transferable skills such as communication and teamwork that are crucial in nearly all animal careers.

Professionalism

Punctuality, appropriate language, reliability, and adherence to policy in the workplace.

Digital literacy

Ability to use scheduling systems, software, and data entry tools effectively in a work setting.

Customer service skills

Capacity to explain services, manage expectations, and de-escalate conflicts with clients.

Stamina and physical tolerance

Ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as lifting and working long hours.

Attention to detail

Noticing subtle symptoms and ensuring accuracy in measurement and task completion.

Emotional self-management

Ability to stay calm in emergencies and cope with difficult outcomes in animal handling.

Adaptability in the workplace

Ability to handle changing schedules and shifting priorities in animal care settings.

Safety mindset

Consistently using proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety procedures.

Certification

Verification by an organization that an individual meets a specific standard, often through a course or exam.

Licensure

Legal permission granted by a government authority to practice a regulated profession.

Entry-level animal care roles

Jobs that may require high school completion, basic safety training, and reliability.

Technical specialist roles

Positions that often require postsecondary education and documented competencies.

Professional/regulated roles

Careers that typically require a specific degree and licensure based on jurisdiction.

Leadership/management roles

Positions that often necessitate proven experience and strong communication and budgeting skills.

SMART goals

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound objectives that drive action.

Self-assessment in career planning

Examining interests, values, strengths, and constraints to inform future career choices.

Pathway in career planning

A sequence of related roles and learning steps to achieve career goals.

Work-based learning

Experiences like job shadowing and internships that provide hands-on learning opportunities in animal care.

Portfolio in career development

A collection of evidence demonstrating skills and experiences relevant to animal science careers.