Overview
Pet shop assistants sell things that pets need such as food, toys, cages and flea treatments. Many pet shops also sell animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, fish and birds. Customers often ask the pet shop assistant about pet care. Pet shop assistants look after any animals that are for sale in the shop. They make sure they are fed, have fresh water to drink and are kept clean. When customers want to buy an animal, the pet shop assistant tells them how to look after it properly.
Activities
- Helping customers to choose the things they need for their pets
- Giving customers advice about pet care
- Weighing out things like pet food
- In some shops, selling pets and caring for them before they are sold
- Using a till and taking payment from customers
- Ordering items for customers
- Keeping the shop tidy
- Unpacking deliveries
Organisations
Some pet shop assistants are employed by small local pet shops. Others work for large companies that have pet superstores in a number of towns like Pets at Home.
Workplace
Some pet shops are very small and others are very large. Many shops are in the high street or side streets of towns and villages.
Working Hours
Pet shop assistants generally work between 35 and 40 hours a week if they are employed full-time. This may include some evening and weekend working.
Salary and Job Trends
Starting around £14,500.
Qualifications
You may not need any formal qualifications to apply to work in a pet shop. It’ll help if you’ve got experience of working with animals or a background in retail customer service.
You could also apply for an apprenticeship. If you have an EHCP you may be able to apply under the DfE exemption which allows the apprentice to use Entry Level 3 English and Maths qualifications. The apprentice would have to be competent enough to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before the end of their apprenticeship.